Bringing creative ideas out of the "incubator"

Many universities and colleges are striving to create an environment and support mechanisms to help students turn their ideas into practical products, gradually moving towards entrepreneurship. However, this is not easy and requires concerted efforts from many sides.

A wealth of startup ideas

The Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer (CISAT, under Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education) spans 3,200 square ^meters , but it's rarely quiet. Here, groups of students are constantly engaged in lively discussions and consultations with leading experts from the university to plan the production of "made in HCMUTE" products.

Students participating in research projects on electrical devices and microcircuits at the CISAT Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education.

Student Nguyen Ngoc Bao Tram from the Department of Chemical and Food Technology, along with her team, has completed the project "Nutritious Black Garlic and Jackfruit Seed Cakes Rich in Antioxidants and Low Glycemic Index for Diabetics." The project aims to create a line of healthy cakes made from black garlic and jackfruit seeds. "Thanks to its low glycemic index and healthy ingredients, the product is designed to cater to dieters, especially diabetics," Bao Tram shared.

At the University of Information Technology (VNU-HCM), creative entrepreneurship activities also attract a large number of students and lecturers with many products and projects that can be immediately applied to production. Nguyen Doan Hoang Phuc, a student from the Computer Engineering Faculty, expressed his satisfaction with his first completed project: designing a RISC-V microcontroller with integrated hardware encoding, which helps save energy specifically for IoT systems. Hoang Phuc shared: “To save energy, the RISC-V design process requires many complex techniques in physical design. Throughout the 6 months of implementation, I received dedicated guidance from my teachers. With this project, I have completed the design of a RISC-V microcontroller that can be sent to factories for production.”

Meanwhile, at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, a group of students led by Pham Tran Minh Thu from the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Technology implemented the project "AroTrips - A set of health care products for tourists from white turmeric". The project aims to incorporate the indigenous medicinal herb white turmeric into health care products, suitable for the needs of tourists, thanks to its combination of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin regenerating properties...

Finding a "midwife" to commercialize it.

According to Mr. Le Tan Cuong, Deputy Director of the CISAT Center, for students' ideas and projects to truly become applied products, the support and collaboration from businesses are essential. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education is cooperating with thousands of businesses, with CISAT playing a bridging role between research activities and practical production. The center also implements applied research models to promote the commercialization of technology products.

Mr. TRAN ANH TUAN, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association:

Improving institutions and developing human resources.

A sustainable startup ecosystem cannot rely solely on the enthusiasm and ideas of teachers and students; it requires three pillars: institutions, capital, and human resources. These three elements must be closely interconnected and creatively applied to create momentum. The city needs to continue reforming the management mechanisms of science and technology, moving towards flexibility, transparency, and increased autonomy; forming strong public science and technology organizations, oriented towards multiple disciplines and fields, to act as a core link between the State, businesses, and schools.

One of the clearest examples of this orientation is the MakerSpace creative space – a place that supports startup incubation, idea development, and bringing technology products into reality. MakerSpace is equipped with many modern devices such as welding machines, drilling machines, sewing machines, CNC cutting machines, electronic circuit boards, etc., serving almost all training fields of the school. "Thanks to this, the products developed here not only meet academic requirements but also ensure quality, applicability, and commercialization potential," emphasized Mr. Le Tan Cuong.

At the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), in 2024, more than 30 startup projects were successfully incubated. UEH also organizes intensive training courses, connects businesses, and provides consulting and support for student startups. Associate Professor Phan Thi Bich Nguyet, Director of the UEH Institute of Innovation, said that the university always accompanies innovative initiatives through many programs, attracting the participation of students and experts from large companies and corporations. As a result, many innovative projects and business models associated with the circular economy and green technology have been successfully developed. “To ensure that student entrepreneurship truly comes to life, it is necessary to expand startup centers and incubators… because these are the nurturing ground for creative ideas,” Associate Professor Phan Thi Bich Nguyet emphasized.

According to representatives from several businesses, transforming student ideas and projects from laboratories and incubation centers into actual production is a long process requiring perseverance from the entrepreneurs and strong support resources. Currently, many businesses are willing to invest capital and partner with students and universities in the product development process. However, these young entrepreneurs themselves need to acquire additional skills beyond their professional expertise, especially operational and management skills, to successfully start their businesses.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training, during the period 2020-2024, students nationwide implemented more than 42,500 startup ideas and projects within the framework of competitions and support programs organized by the ministry and provinces/cities. Of these, nearly 300 student business development projects were incubated, and 12 businesses secured investment capital. Currently, about 60% of higher education institutions have established startup clubs in priority areas, based on the strengths of each institution.

QUANG HUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dua-y-tuong-sang-tao-ra-khoi-vuon-uom-post820687.html