The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam with backing from the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh said these innovations are set to hit the ground running, delivering meaningful value in Viet Nam’s fight for plastic pollution.
He framed the awards as both recognition and inspiration, urging scientists, young innovators, and experts to pioneer new materials, technologies, and business models. “This challenge transforms plastic waste into a powerful driver for Viet Nam’s shift to a circular, knowledge-based economy driven by cutting-edge technology,” he said.
The 25 finalist teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, including officials from government agencies, the Norwegian Embassy in Ha Noi, corporate leaders, and strategic partners. Their projects spanned sustainable plastic economies, plastic-free ecosystem, and smart waste management devices.
Six teams secured top honours, each receiving up to 30,000 USD in funding, including Viet Nam Food JSC, Nopa Design, VNU University of Science Ha Noi, Aquila Technology Viet Nam LLC, Building up Sustainability, and the Centre for Environmental Safety Response. Four others, namely CeL, Phu Quoc Sạch & Xanh, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, and Viet Nam Material Architectural and Building JSC, claimed 10,000 USD each.
Now, the 10 winners are gearing up for a nine-month sprint to pilot and scale their projects, with a grand showcase slated for 2026.
Launched in February 2025, the competition drew 116 entries from across Viet Nam.
