On the morning of July 21, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE, formerly Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education) collaborated with Yaskawa Electric Vietnam Co., Ltd. to organize the Final Round of the academic competition “Yaskawa Robotics and Motion Challenge – YRMC 2026.” This year’s competition attracted 26 teams, including 21 teams from HCM-UTE and 5 teams from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. After the preliminary and semifinal rounds, the six best teams were selected to compete in the Final Round in the fields of robotics, motion control, and automation.
The competition is a specialized academic playground for students passionate about robotics and automation technology, jointly organized by HCM-UTE and Yaskawa Electric Vietnam. It not only provides students with opportunities to access modern Yaskawa robotics and motion control equipment, but also promotes Project-Based Learning, enabling learners to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
Attending the event on behalf of HCM-UTE were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le My Ha, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Head of the Organizing Committee; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Phong, Acting Head of the Office of Science and Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Đinh Nhon, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Au, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Son, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering; and M.A. Dang Ba Ngoan, Deputy Head of the Office of Enterprise Relations.
Representing Yaskawa Electric Vietnam were Mr. Ryutaro Kuwamura, General Director; Mr. Makoto Furuta, Director of Robotics Engineering; Mr. Fukushima Hiroki, Director of Control and Drive Engineering; Ms. Nguyen Thuong An, General Manager; and Mr. Truong Minh Thanh, Southern Robotics Sales Director. The event also welcomed representatives from Nam Phuong Viet Company, Hung Long Industrial Equipment Company, and Hung Long Industrial Group.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le My Ha emphasized that the industry is entering a period of profound transformation driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and smart manufacturing. In this context, universities are not only responsible for imparting knowledge, but also for creating environments where students can learn through hands-on experience, solve real-world problems, and access advanced technologies while still in school. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le My Ha expressed confidence that regardless of the final results, each team had gained valuable experiences in robot programming, motion control, teamwork, systems thinking, and the ability to present and defend technical solutions before a panel of experts. According to him, these are precisely the competencies that enterprises highly value when recruiting high-quality technical human resources.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le My Ha, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering delivering his speech
Representing Yaskawa Electric Vietnam, Mr. Ryutaro Kuwamura - General Director also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to accompany HCM-UTE in supporting students’ access to modern robotics technology. He expressed hope that the competition would help discover and nurture young talents in the fields of control, robotics, and automation.
Mr. Ryutaro Kuwamura - General Director from Yaskawa Electric Vietnam delivering his speech
The company representative emphasized that, in addition to pursuing business development goals, Yaskawa always pays close attention to social responsibility by supporting and creating conditions for the younger generation to develop. Through the competition, students not only learn from their successes but also gain valuable experience from challenges and even failures, thereby improving themselves and becoming more confident on their journey to conquer technology.
The Organizing Committee presenting a letter of appreciation and flowers to representatives of Yaskawa Electric Vietnam Co., Ltd.
The competition was launched in May 2026 with a series of activities, including registration, preliminary screening, specialized training, and semifinal matches. From the 26 registered teams, the Organizing Committee selected 12 teams for the semifinals; after a rigorous, fair, and objective evaluation process, the six best teams officially advanced to the Final Round.
In the Final Round, the teams directly performed their tasks using equipment at the Yaskawa Robotics and Motion Lab. Their performance was evaluated based on task completion, execution time, and creativity in programming methods.
The competing teams performing their tasks at the Yaskawa Robotics and Motion Lab
After hours of serious, creative, and thrilling competition, the judging panel announced the final results. The Third Prize was awarded to Group 1 (students Phạm Le Huy Truc, Dang Minh Hoang, and Nguyen Tan Dung from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, majoring in Control and Automation Engineering Technology, under the supervision of Dr. Duong Minh Thien); Group 4 (students Lai Duc Thuat, Tran Huu Nguyen Thanh, and Nguyen Bao Thang from the same faculty and major, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Van Thuyen); and Group 19 (students Tran Minh Tu and Le Dang Khoa from the same faculty and major, under the supervision of M.Eng. Tran Minh Kiet).
The Second Prize was awarded to Group 17 (students Luong Nguyen Tung Nhan, Huynh Van Huu, and Pham Gia Kiet from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, majoring in Control and Automation Engineering Technology) and Group 21 (students Truong Ngoc Trieu, Bui Viet Tien Dung, and Tran Nguyen Thanh Loc from the same faculty and major), both under the supervision of M.Eng. Tran Minh Kiet. The First Prize was awarded to Group 26, consisting of students Phan Minh Nam and Nguyen Van Thao from the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, majoring in Control and Automation Engineering Technology, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Phong, for their outstanding performance in the competition.
The competing teams receiving awards at the Final Round of YRMC 2026
The Final Round of the academic competition “Yaskawa Robotics and Motion Challenge – YRMC 2026” concluded successfully, further affirming HCM-UTE’s capability in organizing enterprise-linked academic competitions. Through the competition, students not only had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with modern robotics technology, but also enhanced their professional competencies, innovative thinking, and ability to apply technology in practice.
The event also contributed to strengthening the cooperative relationship between HCM-UTE and Yaskawa Electric Vietnam in training, scientific research, and technology transfer, creating an important foundation for developing high-quality human resources in the fields of robotics, motion control, and automation.