Medlink wins first startup contest VietChallenge 2019
Medlink – the supplier of a platform for direct connectivity among drug companies and pharmacies has won the first prize of VietChallenge 2019, an annual startup competition for Vietnamese entrepreneurs from all over the world.
Representatives from teams competing in the final round of VietChallenge 2019 (Photo: VNA)
New York (VNA) – Medlink – the supplier of aplatform for direct connectivity among drug companies and pharmacies has wonthe first prize of VietChallenge 2019, an annual startup competition forVietnamese entrepreneurs from all over the world.
Medlink surpassed eight other competitors in the final roundof the contest, which was held on September 7 at Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology by the Association of Vietnamese Students and Professionals in theUS.
The second prize came to VVN AI, a supplier of artificialintelligence to recognise images and texts, which is applied in the transactionprocess at shops and banks, helping save time and enhance convenience andsecurity.
Timobile from Indonesia and Graam from Vietnam shared thethird prize of the competition, which received more than 400 entries in total.
The prize winners will become partners of the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, givingthem a chance to provide services to nearly 100 million customers of Viettelaround the globe.
Presenting awards to the winners at the event, DeputyMinister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung reiterated Government support forVietnamese students abroad to launch innovative startups and make morecontributions to their homeland.
He noted that on September 6, the ministry launched aprogramme to seek investment for Vietnamese startups with the support of USpartners, in order to organize Techfest Vietnam 2019 – the first nationalinnovation festival. The festival is slated for September 13 in California, theUS, with the participation of 200 intellectuals, experts, investors andrepresentatives of innovative startup ecosystem of the two countries.
A delegation led by Deputy Minister Cuong had engaged in aseries of in-depth discussions with major US partners in Boston inMassachusetts state and San Francisco in California state, and will visit worldleading technology groups of Amazon and Google, as well as the Silicon Valley.
The official revealed that the ministry plans to sign manydeals with US partners, including Ai20x, Pegasus Tech Venture and Stripe Inc.
One of the highlights of the Techfest Vietnam 2019 in the USis a Silicon Valley – Vietnam connection forum, where representatives fromVietnam and US startup ecosystems meet to discuss connection opportunities.
Techfest Vietnam in the US will be the first step towards theorganization of the Techfest Vietnam 2019, scheduled for December this year inQuang Ninh province.-VNA
A device which aligns and supports shoulders and spine to prevent backache and neck pains won the first prize of “VietChallenge”, the first global business idea contest for young Vietnamese.
A global entrepreneurship competition for Vietnamese (VietChallenge) took place recently with the final round held in Boston city, the US state of Massachusetts, on April 1.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Pham Quang Vinh has expressed support for the entrepreneurship of Vietnamese students in the US during a recent working trip to Boston, Massachusetts.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
Representatives from teams competing in the final round of VietChallenge 2019 (Photo: VNA) 
