New signals from the university startup ecosystem

The project "Water filter made from pandan leaf fiber aerogel" won first prize.

Promoting green transformation from the classroom.

In 2025, the RnD to Start-up Competition will continue to be organized by the Center for Knowledge Transfer and Startup Support of Hanoi National University with the theme "Green Transformation - Startups Towards Sustainable Development".

The competition is designed to inspire creativity and research capabilities among young intellectuals; promote scientific and technological solutions serving green transformation, circular economy , and clean production; and expand opportunities for commercializing research results, inventions, and useful solutions – the “technological seeds” that need to be put into practice.

*VNU Venture Day 2025 combines the Final Round of the R&D to Start-up Competition and a Demo Day for participating projects.*

VNU Venture Day 2025 combines the Final Round of the R&D to Start-up Competition and a Demo Day for projects being incubated at the Hanoi National University Innovation Startup Incubator, creating a forum that closely connects research, the market, and investors.

The event attracted students, faculty, and research groups from numerous universities across the country, focusing on key areas of sustainable development: environmental technology - green energy, AI for resource management, IoT in smart manufacturing, environmentally friendly new materials, applied biology, and health technology.

The six finalist teams successfully passed four rigorous evaluation rounds involving experts, business CEOs, and representatives from investment funds, ensuring professionalism and adherence to practical requirements.

Speaking at the event, Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Ngoc Kiem, Director of the High-Tech and Innovation Park of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, emphasized: “VNU Venture Day is a new development in the journey of promoting innovation at Vietnam National University, Hanoi – where scientific research, startup ideas, and investment capital meet. We expect this event to become an annual platform supporting potential projects to develop into real businesses.”

*Associate Professor, Dr. Truong Ngoc Kiem, Director of the High-Tech and Innovation Park, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.*

He stated that all projects reaching the finals will have the opportunity to participate in the Hanoi National University's Innovation Startup Incubator, connecting with the Alumni Entrepreneur Club and partners to further refine their products, business models, and growth strategies.

From an investor's perspective, Mr. Le Thanh Nam, representative of Touchstone Partners, noted the significant maturity of the incubated projects: " Many projects now have prototypes, market data, and a vision for scaling up. More importantly, they have solved practical problems for businesses and the community."

Technology, market, and team capabilities – the "new benchmarks" for investors.

VNU Venture Day 2025 not only showcased ideas but also tested technological maturity, market resilience, and team capabilities – criteria that are increasingly becoming benchmarks in startup investment today. Many investors noted the significant growth of the R&D projects participating in the event. Based on practical market integration, Ms. Kim Ngoc Yen, representative of Sunwah Innovations, commented: “This year’s competing teams harmoniously combined technology, business models, and market understanding – something rarely seen in many student startup competitions.”

*Young startups impressed investors right on stage at VNU Venture Day.*

Looking at the emergence of AI-based startups (TinkTalk, GeneSkin.AI, InFlow), circular economy projects (Green Choice, VietSoil), or environmental solutions (IPureTech), it's clear that young students and scientists are addressing the key bottlenecks of the market and society: resource management, sustainable development, and environmental safety.

However, innovation cannot rely solely on enthusiasm. It requires institutions, mechanisms, and a testing ground where projects are allowed to make mistakes, correct them, and grow. In recent years, Vietnam has continuously adjusted its policies to encourage the commercialization of knowledge, including new regulations expanding the participation of lecturers in entrepreneurial activities. Representing the investment sector, Mr. Le Thanh Nam shared: “The new law allowing lecturers to invest in and participate in the management of businesses… this is a major breakthrough, helping lecturers to more deeply collaborate with students in technology transfer.”

*Many experts believe that VNU Venture Day 2025 will become a sustainable bridge between technology startups and the market.*

This policy addresses a long-standing bottleneck: technology within universities has great potential, but lacks the impetus to enter the market. When faculty members can participate in the life of start-ups, academic knowledge will move closer to practical production and business.

From the perspective of an ecosystem funding organization, Ms. Kim Ngoc Yen emphasized Sunwah's philosophy of partnership: "We don't invest in individual projects, but invest in the ecosystem – fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and creating an environment for students to grow through practical experience."

According to the Center for Knowledge Transfer and Startup Support, VNU Venture Day 2025 marks a significant shift in the innovation support model of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Integrating the competition, incubation, and investment networking into a single event demonstrates the formation of an internationally standardized "innovation gateway" model: a meeting point where knowledge, technology, and markets converge, creating a comprehensive startup support cycle.

Ms. Kim Yen, representative of Sunwah Innovations in Hanoi, highly appreciated the quality of this year's projects.

Many experts believe the event could become a sustainable bridge between technology startups and businesses, contributing to the formation of a generation of young entrepreneurs with a solid scientific foundation – a core condition of a knowledge-based economy.

VNU Venture Day 2025, therefore, is not only a festival for university startups but also a testament to the pioneering role of Vietnam National University, Hanoi in promoting green transformation, innovation, and sustainable development – strategic pillars of Vietnam in the new development phase.

THU TRANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tin-hieu-moi-tu-he-sinh-thai-khoi-nghiep-dai-hoc-post929670.html