On the morning of April 20, 2025, the Opening Ceremony of the 7th National Startup Day for Students (SV.Startup 2025) took place at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE). The event was organized under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), in coordination with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and accompanying units such as the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). HCMUTE was honored to host the event.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and central government leaders performing the opening ceremony
Attending the event were Mr. Pham Minh Chinh – Politburo member and Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Kim Son – Central Party Committee member and Minister of Education and Training; Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi – Deputy Minister of Education and Training; Mr. Bui Quang Huy – First Secretary of the Central Youth Union; Mr. Tran Van Duoc – Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Mr. Dong Van Thanh – Secretary of the Hau Giang Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Hau Giang People’s Council, along with leaders of the Party and State, representatives from central and local ministries, departments, and agencies.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Minister Nguyen Kim Son visiting HCMUTE’s exhibition booth
Representing HCMUTE were Dr. Truong Thi Hien – Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the University Council; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hieu Gang – President of the University. The event also welcomed numerous organizations, businesses, sponsors, partner units, educational institutions, and a large number of students from across the country.
Prime Minister visiting student startup exhibition booth
At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Kim Chi presented a report on key outcomes from the implementation of Project 1665 over the past 7 years. The project, led by MOET, supports student entrepreneurship across Vietnam. She highlighted: “The 7th National Startup Day for Students is not just an annual event—it’s a convergence of students nationwide who are eager to continue writing the story of innovation and future-building for the country. Many startup and innovation components have been integrated into educational programs, especially in universities and colleges. More than 120 higher education institutions have incorporated entrepreneurship courses as mandatory or elective subjects. The Ministry has also coordinated with other ministries and localities to guide institutions in building creative startup spaces, developing incubator programs, and connecting with startup centers to help students and lecturers bring ideas to life. Over 65% of localities have rolled out support plans for entrepreneurship in secondary schools. After 7 years, it’s clear that Project 1665 has become more than just an educational initiative—it has evolved into a key driver of the national innovation and startup ecosystem.” She further emphasized: “We are entering a breakthrough phase in which every student becomes not only a learner but also a creator, entrepreneur, and future builder.”
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Chi presenting the 7-year results of Project 1665
In his keynote and directive speech at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was pleased to learn that after 7 years of implementing Project 1665 – “Supporting student entrepreneurship until 2025” – all universities, academies, colleges, vocational schools, and all 63 provincial Departments of Education and Training have launched startup initiatives. More than 42,000 student startup projects have been developed. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union has organized over 3,500 startup idea contests, attracting nearly 480,000 participants with nearly 23,000 ideas. Many young individuals have founded their own companies, secured investment, and created jobs for themselves and others. Thousands of students have advanced “Vietnamese startups with global vision” through products that transform how we live, learn, and work—ranging from healthcare technologies to clean agriculture and digital life solutions.
Prime Minister summarizing and directing implementation of Project 1665
The Prime Minister urged ministries, sectors, and localities to continue improving mechanisms and policies, especially in finance and intellectual property, to foster public-private partnerships and support students in developing ideas and bringing products to market. He also called for the development of student startup support funds via socialized capital, the creation of idea exchange platforms, and local startup mentor networks. “We must promote the ‘three-house’ alliance: State – Schools – Enterprises. Enterprises should proactively invest in students’ ideas, support internships, and commercialization; inspire and guide the next generation. The State, businesses, and banks should assist startup ideas in planning, raw material zones, capital, packaging, and market access. Every young person should view entrepreneurship not only as a career path but also as a social responsibility and contribution to the nation’s future. Keep learning, mastering technology, and boldly serving the country and its people in this new era.”
In response to the Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, ministries, sectors, and businesses for their consistent and profound support for education and student entrepreneurship. He affirmed that MOET will fully implement the Prime Minister’s directions with urgency, boldness, and no limits to unlock the full potential of Vietnam’s youth. “You are the dreamers and doers—those who will turn aspirations into reality through innovation and contribute to the country’s development,” he shared.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presenting certificates of merit to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in guiding students to participate in entrepreneurship activities.
Minister Nguyen Kim Son responding to the Prime Minister
Representing all contestants of SV.Startup 2025, student Tran Van Luc—a 4th-year Computer Science student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology—shared his entrepreneurial dream through the “Awake Drive” project, a system that monitors and maintains driver alertness using brainwave technology. A finalist and winner of several research and startup competitions, Awake Drive is currently the first product on the market to use brainwave tech to ensure driver alertness. “There are no limits for those who dare to dream and act. We believe not only in creating great products but also in putting them into the hands of consumers…”
Student Tran Van Luc sharing the entrepreneurial aspirations of today’s generation of Vietnamese students
On this occasion, the Prime Minister decided to commend 03 collectives and 05 individuals for their outstanding achievements in startup activities during the 2017–2025 period. Among them, the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology – Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) was honored to receive the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit for its remarkable contributions in guiding students in entrepreneurship, thereby promoting the national innovative startup ecosystem during 2017–2025.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presenting the Certificate of Merit to the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, HCMUTE
SV.Startup 2025 is a key event within the framework of activities implementing Decision No. 1665/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister, aiming to support students in entrepreneurship until 2025. The goal of the festival is to encourage the participation of higher and secondary education institutions in career counseling, job placement, and startup support for students. With a spirit of inspiring entrepreneurship, innovative thinking, and encouraging students to dare to think and act, the event helps transform small ideas into big startup ambitions, aligning with the nation's rise in this new era.
This year, out of 775 submitted projects, the organizing committee selected 125 outstanding projects for the final round. Over seven editions of the competition, “Students with Startup Ideas” has received nearly 2,239 projects.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visiting booths and interacting with HCMUTE students