DLR - The “QNU Students with Startup Ideas” competition for the 2025-2026 academic year serves as a creative platform for students at Quy Nhon University (QNU), fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation within the institution. After advancing through preliminary rounds, the top 10 outstanding teams were selected for the final round held on January 31, 2026. During the finals, teams presented their projects, engaged in critical Q&A sessions, and received valuable advice from faculty members and industry experts. Ultimately, the competition crowned its First Prize winner: a pioneering project on treating pig farming waste using microbial technology, developed by a group of students from the Faculty of Education.
Teams presented their projects and answer questions from the Judging Panel.
Quy Nhon University has organized the “QNU Students with Startup Ideas” competition annually since 2017. Over the years, the event has attracted hundreds of innovative projects and ideas from the student body. Many of these initiatives have been successfully implemented in reality, with numerous alumni establishing their own enterprises based on their original competition entries. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the competition saw participation from 450 students across the university, submitting a total of 96 projects and ideas. Following a rigorous preliminary evaluation, the Organizing Committee selected the 10 most exceptional projects to compete in the grand finale.
The project "Waste Treatment Solutions for Small and Medium-Scale Pig Farms Using Microbial Fermentation Technology" excellently claimed the First Prize.
In the final round, each competing team presented their concepts, demonstrated their models, and directly addressed critical questions from the Judging Panel. This year’s submissions were notably diverse, spanning a wide array of fields including information technology, cybersecurity, social services, education, and agriculture-environment. This variety reflects the rich creative thinking and strong practical problem-solving abilities of QNU students. After each presentation, the Judging Panel provided specific feedback and evaluation, while also suggesting directions for further refinement. Notably, for novel ideas demonstrating high feasibility, university faculty and experts will continue to offer mentorship and support to help the teams develop finalized products, with an eye toward future commercialization.
At the conclusion of the event, the Organizing Committee awarded the First Prize to the team from the Faculty of Education for their project, "Waste Treatment Solutions for Small and Medium-Scale Pig Farms Using Microbial Fermentation Technology." The project applies microbial fermentation technology to treat waste, reduce farm odors, and recycle byproducts into organic fertilizer, promoting a sustainable, circular economy model in animal husbandry. Rooted in student scientific research, the project team aims to spread a passion for learning, proactive inquiry, and the practical application of classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems for the benefit of the environment and the community. The Judging Panel highly commended the project for its creativity, high applicability, and significant practical value to society.
The "Pom Paper" project utilizes pomelo peels—an agricultural byproduct—to create biopaper.
The "Smart Financial Board Game" project helps children aged 6-10 learn personal finance management in a natural, intuitive, and accessible way.
Two Second Prizes were awarded to the project "Pom Paper - Biopaper from Pomelo Peels" (Faculty of Information Technology) and "Smart Financial Board Game - Promoting Personal Finance Awareness for Children Aged 6-10" (Faculty of Finance, Banking & Business Administration). Two Third Prizes were given to "NabaTek CyberShield" (Faculty of Information Technology) and "BIO-PILL FOR URBAN PLANTS: A Green Solution for Modern Urban Living" (Faculty of Primary & Early Childhood Education). Additionally, the Organizing Committee presented five Consolation Prizes to projects showcasing promising ideas and innovative approaches.
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The competition left a lasting impression with numerous creative ideas.
The “QNU Students with Startup Ideas” competition is an annual initiative designed to equip students with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, while identifying and rewarding outstanding creative ideas and startup projects within the university. Although entrepreneurship is a challenging journey, through such practical activities, Quy Nhon University continuously encourages a spirit of dedication and innovation. The university is committed to building bridges that support students in actualizing their startup visions in the future.
Minh Hien - Vo Thien An