“Innovation Challenge 4.0”: When UTT Students’ Ideas Are Brought to Life

On April 2, 2026, at the University of Transport Technology (UTT), the Product Demo Day – Round 2 of the “Innovation Challenge 4.0” competition was held, creating a platform for students to present and showcase creative ideas developed into tangible products, thereby contributing to promoting research and innovation activities within the University.

The event attracted the participation of experts, scientists, lecturers, and a large number of students. Notably, from the very first round, the competition received 1,319 submitted ideas. From these, the Organizing Committee selected 120 outstanding projects for the Poster Presentation Round, before further shortlisting 95 excellent projects to be developed into demo products in Round 2.

Overview of the opening ceremony of Round 2 of the “Innovation Challenge 4.0” competition

Universities Must Not Only Deliver Knowledge but Also Create Value

Speaking at the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hoàng Long – Rector, emphasized that throughout its development, UTT has remained committed to training high-quality human resources associated with scientific research and innovation. “The University should not only stop at delivering knowledge but must become a place that inspires ideas, nurtures creativity, and generates valuable products for society,” he shared.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hoàng Long – Rector speaking at the competition

Accordingly, the “Innovation Challenge 4.0” competition is not merely a movement activity but a concrete step toward building an innovation ecosystem within the University, closely linking academia with practice.

A highlight of the competition is the journey from idea to product. From 1,319 initial ideas, projects went through multiple selection rounds to reach 95 demo products, clearly demonstrating students’ seriousness, research capability, and practical competence.

Representatives of the University leadership visiting the exhibition area of student demo products

During more than two hours of presentations and direct evaluation, teams introduced their products, explained their ideas, and answered questions from the Jury Panel, showing clear maturity in thinking and skills.

Many outstanding products presented by students at the exhibition area

“The key is not only the idea but the ability to turn ideas into real products. Students have not stopped at thinking but have taken action,” emphasized a representative of the University.

Spreading the Spirit of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Among Students

A notable message highlighted at the program is a practical approach to innovation: leveraging existing global knowledge and technologies to apply, improve, and create new value.

According to the University’s representative, this is a suitable pathway for students to gradually accumulate capacity and experience and move toward mastering technology. “We may not yet be a leading country in invention, but we can absolutely create value through application and innovation. That is a practical and sustainable path.”

At the end of the evaluation, the Organizing Committee awarded prizes to outstanding teams, including Potential Prize, Third Prize, Second Prize, and First Prize, recognizing creative ideas and products with high quality and applicability. Notably, the First Prize was awarded to teams with exemplary products that fully demonstrated creativity, feasibility, and development potential, receiving high evaluation from the Jury Panel.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Hoàng Long – Rector awarding First Prize to two teams

Beyond awarding prizes, this year’s competition also made a mark by continuing to accompany teams in the next stage—Round 3: Incubation and Development. At the program, the Organizing Committee provided financial support to potential projects at different levels, including VND 10 million, VND 20 million, VND 50 million, VND 100 million, and especially VND 150 million for the most outstanding projects. The total funding support for students in the competition reached nearly VND 2 billion.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vũ Ngọc Khiêm – Vice Rector awarding VND 150 million funding to potential projects

Dr. Nguyễn Văn Lâm – Vice Rector awarding VND 100 million funding to potential projects

From thousands of initial ideas to tangible products, the “Innovation Challenge 4.0” not only demonstrates the potential of UTT students but also affirms a clear direction: learning goes hand in hand with practice, and ideas are closely linked to reality. Although the competition has concluded, the journey of project development continues, opening opportunities for young ideas to be refined, applied, and create value. This is also how the University gradually builds a dynamic learning environment where students can challenge themselves, gain real-world experience, and grow.