The I-Star Awards being presented to start-ups with a new business model based on technology and capacity for rapid growth. — Photo Courtesy of the awards

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Science and Technology on Saturday presented the I-Star Awards to 12 individuals, companies, a State office, and a school for outstanding solutions, products, and incubation activities related to starting up businesses and innovation.

The awards, each accompanied by a cash prize of VNĐ50 million (US$2,153), were divided into four categories: start-ups with a new business model based on technology and capacity for rapid growth, organisations and individuals with creative and innovative solutions, outstanding media stories that had a great impact on the start-up community, and incubators, investors and experts for assistance to start-ups.

In each category, there were three prizes chosen by a group of experts and online voters.

In the category of start-ups with a new business model base on technology and capacity of rapid growth, BusMap Co.Ltd, 689Cloud Joint Stock Company and TK25 Technology Company were the winners.

BusMap has a website and mobile application that provide vital information to commuters on bus routes in HCM City, Hà Nội and Đà Nẵng. As of August the app was the second most downloaded on Playstore and was seventh in Appstore.

The winners in the second category were Lê Quý Đôn Secondary School with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) practice room with 3D  printing machines and innovative devices for students to create practical products, KDI Education Joint Stock Company for services that contribute to education reform towards industry 4.0 and training students to take part in international robotic contests, and the District 3 People’s Committee’s economic division for its connectivity with the city Tax Department for issuing business and tax registration certificates.

A journalist from Chuyên trang Đổi mới Sáng Tạo and programmes on the Voice of HCM City and HCM City Television received the three prizes in the third category.

The prizes in the fourth category went to the Centre for Business Incubation of Agricultural High Technology, TOPICA Founder Institute and the Women’s Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship.

The awards had received 277 entries. — VNS