Unleashing potential
After several intense rounds of competition, seven outstanding projects qualified for the final round of the "Duy Tan University Student Startup Ideas 2025" (DTU Startup) competition, held on December 12th. Each team presented innovative ideas, demonstrating groundbreaking thinking and the ability to grasp new technological trends. Among them, the project "Coconut Fiber Concrete - Green Concrete for the Future of Construction" by students Nguyen Tan Phuoc, Nguyen Ngoc Han, Nguyen Thanh Quy, Doan Le Anh Thu, and Huynh Ngoc Nhat Nguyen attracted the judges' attention thanks to its creative approach and high applicability.
The project proposes using processed coconut fiber to completely replace coarse aggregate in concrete, thereby creating an environmentally friendly "green concrete" material. The product possesses many advantages such as: good sound and heat insulation, high durability, 10-15% lighter weight than traditional concrete, and reduced production costs. The idea originated from the crisis of construction sand supply due to rampant exploitation and wasteful use of agricultural by-products, especially coconut fiber. Utilizing this by-product not only helps replace 100% of natural sand in the production of M200 grade paving bricks, but also opens up a direction for the sustainable development of construction materials according to a circular economy model.
With the goal of reducing pressure on natural resources, limiting soil and water pollution, and creating more livelihoods for rural workers, the group hopes the project will contribute to connecting agriculture , industry, and urban areas in a sustainable value chain. Student Nguyen Thanh Quy said that the product brings many values according to the "3R" model, which includes: Reduce - reducing sand mining; Reuse - utilizing agricultural by-products; Revolutionize - creating a transformation in the construction materials industry.
Dr. Tran Nhat Tan, Vice Director of Duy Tan University, said that in its long-term strategy, the university has identified entrepreneurship not as a fleeting trend but as a core competency that helps students adapt and create new value. DTU Startup is not just a playground, but also an inseparable part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that Duy Tan is developing.
Accordingly, the university has built this ecosystem based on the synchronized support of research centers, lab systems, and maker spaces; training programs and seminars linked to practical applications; and a series of workshops and in-depth training sessions. In addition, there is an effort to support pre-incubation aimed at commercialization, along with the collaboration of a network of businesses. As a result, students are trained in market analysis, business model adaptation, product testing, and project refinement through peer review. The university will continue to nurture promising projects to bring practical value to the community.
Focus on nurturing promising ideas and projects.
In 2025, the University of Education (Da Nang University) implemented a comprehensive development strategy, shifting strongly from a traditional training university model to an "Innovative University" model. This resulted in several notable achievements, including: launching and operating the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Center; establishing the "Open PCR Lab," creating an open research space to encourage ideas in the biotechnology field; mobilizing 300 million VND to support incubation for 10 promising student startup projects; and organizing 11 in-depth training workshops…
Associate Professor Vo Van Minh, Rector of the University of Education, stated that the university's mission is to create and disseminate knowledge, serving the community in three main areas: natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, and educational sciences; with a focus on training high-quality teachers for the Central and Central Highlands regions. The university's vision is to become a distinctive and sustainable innovative university, playing a connecting role in culture, science, and education in Southeast Asia. The university also aspires to become a link in the national innovation network, contributing to making Da Nang a destination for knowledge, technology, and talent.
According to Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Le Son Phong, the department has submitted to the Da Nang City People's Committee a draft plan titled "Da Nang - City of Innovation" with many important goals by 2030, such as: striving to be among the top 300 global innovation and startup ecosystems; supporting the development of at least 600 innovative startup projects and businesses; having at least one technology unicorn valued at $1 billion; connecting with at least 100 domestic and international venture capital funds…
To realize these goals, the participation of universities, colleges, and research institutes in the area plays a crucial role in providing high-quality human resources, incubating ideas, transferring technology, and forming and developing innovative startups.
It is also essential that schools and relevant units coordinate to promote human resource training aligned with practical needs; strengthen programs and encourage students and lecturers to participate in research and implementation of applied projects; develop incubation systems and strengthen connections with businesses; and effectively implement the goal of incubating and forming innovative startups and science and technology enterprises from universities.
Expand international cooperation, leverage networks of experts, incubators, and investment funds to improve the quality of the innovation ecosystem; spread the spirit of innovation among students, build a culture of daring to think, daring to act, and being ready to start businesses.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/khoi-day-tu-duy-khoi-nghiep-cho-sinh-vien-3314752.html
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