With the support of Ministries of Education and Training, Science and Technology, and Natural Resources and Environment, the event is co-organized by the Embassy together, Swedish companies on the ground such as ABB, AstraZeneca, Electrolux, Ericsson, IKEA, SKF, TetraPak and Uppsala University.
In his speech, Swedish Ambassador Pereric Högberg hailed young, hard-working and industrious labor force of Vietnam while advising Vietnamese students to think positively, innovate and study new ideas and models.
“Some of the world’s most successful innovators are from Sweden. Let’s discuss the question: What makes Sweden so innovative? I believe Sweden benefits from having many basic components already in place, such as economic stability, an inclusive school system where critical thinking is key, safety and security, openness and access to information,” he stressed.
The participants will form teams of two and their contribution will be assessed based on whether the entries are innovative, creative, feasible, sustainable and commercially viable, as well as on what kind of lasting impact they will have.
According to the organizers, the jury consists of representatives from participating Swedish companies and a Swedish University which provides an amazing opportunity for students to pitch their solutions and innovative ideas to representatives from both the private and public sector in Vietnam. The deadline for submission is October 28th, 2018.
Swedish Ambassador Pereric Högberg speaking at the event
The contest’s grand prize is a trip to Sweden and a visit to witness Swedish innovations at Swedish companies’ headquarters and Uppsala University. The runner-ups will be given internship opportunities at Swedish companies.
Mr. Tran Xuan Dich, Vice Head of Science - Technology Market and Enterprise Development under Ministry of Science and Technology said that the theme of this year’s contest is critical and significant to Vietnam in general and big cities and economic hubs of the country in particular.
“Throughout the contest, the young generation of Vietnam is expected to learn and successfully develop experience lessons from the innovative culture of Sweden, learn innovative applications from Swedish businesses in order to find solutions for sustainable development”, he stressed.
Millions of mobile devices connect with one another via Bluetooth. Many more million use Skype for daily communication. And innumerable lives have been saved with the help of the three-point seatbelt. These are just a few examples of Swedish life-saving and life-changing innovations that have made a difference.
The long list of innovations made by Sweden also include: the zipper, safety matches, dynamite, drinks cartons, ball bearings, the adjustable wrench, the rear-facing child safety seat, the artificial kidney, spotify and more./.
Since Sweden is a geographically large country with a scattered population, infrastructure and communications have always been crucial to development. Early action to promote digitalization has meant that Sweden is now one of the most connected countries in the world with one of the highest rates of computer, internet and mobile penetration. As a result, the country is frequently used as a test market for new services and technology.
Facebook, for instance, has chosen to place its enormous new data center in Lulea in the north of Sweden. The three buildings of 28,000 square meters (300,000 square feet) each will enjoy the advantages of natural cooling and renewable hydropower. |