The programme was jointed organized by the Voice of Vietnam Online Newspaper (VOV), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Since its launch two months ago, the programme has supported nearly 2,000 young people in enhancing their digital skills through the Skill Our Future online learning platform. Notably, the “Youth Digital Innovation Challenge” competition has received 104 project entries, marking an impressive success for its inaugural edition.

The competition attracted diverse range of participants, including high school and university students, software developers, and even socially disadvantaged individuals with strong entrepreneurial spirit. Projects focused on applying digital technology across various fields such as AI assistants, education, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture that clearly reflected the creativity and commitment of young people in addressing social issues.

Speaking at the event, Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, noted that the high number of submissions shows Vietnamese youth are ready to create bold, inclusive, and transformative digital solutions.

Alongside the potential of digital innovation, Haverman also warned of risks such as growing inequality, digital divides, and the exclusion of vulnerable groups, especially in rural areas, among ethnic minorities, and youth with disabilities. He noted that a lack of digital skills is a major factor contributing to Vietnam’s high youth unemployment rate, with nearly 4 in 10 unemployed people under the age of 25.

The Skill Our Future initiative was launched to narrow the digital divide and provide equal opportunities for learning, innovation, and leadership to all youth, regardless of their background.

These projects are not just ideas; they are powerful proof of what youth can achieve when they are empowered and supported to turn their vision into action, he emphasised.

Taking the floor, VOV vice president Pham Manh Hung, remarked that Resolution 57 of the Politburo, which focuses on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, has significantly accelerated momentum across the political system and society. In a short time, investment policies for science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation have been issued, and legal barriers quickly removed, unlocking resources for development.

He affirmed that the success of the projects in the competition has broad outreach and serves as a strong source of inspiration for young people nationwide. He expressed hope that the programme would ignite a widespread innovation movement, attracting more students to engage in the national digital transformation process.

At the ceremony, the organisers presented main awards to winners of the competition. First prize went to Mindvivo, a mental health care platform, developed by Diep Gia Bao from Van Lang University and Truong Bao Khang from College of Foreign Economic Relations.

Second prize was presented to CaoBangVerse, a project that connects traditional culture with technology, by a group of secondary and primary school students in Cao Bang province.

Third prize was given to Easy-Comm, a communication support platform for the hearing-impaired community, developed by Ngo Duy Dong from Hanoi Open University), Dang Van Sam programme developer of Techainer, and Le Dinh Hieu, programme developer of Moreh Vietnam.

Competition launched to encourage digital innovation solutions among young people

VOV.VN - A competition to encourage digital innovation solutions among young people was jointly launched in Hanoi on April 23 by the Voice of Vietnam Radio (VOV), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam) and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.