Beating 42 competitors, 3 start-up projects of Vietnam National University - University of Science (VNU-HUS) entered the final round of VNU Start-up Ideas and Innovation Contest 2021.
With an aim to encourage start-up activities, innovation, and creativity in VNU, and to create an environment where undergraduate and postgraduate students of VNU can flexibly apply their knowledge into practice, the contest was launched across member units under VNU. There were 42 ideas/start-up projects from undergraduate and postgraduate students from 8 member units of VNU in the contest. After preliminary rounds, the organizers picked 12 projects for the final round (Out of 8 projects from VNU-HUS, 3 made it to the final round).
Authors of the 12 projects at the final round will be allowed to participate in training courses on business model, product development, roadmap, project development strategy from reputable innovative startup experts inside and outside VNU. At the final round, all teams will make presentations about their ideas/projects before the organizers and the investors. The outstanding project in the VNU-level contest will be prioritized for a slot in the final round of the Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC) in Hongkong, with their respective field taken into consideration.
The start-up projects of the University of Science and Technology entering the final round of the "VNU Startup Ideas - Innovation in 2021" contest include:
Project 1: "Development of processing technology and commercialization of tropical fruit composite products” by Bùi Quang Đô and Nguyễn Văn Tú, Faculty of Chemistry.
The product (Compota de Tropical - Bottled Tropical Fruit Juice) inherits the traditional fruit fermentation technology of the inhabitants of the Balkan and Mediterranean regions, using the technology of fermenting the input fruit itself. The project team experimented on some popular fruits in Vietnam, and used local natural herbal ingredients, thereby creating a unique, separate, and characteristic bottled drink. The product did not use sugar, preservatives, or harmful chemicals, to retain the full flavor of the natural fruit inside the product and meet the requirements of food hygiene and safety for consumers’ health. Although no food preservatives is used, the product can still be usable within 06 - 12 months (depending on the type of product), suitable for distribution/export or preservation of off-season fruits. Even after a fermentation period of 6 months, the fruit is somewhat richer, sweeter, and more aromatic.
Project 2: "GreenHydrogel - Towards a green life" by Nguyễn Hải Linh, Phan Thị Tuyết Mai, Đinh Thị Hồng Vân, Đinh Ngọc Anh, Nhữ Thị Lệ, Nguyễn Phú Kiên, Nguyễn Thu Hà, Nguyễn Diệu Phương, Faculty of Chemistry.
GreenHydrogel was a series of products with different specifications, adjusted according to the raw material parameters, as well as various conditions to meet the requirements of the specific field of application. They could be used in many different forms. The powdered form had the thickening and stabilizing effect; largely consumed in food, beverages, cosmetics, detergents, and water-based paints industries. Membrane form for wrapping film had the ability to dissolve in water, degrade in a short time, and also be edible. This product form of GreenHydrogel was the ideal solution for surface coatings, food packaging. The liquid form was used to preserve fruit and food. Sheet form could be used as a wound patch, mask, or food pad. GreenHydrogel had a spatial network structure from hydrophilic natural polymers, which had the ability to permeate and selectively transmit gases such as oxygen, carbonic, moisture, ethylene, acetylene, ethanol, etc. ., also known as “breathable film”, is a great alternative to food packaging products, helping to increase the shelf life of products, and towards a green life.
Illustrations based on the blueprint of the project.
Project 3: Konosa - a secure information exchange platform between garden owners and customers" by Pham Duy Hiep, Faculty of Biology.
Konosa was a direct information exchange platform between garden owners and customers. Garden owners could go to Konosa to post their products, update the status of agricultural products, and set the harvest date for customers for easy purchase planning, as well as put information about the gardener on the travel booking system. On the other hand, customers could also post a product search or an ecotourism destination/garden as needed. Konosa allowed secure multi-dimensional information exchange, location, and status navigation systems. Konosa was designed to support farmers, farming households, corporates, individuals, and units purchasing agricultural products, as well as individuals and organizations wishing to experience ecotourism services.