HÀ NỘI – After working the fields of science and technology for more than two decades, award-winning Dr Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhàn knows only too well the so-called smart city system is nothing new.

The model has already been tried and tested in many countries. But the secret is getting it right in the surroundings where it will be created. Then watching it evolve, mature and grow into the best smart city that fills the needs of the community it serves.

After attending many conferences and workshop on smart cities or smart nations, Nhàn realised that most of the models cannot clarify how they benefit different groups of people in the society, or even when they can, they cannot do it thoroughly. There has been almost no instruction on the implementation in details as well.

“In Việt Nam, there are some places where smart management models of traffic, health care and education are applied, but there has been no synchronous and integrated system,” Nhàn said.

“That’s why I built a smart national model based on the specifics of supporting features for different beneficiaries, and analysed the solutions to be implemented to realise the model of smart nation.”

After lots of tossing and turning at night as well as serious research and development, Nhàn came up with what she hopes will answer all the questions raised.

“Covering the connectivity model is the wide range of smart utility and applications based on big data, real-time information, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics.

“These all form an integrated management centre at all levels, realising the multi-dimensional interaction model and benefits to more than 20 groups.”

Explaining her concept, Nhàn said these groups include leaders, managers, professional agencies, researchers, doctors, patients, teachers, students and visitors.

In fact, she said, just about people from all walks of life.

“The world has already applied the smart national model for a while, our job is to learn experience and put into practical application,” she said.

According to Nhàn, her system has many different parts based on the experience of programmes that have been successfully applied in many countries around the world including Israel, some European countries, South Korea and Singapore.

“I even studied failed models to make sure I didn’t make the same mistakes," she said.

Nhàn’s model eventually built a smart nation where people would be able to directly use all public services, free training programmes and special policies that give priorities to the people.

People’s issues and specific recommendations to the Government can be resolved without wasting time waiting for cumbersome procedures.

Students in every corner of the country will benefit from enrollment in kindergarten to university programmes, or instead of exam preparation classes, they can take classes online with the best teachers, be able to find sample lessons, practise exam questions.

And if that’s not enough, the system can even self score and self assess. Doctors and patients will have a similar diagnostic in place, linking them to experts across the globe.

Nhàn said AIC has made the step-by-step schedules for different phases.

"It’s impossible to say a big, ambitious plan can be implemented in a short period of time.

“But we are striving so that in 2019 some basic utilities will be deployed in some specific areas," Nhàn said.

"Implementing the smart country model will create a breakthrough for Việt Nam in the future, and especially for those in society who benefit from what I would like to do.”

Nhàn’s hard work has been paid off as the model has won the World’s Best Smart National Concept and Model award at the Global Smart Cities Contest 2018 in London earlier this month.

According to the World’s Smart Cities Organisation, the Institute of Control Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Normandy French Tech association, who judged the contest, Nhàn’s model stood out from other 300 entries because of its comprehensive system that connects central agencies, ministries and cities with grassroots establishments like schools, hospitals and businesses.

European smart-city expert Sarolta Besenyei, head of the jury board, said that they were impressed with AIC’s project because it suggested not only a concept and model but also solutions to build smart nations.

She explained that the model could bring the specific beneficiaries from the smart ideas, not only to help leaders, businesses, foreign investors, civil servants and also aim to serve the people, some industries such as researchers, journalists, doctors, teachers, students, lawyers, or judges.

Martin Yates, Chief technology officer of DELL EMC’s South Asia and Emerging Markets, said he was pleased to see amazing information and innovations flowing from Nhàn’s AIC that “can transform Việt Nam.”

He also committed to providing the needed technology and support to enable the joint success between his company and AIC. -- VNS