Turning challenges into innovation: DECIC 2026 honors outstanding student projects

The grand finale of the Digital Era Creative Innovation Competition 2026 (DECIC 2026) marked the culmination of an intense journey, bringing together the top 6 teams selected from 63 tech-forward groups across Vietnamese universities. Far from being a mere academic exercise, this year's competition spotlighted a powerful shift in student research: turning real-world friction points into the ultimate launchpad for breakthrough ideas.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Đặng Trọng Hợp, Rector of the School of Information and Communications Technology, emphasized that DECIC is not only an academic competition but also a platform that connects knowledge, innovation, and students’ aspirations to master emerging technologies. He noted that the success of the inaugural season is reflected not only in the number of participating projects but also in the strong spread of the innovation mindset across universities nationwide. The participation of 63 teams demonstrates that DECIC has evolved beyond an internal academic playground into a national forum for technology-oriented students.

Dr. Dang Trong Hop, Rector of the School of Information and Communications Technology, delivers his opening remarks.

Representing Viettel Technology Investment Company Limited as Gold Sponsor, Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Quân noted that the technological fields featured in DECIC 2026 are among those attracting significant attention from both industry and society, particularly in the context of accelerating digital transformation. He emphasized that the key value of the participating projects does not lie in their current level of completion, but in their potential to develop into practical solutions that can create meaningful impact for communities in the future.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Quan, representative of Viettel Technology Investment One Member Co., Ltd., shares his insights at the event

A key characteristic of the finalist projects lies in their problem formulation approach. Although diverse in methodology, all projects were grounded in practical needs arising from enterprises, urban environments, and community contexts. Leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies, the teams focused on developing solutions with high applicability, aiming for real-world deployment rather than remaining at the prototype stage. This reflects a clear and growing trend in student research amid accelerating digital transformation.

Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thiện, Vice President of Hanoi University of Industry; Dr. Đặng Trọng Hợp, Rector of the School of Information and Communications Technology under HaUI; and Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Quân, representative of Viettel Technology Investment Company Limited, presented the First Prize to Mekong Pathfinder from FPT University Can Tho.

The Grand Prize was awarded to Mekong Pathfinder from FPT University Can Tho for its AI-powered ecosystem supporting flood forecasting, traffic incident management, and safe navigation guidance. HaUI also recorded notable achievements with three awarded projects. OASM Team and SmartDisposal both received Second Prizes for their AI-driven solutions in cybersecurity and waste management. AiSee, a Vietnamese voice-based AI assistant designed for visually impaired users, was honored with the Third Prize as well as the Community Impact Award.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thị Kim Sơn, Vice Rector of the School of Information and Communications Technology at Hanoi University of Industry, and Mr. Phạm Văn Tiến, representative of Zenlish Education Consulting and Trade Promotion Company Limited, presented the Second Prizes to two teams from Hanoi University of Industry.

Mr. Lê Trung Thực, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, East Asia University of Technology; Mr. Phan Bá Mạnh, representative of An Vui Technology Company; and Mr. Đặng Thế Dũng, representative of Viettel Technology Investment Company Limited, presented the Third Prizes to the winning teams.

More than a platform for showcasing technological creativity, DECIC 2026 demonstrated a changing perspective on student innovation. The most compelling projects were distinguished not simply by the technologies they employed, but by their ability to respond to genuine societal needs. By placing real-world challenges at the heart of the innovation process, the competition reaffirmed that technology achieves its greatest value when it improves people's lives.