A coffee vending machine. The first AOIT and Smart Cities Competition for start-ups opened in HCM City on May 7. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

HCM CITY — Registration for the first AIoT and Smart Cities Competition for start-ups in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) is open, the competition organisers announced in HCM City on Tuesday.

It has the theme "Smarter to make life better", and seeks to give students and businesses in the IT and telecom sectors creative space to share global trends in science and technology, exchange start-up experiences and develop products and solutions from innovative ideas.

It also seeks new ideas from contestants which could solve specific problems and meet the specific needs of businesses.

Vũ Anh Tuấn, director of the Quang Trung Software Business Incubator and head of the organisation board, said the use of AI in developing products, solutions and applications advances the goal of building smart cities.

“AI is the key to helping the country develop faster and better, and improving the living environment and quality of life.”

The competition offers 13 prizes worth VNĐ1.235 billion (US$53,040), including three first and second prizes each.

All winners will have the chance to take part in the Department of Science and Technology’s Speedup programme to support start-ups and innovation.

The competition is organised by the Quang Trung Software Business Incubator, the HCM City Computer Association, the Việt Nam Association for Information Processing, and Quang Trung Software City, and sponsored by the city's Department of Science and Technology.

More information is available at (+84) 028 5437 1161 or  028 3891 8889, https://sbi.vbi.vn and QTSC Incubator, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, District 12, HCM City.

The event opens in Hà Nội on May 9, Đà Nẵng City on May 10 and Cần Thơ City on May 17. — VNS