The journey of "nurturing" young creativity.

The journey of the group of students implementing the project "THE VL-Bio GreenAgri - Nanotechnology and AI for crop productivity management and a doctor for farmers" - Vinh Long University of Technology and Education began with specialized classes, field surveys, and a very simple question: how can technology help farmers cultivate more efficiently? From that thought, a project was formed, gradually bringing provincial students onto the national startup stage.

The journey of the group of students implementing the project "THE VL-Bio GreenAgri - Nanotechnology and AI for crop productivity management and a doctor for farmers" - Vinh Long University of Technology and Education began with specialized classes, field surveys, and a very simple question: how can technology help farmers cultivate more efficiently? From that thought, a project was formed, gradually bringing provincial students onto the national startup stage.

The group of students from Vinh Long University of Technology and Education received the Encouragement Award at the competition.

From the anxieties of working in the fields...

In the early days of the project, the student group didn't think their idea would have the opportunity to compete with hundreds of outstanding projects nationwide. What they first saw were the very real difficulties in local agricultural production: pests and diseases were difficult to detect early, care costs were high, and monitoring yields still relied heavily on manual experience.

Student Doan Trong Nhan, majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology, shared: "During our classes, we were exposed to a lot of knowledge about technology, automation, and AI. But when we looked at reality, we realized that farmers still face many difficulties in managing their crops. That's what motivated our group to create a highly applicable solution."

From simple exchanges between members, the idea gradually took shape. A group of students from two majors, Mechanical Engineering Technology and Biotechnology, began to connect their expertise to develop the project "THE VL-Bio GreenAgri - Nanotechnology and AI for crop productivity management and a doctor for farmers".

The project aims to apply nanotechnology combined with AI to help farmers detect early signs of abnormalities in crops, optimize yields, and reduce farming costs. Phan Gia Bao, a student majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology, recalled: “There were times when the model wasn't stable, and the data wasn't accurate enough, forcing the team to redo things many times. There were times when the team felt quite discouraged because the progress was slower than expected.”

Evenings in the workshop and weekends in the research lab gradually became a familiar routine. But it was also during this process that the students learned teamwork, task delegation, time management, and perseverance towards their chosen goals. Student Dang Cao Minh Dat, majoring in Biotechnology, stated that the project's unique aspect lies in its practical application: "The group focused on developing a simple, easy-to-use solution that is still effective and suitable for local agricultural production conditions."

It comes down to the spirit of perseverance and creativity.

If ideas are "seeds," then university lecture halls are where those seeds are nurtured and take shape. According to Associate Professor Phan Anh Cang, Vice Rector of Vinh Long University of Technology and Education, the university identifies innovative entrepreneurship as one of its key tasks to promote students' creative abilities, scientific research skills, and application of knowledge to practice. With the guidance of lecturers, the university provides students with access to laboratories, workshops, testing equipment, connections with businesses and experts, and financial support throughout the project completion process.

Dr. Nguyen Thai Van, Head of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation, said: “Currently, the university prioritizes many policies to support students, especially in student entrepreneurship competitions held right on campus; providing support through funding, facilities and a team of mentors with in-depth expertise.”

The school has also established a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, along with mentoring clubs, to provide students with an environment for exchanging and developing ideas. In 2025 alone, 45 student projects and ideas were developed within this ecosystem.

The moment the names of the student group from Vinh Long University of Technology and Education were announced on the national stage became an unforgettable milestone. Student Nguyen Tuan Thanh, majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology, emotionally stated: “It’s not just an award, but also a recognition of the perseverance, creativity, and efforts of the entire group.”

The team is currently refining the project towards practical application and commercialization. Student Ha Nguyen Duy Nguyen, majoring in Biotechnology, stated: “The team is focusing on improving technology, optimizing costs, and enhancing product stability. We hope to receive support from businesses and investment funds to help the project develop more professionally.”

From that journey, the group also conveyed a message to young people: "Be brave and start, don't be afraid of failure. If you are persistent enough and don't give up, every experience will help you grow." Behind an award is personal joy, the result of a training process linked to practice, where the school not only teaches knowledge but also creates opportunities for students to transform knowledge into value.

In the 8th "Students and Young Entrepreneurs with Startup Ideas" Competition in 2026, a group of students from Vinh Long University of Technology and Education won the Encouragement Prize with their project "THE VL-Bio GreenAgri - Nanotechnology and AI for Crop Productivity Management and a Doctor for Farmers," in the fields of agriculture, environment, and energy.

Text and photos: CAO HUYEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/the-gioi-tre/202605/hanh-trinh-uom-mam-sang-tao-tre-56a4955/