Enhancing the innovation start-up ecosystem in the Mekong Delta region

(TVU) On November 14, Tra Vinh University coordinated with the Student Start-up Supporting Network in the Mekong Delta region to organize the final round of the competition “Student Start-up Ideas in the Mekong Delta – INNOBE 2023” and launch the Creative Student Village Hub in the Mekong Delta region.

At the meeting, there was Mr. Nguyen Xuan Niem, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department of Kien Giang province; Mr. Pham Minh Quoc, Director of Industrial Technology Incubator Vietnam – Korea; Mr. Lam Thai Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Tra Vinh province and representatives of departments inside and outside the province.

On the side of the Creative Student Village was Ms. Le Thi Thanh Tam – Head of the National Creative Student Village, sponsor of INNOBE 2023, and village co-heads.

On the side of Tra Vinh University, there were Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, Rector of Tra Vinh University, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Student Start-up Supporting Network in the Mekong Delta, Head of the Organizing Committee; Dr. Thach Thi Dan, Vice Rector; Mr. Nguyen Van Vu An, Director of Tra Vinh Province Business Incubator, Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Co-head of the Creative Student Village, Chief Coordinator of the Student Start-up Supporting Network in the Mekong Delta region, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee, members of the Student Start-up Supporting Network in the Mekong Delta region and representatives of high schools in the Mekong Delta region.

Giving the opening speech, Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, Rector of Tra Vinh University, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Student Start-up Supporting Network in the Mekong Delta, and Head of the Organizing Committee, said: “INNOBE 2023 – Start-up idea competition is a useful playground, promoting the entrepreneurial spirit, improving students’ entrepreneurial knowledge and skills; Building close relationships between higher education institutions, colleges and secondary schools, developing cooperation and harmonious complementarity between members of the Network, maximizing the existing resources of each start-up support organization; Connecting members to carry out international projects and research on innovative start-ups. INNOBE is not only an opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities, but also an opportunity to learn, develop skills and future orientation, realize ideas, and find a path for career in the future.”

Also, launching the Creative Student Village Hub in the Mekong Delta is an important focal point for forming and developing an innovative start-up ecosystem at the region’s universities, colleges, and high schools. The rector believed that confidence, patience, and continuous learning would help students make a difference and contribute positively to society’s future development.

Mrs. Le Thi Thanh Tam, Head of the National Creative Student Village, said: “The Student Village Hub is a place to connect experts, investors, and local start-up ecosystems in implementing and realizing ideas. It supports students passionate about starting a business to have funds, creating more motivation for their ideas to compete in the market.” She hoped that students could always be confident and maintain their passion to reach their dreams.

Within the program’s framework, the Workshop on Connecting the Innovative Start-up Ecosystem presented the topics of entrepreneurship, creativity, and education. Mr. Nguyen Van Vu An, Director of Tra Vinh Province Business Incubator, Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Co-head of the Creative Student Village, Chief Coordinator of the Student Start-up Support Network – Mekong Delta region, Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee with the report “The role of Tra Vinh University in promoting and supporting start-ups: Evidence from Tra Vinh University” presented the role of the University in the development stages of the entrepreneurial process.

On this occasion, the launching ceremony of the Creative Student Village HUB in the Mekong Delta with 40 members and new members of the Network and the implementation of the project “The journey to build creative thinking for 10,000 students in the Mekong Delta” are the commitment of organizations and communities to encouraging the sustainable and creative development of young people.

At the event, the MOU Signing Ceremony between Tra Vinh University and the Creative Student Village in the Mekong Delta, the Invention and Innovation Enterprise Village, Techfest Vietnam and CAPITALX Vietnam Technology Joint Stock Company, and AURA CAPITAL company was held to tighten the cooperative relationship between units, creating conditions for students who are passionate about creative start-ups to have the opportunity to realize their ideas in the future.

On the same day, the final round of the 2nd “Student Start-up Ideas in the Mekong Delta region – INNOBE 2023” competition took place, with 17 ideas from the High School Student Board and 30 from the University Student Board.

At the end of the competition, at the High School Student Board, Huynh Tan Phat High School, Ben Tre province, excellently won the first prize with the idea of “Producing organic food from fermented durian peel powder combining local ingredients and farming ducks by organic method” by the author group Vo Phuong Thuy; My Phuoc Secondary – High School, Vinh Long province, won the second prize with the idea “Producing eco-bricks from coal slag, quicklime, and school plastic bottle waste” by author group Vo Thi My Linh; School of Pedagogical Practice, Tra Vinh University won the third prize with the idea “Improving productivity, creating a clean, antibiotic-free food source from Moringa leaves” by author Duong Nguyen; 02 Consolation prizes were awarded to Huu Thanh High School, Vinh Long province, for the idea “Dream Handmade” and Chau Thanh High School, Kien Giang province for the idea “Organic fertilizer from agricultural and aquatic waste.” In addition, the Organizing Committee awarded the Most Favorite Idea award to the idea “Aquaculture intercropping project” of Chau Thanh High School, Kien Giang province.

At the University Student Board, the idea “A system for posting information to promote motel and hotel service products” by the author group Vu Tuan Anh of Can Tho University of Technology excellently won the first prize; The second prize belonged to the idea “Flogurt freeze-dried vegetable yogurt from jackfruit seeds and soybeans” by the author group Huynh Hoang Bao from Can Tho University; The third prize belonged to the idea “S2M – Skin from mango peel” by author Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, Tra Vinh University; The Organizing Committee awarded 02 consolation prizes for the idea “Preserving the medicinal value of forest bitter melon associated with economic development in ethnic minority areas from the Handmade Mocha soap product” of Kien Giang Boarding Ethnic Vocational College and the idea of “Producing biological Nano products to preserve agricultural products” of Tra Vinh University; In addition, the Organizing Committee awarded the Most Favorite Idea award to Can Tho University of Engineering and Technology with the idea “SMART LIFE”.

By My Nhien