Qualcomm holds webinar to launch start-up contest in Vietnam

Qualcomm Vietnam held a webinar on March 12 to launch a start-up competition aiming to select and support new ideas that will accelerate innovation in Vietnam.

Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing innovation and technology development hubs in Asia.
Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing innovation and technology development hubs in Asia.

The seminar was originally planned to be held in Ho Chi Minh City but was changed to an online conference due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A total of US$375,000 will be up for grabs in the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, as it is officially known.

The contest, supported by Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, will enable the development of Vietnam’s rising technology ecosystem, Qualcomm said on its website.

It added that the challenge will nurture innovative small and medium-sized companies who are designing products relating to 5G, IoT, artificial intelligence, smart cities and wearable devices.

Ten shortlisted companies will be announced in May-June 2020 and will each receive US$10,000 to support product incubation and development.

Shortlisted companies will be supported through an incubation period including seminars from subject matter experts, technical support from Qualcomm, and assistance from intellectual property specialists, said the US chipmaker.

The final winners are expected to be announced in December 2020.

According to Qualcomm experts, Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing innovation and technology development hubs in Asia.

They added that promoting the start-up spirit and technological innovation will make Vietnam’s technology sector move further forward and help Vietnamese companies realise their global ambitions.