'Cement-free permeable concrete' wins first prize in the 'Potential Startup Project' competition.

The "Cement-Free Permeable Concrete" project by a group of students from the Western University of Construction has won first prize in the "Potential Startup Project" competition, held on December 17th at Can Tho University. The competition was part of the Can Tho City Science and Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation Week 2025.

The project "Cement-Free Permeable Concrete" (Western University of Construction) won First Prize at the competition.

After the preliminary rounds, 10 outstanding projects advanced to the final round of the "Potential Startup Project" competition. Here, the teams presented their ideas and business models and answered critical questions from a judging panel comprising experts, business representatives, startup incubators, and innovation support organizations.

According to the judges, this year's projects showed serious investment in scientific content, feasibility, and market thinking. Many ideas stemmed from very specific issues in life, such as environmentally friendly building materials, nutritious food, smart tourism, public health care, or green transformation. This shows that students are not just stopping at creative ideas but have begun to approach a systematic entrepreneurial mindset, knowing how to connect research with societal needs.

The first-prize winning project, "Cement-Free Permeable Concrete," was highly praised by the judging panel for its innovative approach in the field of construction materials. The product aims to solve urban drainage problems, reduce flooding, and minimize carbon emissions, aligning with sustainable development trends and climate change adaptation – a major challenge for cities in the Mekong Delta. The project is not only technically significant but also demonstrates commercial viability, opening up potential for practical application if further refined and invested in.

The Organizing Committee also awarded a Second Prize to the project "Fermented Brown Rice Drink" (Can Tho University); two Third Prizes to the projects BANAGUT – Healthy from the gut, clean from nature ( Kien Giang University) and SNACK TEMPEH from fermented soybeans (Can Tho University). In addition, six Consolation Prizes were awarded to projects in various fields such as food, materials, digital technology and tourism, reflecting the diversity in students' startup ideas.

Speaking on behalf of the Organizing Committee, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Cao De ( Can Tho University) stated: "The noteworthy aspect of the competition lies not only in the ranking results, but more importantly, in its role as a 'launching pad' for students' startup ideas. Through the competition, feasible projects will continue to receive professional advice and mentorship, and be connected with startup ecosystems, business incubators, and investors in the region. This is an opportunity for students to gradually refine their products, build business models, and move towards commercialization, instead of remaining purely academic ideas."

Potential projects will continue to be nurtured and refined to participate in the National Student Entrepreneurship Competition in the 2025-2026 academic year, as well as international student exchange activities in the field of entrepreneurship. This is an important step towards gradually integrating the entrepreneurial ideas of students in the Mekong Delta region into the national and international entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/be-tong-tham-nuoc-khong-xi-mang-gianh-giai-nhat-cuoc-thi-du-an-khoi-nghiep-tiem-nang-20251217213445248.htm