The 12 best innovative solutions, out of the 758 submitted to the 2023 Vietnam Innovation Challenge, were announced and honoured at an awarding ceremony held in Hanoi on September 8.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the event. (Photo: NIC)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 12 best innovative solutions, out of the 758 submitted to the 2023 Vietnam Innovation Challenge, were announced and honoured at an awarding ceremony held in Hanoi on September 8.
They represent three groups of large corporations and groups, innovative small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and startups.
Among those honoured, oneSME – the digital transformation platform for SMEs launched by the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) – and akaBot – a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution by FPT Information System Co., Ltd. – won the Digital Innovation Award and Innovation Star Award, respectively.
The Digital Leap Award went to VNPT HKD – a digital business household ecosystem developed by the VNPT Information Technology Company, while CIVAMS – a facial recognition solution developed by CMC Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) – obtained the Future Evolution Award.
These initiatives will receive further assistance from the organisers and be widely implemented at localities and businesses in Vietnam.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised the solutions, gathered from all over the world, serve the specific needs of Vietnamese businesses and the Vietnamese market.
Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy in Asia and Pacific at Meta, said the company is proud to be a strategic partner with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in the innovation programme. The programme is part of Meta’s commitment to the long-term growth of the Vietnamese economy, focusing on technology and innovation.
Also at the event, the 2024 Vietnam Innovation Challenge was officially launched with a theme on boosting the semiconductor and smart manufacturing industry to conquer the global market.
Seeking initiatives from domestic and international organisations and individuals to tackle key national challenges on its path towards prosperity and sustainable development, the annual Vietnam Innovation Challenge is steered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and organised by the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Meta Corporation.
The programme is the first to realise the MPI’s InnovateVN initiative, in which NIC works with domestic and foreign tech firms and partners to promote innovation-based economic growth with new business models, products, and processes. This initiative aims to assist the development of 500 pioneering innovation businesses by 2030 and help improve the public sector innovation capacity./.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai received visiting Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat on August 14, noting that Israel is a partner that his city wishes to learn from and cooperate with in the fields of innovation and technology.
The National Innovation Centre (NIC)'s new establishment in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park on the outskirts of Hanoi will be officially inaugurated in October this year, heard a press conference on August 15.
Technology experts and businessmen have so far submitted 758 initiatives to the Vietnam Innovation Challenge, which seeks innovative solutions from domestic and international organisations and individuals to tackle key national challenges on its path towards prosperity and sustainable development.
Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Duong province Vo Van Minh on August 28 signed a decision approving the establishment of Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Centre in the southern locality.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
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.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung speaks at the event. (Photo: NIC) 
