HCMC launches Innovation Awards for first time

The Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) People’s Committee yesterday formally announced the launch of the ‘HCMC Innovation Awards 2019’.
The HCMC People’s Committee officially launched the ‘HCMC Innovation Awards 2019’. Photo by Viet Dung.
The HCMC People’s Committee officially launched the ‘HCMC Innovation Awards 2019’. Photo by Viet Dung.

Mr. Huynh Cong Hung, Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Home Affairs cum Head of the City’s Emulation and Reward Section, stated that the award aims at honoring groups and individuals with innovative research projects, solutions, products, as well as services in 7 fields of economy – society, national security and defense, works of writers and artists, administrative reforms, media products, models and solutions to learn Ho Chi Minh’s Ideology, effective startup models, new national basic scientific research.

“The awards focus on the practicality of products to help tackle urgent issues in developing HCMC,’ said Mr. Hung.

The evaluation of awards will be done in a transparent and objective manner via a council as well as suggestions of local residents, collected by media channels like Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper and other popular newspapers in HCMC.

This bi-annual contest receives nominations from December 18, 2018 to January 30, 2019. After careful consideration, the organization board will announce winners and deliver awards in April 2019.

Taking part in the event were Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, Director of the Vietnam National University – HCMC Huynh Thanh Dat, Chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, Chairwoman of the HCMC Vietnamese Fatherland Front To Thi Bich Chau.

According to Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, the awards are launched to encourage the innovation spirit in the community. 

“The reality has shown that HCMC plays an important role in the national development. It contributes around 23 percent of GDP, 30 percent of the total national revenue, 16 percent of the industrial output, and 18 percent of the total import-export turnover each year,” cited Mr. Phong.

“This result is obviously thanks to various factors, especially the activeness and innovation of the city’s residents, which is the most remarkable resource of HCMC and can greatly affect its future development”, he said. 

Therefore, in the upcoming time, HCMC is planning to develop a sustainable knowledge-based and environmentally friendly economic model in relation with science – technology, and innovative startups.

In particular, HCMC will focus on constructing smart and innovative districts in the East, administrative reforms, culture and arts development.

Mr. Phong hoped that this ‘Innovation Awards 2019’ is able to attract the participation of excellent groups and individuals in the community so that optimized solutions and products are introduced to real life. All are to transform HCMC into a place of high quality living standards and brotherly love.

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