Hanwha Life plants seeds of AI innovation in Vietnam

The sixth Informatics Olympiad, exclusively sponsored by Hanwha Life, was held on March 21-22 at the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU). As a premier IT competition, the Olympiad identifies and fosters outstanding talents across Vietnam. The company has been sponsoring this event for two consecutive years, thus strengthening its commitment to regional technological advancement.

Hong Jeong-pyo, senior executive vice president of Hanwha Life, presenting a certificate and trophy to the winning team of the AI track. Photo: Hanwha Life

This year, the competition garnered significant attention, with a record-breaking number of participants. The number of participating schools surged by 48.3 per cent on-year to 525 institutions, while student participation increased by 19.5 per cent, with 2,848 competitors, the largest turnout so far.

These figures show the growing interest in Vietnamese IT sector as well as the growing influence of increasing competition.

Huynh Cong Phap, president of the VKU and chairman of the organising committee; Le Thi Bich Thuan, director of education and training for Danang; Hong Jeong-pyo, senior executive vice president of Hanwha Life; and Shin Jung Won, head of corporate social responsibility of ChildFund, attended the event to encourage participants and discuss the significance of the competition.

The newly introduced AI track was an exceptional contribution to this year’s event, marking a milestone in the competition’s evolution. This aligns with Hanwha Life’s vision of promoting AI and digital innovation within the global financial industry. The company has been actively expanding its AI research and business operations, establishing specialised units such as AI Division, AI Research Lab, and Hanwha AI Center (HAC) in San Francisco. These efforts aim not only to drive financial service innovation, but also to enhance personalised digital experiences for customers.

The winner of the AI track, Phung Nguyen Nhu Bach, stated, "I am sincerely grateful to Hanwha Life for providing a platform that showcases Vietnam’s AI capabilities on the global stage."

Vietnamese participants have made their mark internationally. Last year, the Super Cup champion went to compete in the International Olympiad in Informatics, securing an impressive two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.

During the competition, the company hosted "Hanwha Life Lecture Series", providing the participants and residents with insights into global finance and fintech. The event featured a keynote lecture by Jung Yoo Shin head of Korea Digital Economic and Financial Institute and a professor at Sogang University, titled “Digital Finance and Korean Fintech & Best Practices”.

Through this initiative, the company aimed to enhance financial literacy among local youth and inhabitants, contributing to the development of the Vietnamese financial ecosystem while expanding its future customer base.

Hong Jeong-pyo said, "The introduction of the AI track and financial education initiatives are part of Hanwha Life’s overseas corporate social responsibility strategy, “Future Plus Global”. Through this programme, we will strengthen global financial and digital capabilities of local youth. We will also continue to seek local talents and develop regional financial education infrastructure."

Phap added, "Thanks to Hanwha Life’s strong support as well as the introduction of the AI track, young Vietnamese have gained a valuable opportunity to grow as future leaders. This competition evolves into an inclusive platform where young talents can showcase their potential, regardless of their socioeconomic background."

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