BÌNH DƯƠNG — The iNut Smartcity Team from Việt Nam’s University of Economics and Law has won the World Technopolis Association (WTA) 2018 Bình Dương Smart City Initiative Competition.

The Vietnamese team won the grand prize worth VNĐ100 million (US$4,280) with its Internet of Things application, the organising board announced yesterday. 

The SK2 team from Hannam University (South Korea’s Daejeon city) won first prize worth VNĐ70 million ($3,000) with an initiative to manage waste treatment from plants using blockchain technology.

The organisers also awarded consolation prizes and several other awards to the remaining teams.

The contest was organised with the preliminary round and semi-finals taking place in Bình Dương City and Daejeon City. 

Fourteen teams passed a vigorous selection to compete in the final round held on Wednesday in Bình Dương Province, with more than 100 smart-city solutions from universities across Việt Nam and 26 solutions from 13 universities in South Korea.

Each team consists of three to four students from schools, colleges or universities from both Việt Nam and South Korea. 

Each team was given 10 minutes to present their creative ideas and 15 minutes to answer questions from judges after they finished their presentation in the final round.

In addition, all winning individuals and teams will receive an additional entrepreneurial support package from the Becamex Business Incubator (BBI) at Eastern International University (EIU) based in Bình Dương City. 

Launched in July, the contest, co-organised by Bình Dương People’s Committee, the WTA and Daejeon city, is one part of the activities for the 20th Anniversary of the WTA. 

The contest focuses on smart urban management, healthcare, culture and tourism, smart education, public services, environmental energy, urban agriculture and smart production.

The criteria include new and innovative features, feasibility for application to real life, improving the quality of life, and socio-economic effectiveness.

Mai Hùng Dũng, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the contest aimed to create an environment for creative ideas in smart urban construction in Bình Dương.

Kang Byung-Joo, secretary-general of WTA, said: “The event provides opportunities for Vietnamese and Korean students to exchange and share knowledge and develop their creative talents to serve the community, deepening the friendship between the two countries. — VNS