Contest bridges young Vietnamese talents in Australia with the national innovation ecosystem

Vietnamese students in Australia - a young intellectual force that can contribute valuable solutions to the country's sustainable development. (Photo: VNA)

The event was designed as a strategic bridge rather than a purely academic contest, enabling research conducted in Australia to address Vietnam’s practical development needs.

Dr Tran Phi Vu, Chairman of NIC AU and a lecturer at the University of New South Wales, said the initiative prioritised studies capable of delivering tangible impacts and being translated into concrete solutions.

After more than five months, the competition concluded with its final round on December 18, selecting five outstanding projects from entries by Vietnamese students and doctoral candidates in Australia.

The projects focused on high-priority areas, including microplastic treatment in the Mekong River basin, improving crop drought resilience, advanced biomedical technologies for cancer treatment, wildfire risk management, and wastewater treatment using agricultural by-products to promote a circular economy.

Developed in Australia’s advanced academic environment but oriented towards Vietnam’s conditions and data, the projects demonstrated strong potential for transfer and application. Many observers noted that AURORA serves as a mechanism for identifying, screening and connecting research with socio-economic demand, rather than a conventional academic competition.

Many businesses expressed strong interest in the outcomes, particularly their commercialisation potential, and signalled readiness to collaborate on pilot projects, helping narrow the gap between enterprises and the scientific community.

At the awards ceremony, first prize went to a project on soft silicon carbide electrodes for cancer monitoring and treatment. Second and third prizes were awarded for studies on enhancing crop drought tolerance and microplastic treatment in the Mekong River basin, respectively, while two consolation prizes recognised research on wildfire modelling and wastewater treatment.

The organisers said the award-winning projects will continue to be linked with ministries, localities, enterprises, incubation programmes and innovation funds in Vietnam. AURORA is expected to become an effective link in the national innovation ecosystem, mobilising the intellectual resources of young Vietnamese overseas for sustainable development.

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