The Award is an activity under the Praxispartnership sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the City of Leipzig.
It offers a stage for young entrepreneurs under the age of 35 to present business plans that have high potential to play a major contribution to Vietnam's rapidly growing economy. Therewith they can support the governmental efforts in increasing Vietnam's competitive competence.
From a total of 100 submissions, only five of the most creative and innovative business plans got to compete in the final round. The ideas included business plans for delicious biological rice, a take-away coffee mug that promotes Vietnam - a concept based on the idea of Coca Cola's branding strategy, a solar power wheelchair, a herbal hand sanitizer liquid for kids and a mobile app improving communication between pediatrists and patients.
The judges selected the mobile app as the winner for the City of Leipzig Award, based on the project planning and feasibility. The event put a special focus on educational institutions and research, which are the backbone of successful technology transfer. Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger, Director of the International SEPT program at the University of Leipzig took up on this idea, saying that "business is started from universities".
Further guests were Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh, Director of the VCCI Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises HCMC, Dr. Nguyễn Lê Hưng. Vice President for Research Affairs, VGU, Mrs. Huynh Dinh Thai Linh, Director of the project Praxispartnership, Dr. Michael Braun, Head of Industrial Relations and Technology Transfer, VGU, and Alfredo Suvelza, Innovations Specialist, Conoscope GmbH.
The Best Innovators Award has proved a great success for all participants and is planned to be held annually.