Âu Lạc Grand Prize Announces USD 1 Million Award to Honor Vietnam-Owned AI Breakthroughs

Hanoi, Vietnam – January 12, 2026 – In an effort to realize Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, the Âu Lạc AI Alliance has announced the Âu Lạc Grand Prize, awarding USD 1 million to one most outstanding AI product or solution fully mastered by Vietnamese innovators. This is currently the largest technology prize in Vietnam.

 

 

The Âu Lạc Grand Prize recognizes Vietnamese-built and Vietnam-owned AI products and solutions that generate strong, sustainable impact on society and the economy. The prize aims to foster a spirit of technological mastery and to reinforce Vietnamese intellectual presence on the global technology map. The award is expected to be presented for three consecutive years, starting in 2026.

 

The prize is initiated by the Âu Lạc AI Alliance, sponsored by FPT Corporation, with media sponsorship from the Government Portal and VnExpress. The evaluation council comprises leading AI experts, scientists, technology business leaders, investment funds, universities, and representatives of the domestic and international innovation community, ensuring independence, objectivity and global standards throughout the assessment process.

 

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Tuan Anh: The Âu Lạc Grand Prize by the Âu Lạc AI Alliance, supported by FPT Corporation, is a practical initiative that helps translate the Party’s and the State’s major policies into concrete action.

 

Speaking at the award launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Tuan Anh stated that, as Vietnam implements Party resolutions to accelerate innovation, science and technology development and national digital transformation—while identifying AI as a foundational technology to strengthen national competitiveness and Vietnam’s international standing—science and technology diplomacy has emerged as a new spearhead, focusing on innovation, digital transformation and green transition. This contributes to building the 11 strategic technologies under Decision No. 1131 and to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW. In that context, he noted, the organization of the Âu Lạc Grand Prize by the Âu Lạc AI Alliance, with sponsorship from FPT Corporation, is a meaningful initiative that helps operationalize major Party and State decisions, while creating an effective platform connecting research, application and international cooperation in AI.

 

Deputy Minister Le Tuan Anh also emphasized the prize’s significance for Vietnamese communities worldwide. The award serves as an important bridge between Vietnamese scientists, experts and technology entrepreneurs living, studying and working abroad and the domestic innovation ecosystem. Through the prize, Vietnamese talent across the world gains an additional platform to connect, contribute and accompany the country’s development.

 

Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Âu Lạc AI Alliance and Chairman of FPT Corporation, shared: “General Secretary To Lam has emphasized that one of the five key priorities for the country in the 2025–2030 period is to establish a new growth model that ensures fast yet sustainable development, with science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main drivers, and gradual technological self-reliance—especially in strategic technologies. In response to that call, the Âu Lạc AI Alliance is determined to organize the Âu Lạc Grand Prize. What we aim for are AI products developed by Vietnamese people, for Vietnamese people. History shows that, more than anyone else, we have a responsibility to protect our country—and in today’s context, that means protecting technological sovereignty and AI sovereignty.”

 

In addition to the USD 1 million prize, winning individuals or organizations will receive strategic and technical mentorship, as well as market-expansion support and international connections through the Âu Lạc AI Alliance, FPT Corporation and the prize’s partners.

 

Comprehensive Evaluation Criteria with Impact at the Core

 

Âu Lạc Grand Prize focuses on AI products and solutions that are fully developed and already deployed in practice, assessed against a specific framework covering impact, innovation, sustainability, scalability and compliance with AI ethics principles.

• Impact: The solution is completed and deployed in practice, delivering measurable socio-economic benefits in Vietnam, with clear results validated by partners or customers.

• Innovation and technological mastery: Demonstrates breakthrough thinking in technology, deployment models or problem-solving approaches.

• Sustainability: Ensures long-term viability, scalability and efficient use of resources.

• Contribution to solving global challenges: Shows potential for international expansion and the ability to address shared global problems.

• AI ethics: Complies with principles of transparency, privacy protection, risk mitigation and minimizing negative societal impacts.

 

Open Opportunities for the Vietnamese AI Community

 

To ignite and encourage Vietnamese technological mastery, the Âu Lạc Grand Prize is open to all Vietnamese citizens and to organizations whose product/solution development team lead is a Vietnamese citizen, regardless of age or sector. Applicants must commit that the submitted product or solution is legitimate intellectual property developed and owned by Vietnamese innovators and exploited in accordance with applicable laws.

 

In 2026, the Âu Lạc Grand Prize is expected to follow this timeline:

• March: Online registration opens

• July: Submission deadline

• August: Preliminary round

• October: Final round

• November: Award ceremony

 

About the Âu Lạc AI Alliance and FPT’s AI Journey

 

The Âu Lạc AI Alliance was established in response to General Secretary To Lam’s call that developing science and technology, innovation and digital transformation is not optional but the only path to national development and improved living standards. The alliance brings together more than 20 government agencies, enterprises and universities to develop large language models (LLMs) capable of processing Vietnamese accurately and naturally, aligned with Vietnamese culture and identity—thereby improving digital literacy and advancing the national economy.

 

The alliance also aims to build an open and transparent AI community where individuals, organizations and businesses can freely access and use the alliance’s public assets—including source code, data and models—even for commercial purposes, to spark innovation, scale AI adoption and advance national AI sovereignty. In addition, the alliance is committed to developing safe and responsible AI products, compliant with ethical standards and Vietnam’s legal regulations.

 

Under Decision No. 1131/QD-TTg dated June 12, 2025 issued by the Prime Minister on the list of strategic technologies and strategic technology products, AI ranks first among the 11 strategic technology groups. Strategic technologies are defined as breakthrough technologies with strong spillover effects, playing a critical role in strengthening technological autonomy, creating national competitive advantage, and safeguarding national defense and security.

 

More than a decade ago, FPT pioneered AI research and development in Vietnam and identified AI as a key strategic technology. To date, FPT has a team of more than 1,000 AI engineers and experts, and has developed two AI factories in Vietnam and Japan. FPT’s AI products and solutions have been widely applied across sectors such as education, healthcare, banking, commerce and urban management, contributing to improved quality of life and stronger productivity and competitiveness for organizations and enterprises, with hundreds of millions of uses each month.

 

In talent development, FPT maintains research collaborations with universities and institutes in Vietnam and globally, including Mila and LandingAI; has introduced AI education from Grade 1 and integrated AI/robotics into K–12 education. To date, FPT has trained 1,700 AI-major students and targets training AI skills for 500,000 people by 2030.

 

In December 2025, FPT established the Strategic Technology Steering Committee to accelerate the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, comprising five units: the Quantum AI and Cyber Security Institute (QACI), FPT UAV, FPT Railway Technology (FMT), FPT Cyber Security and DC5. This is a strategic move aimed at mastering core technologies and developing high-quality human resources for national technological sovereignty.