The award ceremony for the "Make in Việt Nam Digital Technology Product" prizes 2024. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched the 2026 Make in Việt Nam Digital Technology Product Awards, featuring eight categories, including, for the first time, a category dedicated to artificial intelligence products and another for outstanding digital technology products targeting overseas markets.

According to the Organising Committee, this year’s awards aim to honour outstanding digital technology products, promote comprehensive and end-to-end digital transformation across society, accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing in economic and social sectors, and encourage enterprises to master core, foundational and strategic technologies.

The eight categories are: Outstanding Digital Technology Product in Industry and Construction; Outstanding Digital Technology Product in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment; Outstanding Digital Technology Product in Transport, Posts and Logistics; Outstanding Digital Technology Product in Education, Healthcare, Culture and Society; Outstanding Digital Technology Product in Finance, Banking, Commerce and Services; Outstanding Digital Technology Product for Overseas Markets; Outstanding Artificial Intelligence Product; and Outstanding Potential Digital Technology Product.

Eligibility criteria vary by category. For the outstanding digital technology product categories, eligible applicants include enterprises established under Vietnamese law, as well as public-sector units and organisations whose digital technology products have been researched, designed, developed and manufactured in Việt Nam and put into practical use.

The Outstanding Potential Digital Technology Product category is open exclusively to micro and small enterprises, as well as innovative start-ups established under Vietnamese law. For foreign-invested enterprises, Vietnamese nationals must hold at least 51 per cent of the charter capital or total voting shares.

For the Outstanding Digital Technology Product for Overseas Markets category, eligible applicants include enterprises established under Vietnamese law in which Vietnamese nationals hold at least 51 per cent of the charter capital or total voting shares, as well as enterprises established overseas in which Vietnamese nationals hold at least 51 per cent of the charter capital or total voting shares.

Enterprises and organisations can register and submit applications online through the awards’ official portal at giaithuongmakeinvietnam.mst.gov.vn. Applications will be accepted from August 28 to October 15, 2026.

The awards ceremony is expected to be held in November or December 2026 as part of the National Forum on the Development of Vietnamese Digital Technology Enterprises.

Held annually since 2020, the awards recognise organisations and enterprises whose digital technology products have been researched, designed, developed and manufactured in Việt Nam, and which are capable of addressing practical domestic challenges and expanding into international markets.

Over six editions, the awards have attracted nearly 1,500 entries, with 299 digital technology products recognised. Many award-winning products have since been put into practical use, helping address national development challenges, expand into domestic and international markets, and advance Việt Nam’s digital transformation. — VNS