Nguyen Tat Thanh University organizes the 55th Conference of Science & Technology Club of Technological universities and attends the Launching ceremony of Mekong Innovation Hub
Nguyen Tat Thanh University organizes the 55th Conference of Science & Technology Club of Technological universities and attends the Launching ceremony of Mekong Innovation Hub
In the morning of November 16th 2019, in the series of activities of the 5th Coconut Festival 2019, the 55th Conference of Science & Technology club (STC) of Technological universities and Launching ceremony of Mekong Innovation Hub were held at Ben Tre Province’s Youth Centre.
The event saw the presence of Mr Chu Ngoc Anh, Central Party Executive Committee member and Minister of Science and Technology; Prof. Dr Ta Ngon Don, Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Education and Training (MOET); Mr Phan Van Mai, Central Party Executive Committee member, Provincial party secretary, Chairman of the Ben Tre Province People’s Council; Mr Cao Van Trong, Provincial deputy party secretary, Chairman of the Ben Tre Province People’s Committee; and other representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Planning and Investment, etc. Representing organizer’s side, Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Thi Hong, Vice President of Nguyen Tat Thanh University; Mr Nguyen Duc Dung, Manager of Vintech City’s partnership program with technological universities in central & southern Vietnam, Vingroup as the conference sponsor attended the conference.
The event also welcomed more than 350 delegates who are entrepreneurs, leaders and academics from more than 30 nationwide members of the STC of Technological universities, 10 start-up incubators, and 16 start-up supporting organizations. Heads of 12 Departments of Science & Technology of Mekong Delta region and other provinces Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Soc Trang also attended the conference. In addition, the event attracted the participation of delegates from other departments, provincial divisions, People’s committee, Divisions of Agriculture and Rural Development, Divisions of Economy and Infrastructure. District and Municipal Associations of Farmers, provincial businesses, science & technology businesses, organizations, start-up businesses, provincial cooperatives, media agencies were also invited.
At the conference, reports regarding the establishment and operation directions of the Mekong Innovation Hub shared
Many activities were taken placed at the Launching ceremony such as reports regarding the establishment and operation directions of the Mekong Innovation Hub, Ribbon-cutting ceremony, and other events celebrating the launch of Mekong Innovation Hub, etc.
Visiting exhibition booths with research products displayed
Particularly, a signing ceremony of triangular cooperation was held with the involvement of Ben Tre Province’s Department of Science and Technology, STC of Technological universities and NTTU. The agreement focuses on collaborating in innovative start-up programs and research activities. Specific cooperative areas include innovative start-up programs with assistance from 3 partners in consulting, training and improving knowledge, skills in project assessments, start-up ideas, and entrepreneurial skills for young people and students, organizing conference, workshops and trainings.
Regarding conducting scientific research, involving partners will collaborate to build and implement research projects, automated technology transfer, hi-tech agricultural technology and Industry 4.0. Moreover, the 3 partners agreed on international cooperation in organizing short-course training, professional study tours for representative officials to foreign countries, and facilitating research collaboration with international institutions and universities to develop scientific research and technology transfer.
Ben Tre Province’s Department of Science and Technology with STC of Technological Universities, and NTTU at the signing ceremony
In the morning of November 16th, the 55th Conference of STC of Technological Universities officially began. Delegates of Ben Tre Province’s People’s Committee announced the opening report, demonstrating a desire to closely partner with member universities of the STC. This will help to resolve issues related to the areas of science and technology. Besides, Ben Tre province also looks for support to access and apply widely scientific and technological achievements generated by member universities of STC in the local context. Particularly, researches surround value-added agricultural products from coconut, as well other science and technology products in the context of Industry 4.0. Ben Tre Province is looking forward to accompanying STC of Technological Universities on various activities in the near future.
At the conference, presentations mainly discussed about practical research and technological start-up ecosystem in Vietnam, innovative start-up incubators in universities, entrepreneurial experiences of BK-Holdings, sustainable development-oriented green technology in the context of Industry 4.0. Other topics were also taken into account, including refrigeration drying technology (heat pump drying), low-temperature vacuum drying technology to preserve seafood, issues about research and technology transfer in hi-tech agriculture, product traceability. These were introduced by participating institutions of Vintech City, Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry.
The conference was continued with discussions about partnership amongst localities, in particular Ben Tre Province to resolve a series of issues in science & technology and entrepreneurship. Delegates elaborated that partnership between universities and businesses is critical in the way that scientists and researchers will be aided in research funds and product outputs.
VinTech City of Vingroup implements a partnership project with universities and Vintech Fund. This can be considered as advantages for many universities. The fund was established to financially support in actualizing technological products with high practicability to put in use in reality. Apart from the financial assistance up to VND 10 billion, VinTech Fund also creates opportunities throughout the processes starting from the research stage to practical use of the products through the supporting ecosystem during and after receiving the fund. The ecosystem is a combination of important units such as the market, cooperative opportunities with the business community, and consumers. In other words, the greatest advantage of Vintech Fund is the opportunity to experiment and practice what scientists, inventors and technology-inventing institutions often struggle with. Eligible applicants are professionals, researchers, lecturers teaching at Vietnamese universities, foreign institutions and technology start-ups in the field of science and technology.
Representative of VinTech City presented flowers to Vice President of NTTU to celebrate the cooperative signing ceremony between NTTU and VinTech City, Vingroup
The conference echoed with opinions of Prof. Dr Ta Ngoc Don, Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, MOET about collaborations amongst institutions and member universities of STC. He also emphasized that STC of Technological universities should include more members from big and reputable enterprises in the field of science & technology to better facilitate the application of research products in the market.
The 55th Conference, with the theme of ‘Technological universities with innovative start-up activities at Ben Tre Province’ was successfully completed. Delegates will meet again at the 56th Conference which will be held on May 2020 at Nha Trang University.
Author: Department of Science and Technology, NTTU
Photo: Duy Anh