Startup models get 28,000 USD in Swiss Innovation Challenge
Three startup models were awarded cash prizes totalling 28,000 USD at the final pitch of the Swiss Innovation Challenge (SIC) Vietnam 2017 competition in Ho Chi Minh City on September 13.
A candidate presents her project (Source: doimoisangtao.vn)
HCM City (VNA) – Three startup models were awarded cash prizes totalling 28,000USD at the final pitch of the Swiss Innovation Challenge (SIC) Vietnam 2017competition in Ho Chi Minh City on September 13.
The “Share Car For Ads” initiative won the firstprize worth 15,000 USD. It will also represent Vietnam in the finalinternational competition to be held in Switzerland next month.
DropDeck, a platform designed to rank firmscalling for investment and help investors find and assess potential startups ina fast and accurate manner, won the second prize worth 5,000 USD.
The third prize of 3,000 USD went to “Smartassembling parking lot” initiative, using the Internet of Things (IoT)technology, which helps increase parking space.
The organisers also awarded another 5,000 USDprize to the DropDeck project with the most convincing internationalisationstrategy.
SIC Vietnam,funded by the Government of Switzerland, was co-organised by the HCM CityUniversity of Technology and University of Applied Sciences and ArtsNorthwestern Switzerland. It was first held in Vietnam in 2015.
Nguyen ThiAnh Phuong, Director of the Executive Master ofBusiness Administration-Management Consulting International (EMBA-MCI)of the HCM City University of Technology, said the competition aims to seekinitiatives and innovation models and outstanding startups for both Vietnam andASEAN.
It also connectsthe startup community and inspires all people and economic sectors to makeVietnam a startup nation, Phuong said.
Currently,it is a unique programme in Vietnam and Southeast Asia that comprehensivelyapproaches and realises business and technology initiatives.
TheUniversity of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland in partnershipwith leading local universities have held similar competitions in Indonesia,Malaysia, and Thailand.-VNA
Bosch Group, a leading global supplier of technology and services headquartered in Germany, will send experts to evaluate and give consultancies to startup projects and join hands with the Saigon Innovation Hub (SiHub) to organise annual industrial technology startup contests.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a project to support women’s startups for 2017-2025, aiming to raise women’s awareness of the Party and State’s laws and policies on startups and encourage the realisation of their ideas.
Vietnam has a solid foundation for information technology but must constantly strive to be globally competitive, Hajime Hotta, co-founder of Innovatube and president of Cinnamon AI Labs.
A symposium was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 11 to promote innovative and dynamic startups and micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in the APEC region.
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.
A candidate presents her project (Source: doimoisangtao.vn) 
