'Design Thinking - Open Innovation 2023' competition launches in Vietnam

The anticipated finale of the "Design Thinking - Open Innovation 2023" competition, organised by the Innovative Design Thinking Village in partnership with Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Diamond Innovation Forest Company, and VitanEdu Education and Career Ecosystem, was officially inaugurated on June 30. The event is set to propel Vietnam's innovation landscape by showcasing groundbreaking startups and technology-driven ventures.

Aligned with the Ministry of Science and Technology's innovation agenda, the competition has garnered participation from numerous entities committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

Gathering talent from across the nation, the final round selected 93 outstanding entries, meeting the criteria set forth by the competition.

Submissions originated from a diverse range of provinces and cities, including but not limited to Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Ca Mau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, and Dong Nai.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung emphasised the annual nature of this competition, which has become an integral part of the Techfest Vietnam initiative. Judges, trainers, and mentors, comprising experts and scientists from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and various provinces, have actively participated, reflecting the competition's broad appeal.

"While the competition serves as a platform for businesses, scientists, and ambitious students to pursue lofty aspirations, it also bears a profound humanitarian purpose. It is dedicated to propelling Vietnam's sustainable development on the global stage, commencing with ingenious ideas that contribute to continuous societal betterment," Tung said.

Leading the competition's organisation is Duong Tuong Nhi, CEO of Happy Lifestyle Company and head of the Innovative Design Thinking Village - Techfest Vietnam. She outlined the competition's objective of attracting innovative and transformative ideas across entrepreneurship, business, and commercial domains while effectively bridging intellectual resources and feasible solutions proposed by experts to address pressing societal challenges.

Participants hailing from diverse fields such as technology, including IT, digital economy, AI, robotics, big data, IoT, blockchain, metaverse, and information management solutions, and many others, are contributing their ideas towards a more prosperous and sustainable Vietnam.

The "Design Thinking - Open Innovation 2023" competition boasts three key differentiators.

Firstly, participating teams undergo comprehensive Design Thinking training to unleash their creative potential, develop innovative ideas, and refine their product development and business models.

Secondly, the top 10 teams are granted exclusive access to acceleration support programmes. Lastly, even ideas with untapped potential that narrowly missed the top 10 can participate by submitting their concepts to the Open Innovation Bank community.

The competition boasts a total prize pool of nearly VND2 billion, distributed across specialised categories and diverse fields, ensuring an equitable distribution of rewards and recognition for participating teams.

Furthermore, teams that secure positions in the top 10 or semi-finals of the competition will enjoy preferential consideration for the prestigious Top 80 Techfest National 2023.

In a demonstration of collaborative efforts, VIR has formalised a media cooperation agreement with the Innovative Design Thinking Village - Techfest Vietnam. The partnership aims to enhance information exchange and maintain the highest journalistic standards in reporting the activities of the Innovative Design Thinking Village - Techfest Vietnam through VIR.

Moving forward, VIR will work closely with the Innovative Design Thinking Village to orchestrate a series of impactful events, including talk shows, workshops, and conferences, designed to nurture a thriving ecosystem for innovation and creativity.

As the "Design Thinking - Open Innovation 2023" competition unfolds, Vietnam's entrepreneurship and technology landscape will witness groundbreaking solutions, inspired minds, and the transformative power of collaborative thinking. With a focus on sustainable development, Techfest Vietnam and its partners continue to drive Vietnam's ascent on the global innovation stage, bolstering its position as a trailblazer in the startup ecosystem.

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