Nghe An awards Techfest Open 2025 and launches the "Search for creative startup talent 2026" contest

Delegates attending the Techfest Nghe An Open 2025 Awards Ceremony. Photo: TP

On the evening of October 10, the Department of Science and Technology of Nghe An organized the Techfest Nghe An Open 2025 Award Ceremony with the theme "Aspiration of Lam River - For a rising Vietnam" and launched the Contest "Searching for Nghe An creative startup talents in 2026".

Attending the award ceremony were comrades: Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of provincial departments and branches.
On the side of the Central agencies, there were comrades: Nguyen Van Truc - Director of the Center for Science and Technology Development, Ministry of Science and Technology ; Bui Trung Nghia - Vice President of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry.

sightseeing — Delegates visit booths at the event. Photo: TP

Responding to the major policies of the Party and State on developing science, technology, innovation, implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and the province's socio-economic development strategy in the new period, Techfest Nghe An Open 2025 is organized with the motto "Breakthrough - Progress", aiming to search for, nurture and accompany potential startup ideas, associated with the strengths and development needs of the locality.

After 6 months of launching, the contest has attracted more than 130 applications from organizations and individuals inside and outside the province. Through training, assessment and selection rounds, the Organizing Committee has selected 20 outstanding projects for the final round.

After 2 days of the final round, the Organizing Committee used the scoring criteria to select the best projects.

Comrades: Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation awarded the First Prize to the author team of the ocopai.vn E-commerce Platform Project. Photo: TP

As a result, 10 outstanding innovative startup projects were awarded, including 1 First Prize, 2 Second Prizes, 3 Third Prizes and 4 Encouragement Prizes. In addition, 10 other projects were recognized as Potential Startup Projects, recognizing the efforts, creativity and determination of young startup groups to pursue their ideas.

This year’s competition is considered a success in both scale and quality. The winning projects clearly demonstrate the scientific value, practical application and creative spirit of Nghe An’s young start-up force. The results also show the accompaniment and active contribution of departments, branches, businesses, experts and investors in the process of building and developing the province’s creative start-up ecosystem.

Comrade Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Comrade Bui Trung Nghia - Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry awarded the Second Prize to the author group of the Craftverse Project - Connecting the quintessence, spreading the value of handicrafts. Photo: TP

The honored ideas and products not only demonstrate the intelligence and bravery of Nghe An people but also carry the mission of contributing to the community, promoting digital transformation, innovating production models, developing knowledge-based economy and green economy.

The competition also affirms the role of innovation and entrepreneurship as a core driving force to improve competitiveness and promote international integration. This is not only an inevitable trend of the times, but also the spirit of action and aspiration to contribute of the young generation - those who dare to think, dare to do, dare to break through to master the future.

Awarding certificates and prizes to the third prize winning authors. Photo: TP

In that spirit, within the framework of the award ceremony, the Contest "Searching for Nghe An Creative Startup Talents in 2026" was officially launched, with the message: "Aspiration for innovation - Breakthrough creativity - Building the future". The 2026 contest aims to connect the entire startup ecosystem, spread the spirit of "Nghe An people starting a business on Nghe An land", and arouse creative energy in all classes of people - from entrepreneurs, youth, intellectuals, farmers, women to overseas Vietnamese.

In his opening speech, Comrade Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee called on the business community and pioneering entrepreneurs to innovate business models, apply new technologies, become investors and companions of startups; youth, students, and intellectuals to nurture the desire for creativity, commit to starting a business, and boldly turn ideas into valuable products and services.

Awarding the Encouragement Prize to the author of Capmedia Project – Video design service. Photo: TP

At the same time, the provincial leaders also requested departments, branches and localities to continue removing barriers, reforming administration, creating an open legal environment; socio-political organizations to increase inspiration, organize training, connect experts so that the creative startup movement can spread widely in the community. In particular, educational institutions and research institutes are encouraged to include startup education in the curriculum, closely connecting schools - businesses - scientists, forming a real and sustainable "startup school" model.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasized that he will commit to accompanying the startup community on every development journey, with three key orientations: Perfecting the creative startup ecosystem; prioritizing resources and policies for projects associated with local strengths, creative models, digital platforms; and connecting experts, investors, and startup funds at home and abroad to form the Nghe An - Vietnam - International value chain.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De launched the contest "Searching for creative startup talents in Nghe An in 2026" with the message: "Aspiration for innovation - Breakthrough creativity - Building the future". Photo: TP

By taking science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as strategic levers, Nghe An is affirming its determination to successfully implement Resolution 57-NQ/TW, aiming for the goal of rapid and sustainable development, for a prosperous and happy life, contributing to creating a dynamic, creative Nghe An, strongly striving on the journey of innovation.

First Prize:

E-commerce platform ocopai.vn of the author group: Tran Nam Trung, Le Hien Mai, Nguyen Quoc Duong of Vinhmedia Communication Company Limited.

2 Second Prizes:

Craftverse - Connecting the quintessence, spreading the value of handicrafts. Author group: Vo Uyen My, Nguyen Duc Phu, Nguyen Tien Dung, Nguyen Khanh Linh, Nguyen Hoang Ngan, Nguyen Thuy Tien, Nguyen Thao Ha Linh.
Tin Hoc Tre Pro – Online programming learning and exam preparation platform for primary and secondary school students by author: Nguyen Nhu Phung, Tra Lan Primary School 1.

3 Third Prizes:

MoneyLog - Smart spending management , author group: Phan Minh Chau, Nguyen Thi Phuong Chi, Tran Thi Ha Phuong, Vinh University.
Development of robots with electric car architecture for smart transportation, towards global automation by the group of authors: Duong Dinh Tu, Dinh Van Nam, Phan Van Vy, Hoang Van Duc, Nguyen Dang Nghia of Vinh University.
Autonomous cargo transport robot, author group: Nguyen Anh Doan, Vuong Dao Nhan, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Nguyen Hong Hoa, Nguyen Van Trien, Le Van Nam of Vietnam - Korea College of Technology.

4 Consolation prizes include: