From university laboratories, many technological innovations developed by Vietnamese researchers are finding their way into real-world applications. Along this journey, initiatives such as the Au Lac AI Alliance and the Au Lac Grand Prize are helping create new opportunities and motivation for Vietnamese researchers.
Untapped Vietnamese Innovation in Universities
Without setting foot in their fields, farmers can monitor rice crops through their smartphones and receive pest and disease alerts using Awarn, a solution combining AI, IoT, and measurement devices developed by four students from Hanoi University of Science and Technology and Banking Academy of Vietnam. The project was previously introduced at the Rural Youth Startup Project Competition organized by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.
An increasing number of young Vietnamese innovators are applying AI to smart agriculture to improve productivity and reduce crop damage caused by pests and diseases.Awarn is just one of many technology ideas developed by Vietnamese students.
In 2026, the VietFuture Awards, an annual initiative organized by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, received 190 projects and 245 nominations from 36 universities and colleges.
Previously, the 2025 Student Science and Technology Awards attracted 628 research projects from 112 higher education institutions, up from 536 projects submitted by 95 institutions in 2024.
These figures highlight the wealth of research ideas emerging from Vietnamese universities. At the same time, they raise an important question: How can these projects move beyond competitions and become products that deliver practical value?
Technology Awards: Bridging the Gap Between Research and the Market
Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW provide further momentum for science and technology development, innovation, and talent cultivation while encouraging the commercialization of research outcomes.
However, transforming ideas into market-ready products requires platforms where research teams can test solutions, access expert guidance, and connect with real-world needs.
In Vietnam, Viettel AI Race 2026 demonstrates how businesses can accelerate AI adoption through technology competitions.
Featuring challenges ranging from 3D digital twins and large language model optimization to medical knowledge retrieval, the competition enables participating teams to work with real-world data and industry experts to refine their solutions.
In the semiconductor sector, the Integrated Circuit Design Competition for Smart Cities, jointly organized by the Management Board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park, the National Innovation Center (NIC), the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Training (DSAC), and other partners, has helped identify and nurture young talent.
Participants receive training, access to design tools, and guidance from industry experts.
In 2025, a team from the University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, won first prize with a project developing an energy-efficient RISC-V microcontroller featuring integrated hardware encryption.
The project was highly rated for practical applicability and commercialization potential.
These initiatives demonstrate how technology competitions can bridge research and real-world applications, particularly when they combine specific industry challenges with technological resources and corporate support.
First prize at the second Integrated Circuit Design Competition for Smart Cities was awarded to students from the University of Information Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: VGP/Nguyen Tran.Au Lac Grand Prize: A Launchpad for Vietnamese AI Products
In June 2025, the Au Lac AI Alliance was established following an initiative by FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh.
The Alliance brought together more than 20 founding members, including businesses, universities, and technology organizations, with the goal of building an open AI community, advancing research, facilitating knowledge sharing, and developing AI products owned and controlled by Vietnamese innovators.
Building on this vision, the Alliance launched the Au Lac Grand Prize, with FPT as the sponsor.
The award offers USD 1 million to an outstanding AI product developed and owned by Vietnamese innovators.
Unlike competitions that focus primarily on ideas or experimental prototypes, the Au Lac Grand Prize targets AI products that have already been deployed in Vietnam, demonstrated socioeconomic value, and shown the potential for sustainable operation and scalability.
Through this approach, the award aims to accelerate research commercialization and bring AI solutions out of laboratories to address real-world needs.
According to Mr. Truong Gia Binh, the award's ultimate objective goes beyond identifying a single outstanding product. It seeks to inspire millions of young Vietnamese people to pursue AI research and development.
The award will run for at least three years, providing long-term motivation for both teams with established products and those just beginning their research journeys.
FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh believes the Au Lac Grand Prize will encourage millions of young Vietnamese people to actively pursue AI research and development. Source: FPT.Beyond the USD 1 million prize, FPT, the Au Lac AI Alliance, and their partners will provide strategic and technical mentorship, along with connections to international markets, for the winning product.
These resources are expected to help research teams further refine their technologies, expand applications, and develop their products.
In the inaugural year, the award attracted more than 400 registrations, with 15 AI solutions selected for the preliminary round.
The shortlisted products span a wide range of fields, including healthcare, legal services, finance, factory automation, energy optimization, and scientific research.
For FPT, sponsoring the Au Lac Grand Prize is also a way to put the spirit of Resolution No. 57 into practice, recognizing enterprises as key drivers of innovation while helping bring research outcomes beyond the laboratory.
The long-term value of the Au Lac AI Alliance and the Au Lac Grand Prize therefore extends far beyond a million-dollar award. It lies in the potential to nurture more researchers, technology enterprises, and competitive Vietnamese AI products.
By investing resources, connecting research with market opportunities, and encouraging technological ownership, FPT is helping transform Vietnamese intellectual talent into national technological capabilities.