Danang University students receive "seed capital" to start a business

Students experience BINKS plant paints at the Innovation Space of the Vietnam - UK Research and Training Institute, Danang University. Photo: PV

According to information from the Organizing Committee, this is a program to welcome student startup groups with excellent projects that have won high prizes in the annual student startup idea competition SV-Startup organized by the Ministry of Education and Training ; thereby providing in-depth knowledge and "seed capital" to encourage clear product development, bringing to market, contributing to solving social needs and protecting the environment. The BINKS project - vegetable ink - A new direction for green agriculture by a group of 5 students including: Tran Nhan Kiet (Biomedical Science major), Nguyen Hoang Thanh Tram (Computer Science major), Le Van Minh Tuan, Le Ngoc Anh Phuong and Pham Nhu Uyen Nhi (International Business Administration major) from the Vietnam - UK Research and Training Institute excellently won this award. The group members focus their time on research, utilizing surplus vegetables and fruits from markets and farms to create quality ink and paint products that meet the needs and tastes of users, while also being safe, protecting health and the environment.

According to student Tran Nhan Kiet, leader of the BINKS group, every year hundreds of tons of vegetable and fruit by-products are thrown away, causing waste of resources and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, many parents are concerned about the safety of the inks and paints their children use. From that practical need, members of the BINKS project have adjusted, tested... to produce a drawing ink product derived from the original Anthocyanin compound found in vegetables, tubers and fruits. The product has a variety of colors such as: red, orange, white, pink, purple, blue, yellow... with 3 times higher resistance to fading and 6 times faster drying speed than other drawing products. This is considered a completely new solution and no other type of drawing ink has ever been applied in Vietnam.

From the project "BINKS - Vegetable Ink", student Tran Nhan Kiet established BINK Green Products Joint Stock Company and started operating from the end of 2024. Kiet shared that at first, BINKS did not promote the goal of commercializing the product but was in the process of building brand recognition, promoting start-up activities, promoting the paint brand, perfecting diverse products for many customer segments... However, from December 2024, BINKS's natural paint products from vegetables, tubers, and fruits were available on the national e-commerce platform VIVINA.NET and the VIVINA application. "This is an important step in the journey to bring green, safe, and creative products closer to customers nationwide," Kiet shared.

The group prioritizes safety for users, especially children in primary and preschool age, so inspection is very important. Therefore, the paint products used must be safe and not affect health. In addition, the group also plans to organize fun activities, create games and challenges, combined with guiding children to use paint effectively in preschools and remote provinces.

The Vietnam Sunny Impact Startup (VSIS) is a model that demonstrates the role of higher education in nurturing innovative student nuclei for the community. This year, the Ministry of Education and Training selected 9 outstanding projects, honored and awarded the top 5 projects, including the BINKS Project. Before winning first prize in the program to support students to accelerate their social impact startups, the BINKS project of a group of students won first prize in the 6th national student startup idea competition chaired by the Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union , organized in Can Tho in May 2024.

THU HA

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202505/sinh-vien-dai-hoc-da-nang-nhan-von-moi-khoi-nghiep-4007560/