Opening Ceremony of the Final Round – International Creativity & Innovation Award (ICIA Global 2025)

April 26, 2025 – On April 25, 2025, the Final Round of the International Creativity & Innovation Award – ICIA Global 2025 was officially inaugurated at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). This marks the first time the global-scale education and innovation competition is held in Vietnam, jointly organized by Krya Global (Indonesia), UEH’s School of Technology and Design (CTD), and the National Startup Support Center (NSSC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, supported by 63 domestic and international partners. 

Global Scope and Participation

With its international scale, ICIA Global 2025 has attracted over 400 delegations, including 271 students, 93 teachers, and 30 startup ventures from more than 20 countries, along with representatives from government agencies, educational institutions, innovation support organizations, founders, and international experts.

As part of the opening ceremony, notable attendees included Mr. Antonius Malem Barus, CEO & Co-Founder of Krya Global and Advisory Board Member of the World Creativity & Innovation Week (WCIW), as well as from UEH: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Bích Nguyệt, Chair of UEH’s Strategic & Policy Advisory Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Thùy Anh, Vice Rector of the School of Technology and Design (CTD) and Head of the Organizing Committee; and leaders from CTD, alongside representatives from UEH’s Youth Union, faculty, and students. 

In her keynote, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Thùy Anh remarked, “ICIA Global 2025 is a testament to the strong commitment of Vietnam in general and UEH in particular to promoting innovation education, sustainable development, and international collaboration. This event not only presents an opportunity to showcase our organizational capacity, but also affirms Vietnam’s role as a knowledge hub and creative connector in the region.” 

Three Days of “Inspiring – Creating – Dedicating”

Over the course of April 25–27, 2025, ICIA Global 2025 will unfold a series of academic, experiential, and networking activities structured under the learning cycle: “Inspiring – Creating – Dedicating.” 

Key components include:

• Introduction to CTD’s innovation learning environment: international students and teachers will explore UEH’s labs and creative spaces, including AI Lab, Maker Space, Open Lab, Creative Space, as well as innovation support areas such as UEH’s Incubation Garden.
  
  

• Founder Talks & Startup Networking: Startup teams from Vietnam and across Asia will share their entrepreneurial journeys, innovation models, challenges overcome, and practices connecting theory with real-world business. The sessions are coordinated by the Innovation Institute and structured as open dialogues, drawing participation from socially impactful enterprises.

• Startup & ICIA INNO Talkshow: With the theme “Innovation with Technology, Psychology, Wellbeing, Board Games & Education,” panelists including CEOs and education leaders from Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and beyond will discuss intersections between human-centered design and tech-driven innovation. 

• Hands-on Workshops for STEM/STEAM students and teachers: Designed under a “learning by doing” philosophy, these workshops will enhance participants’ skills in ideation, presentation, teamwork, and innovation thinking—foundational competencies in the era of change. 

• Project Exhibition & Startup Exchange: On the afternoon of April 26, more than 130 student projects alongside 30 startup teams will present and critically showcase their ideas, creating a platform for investment and international innovation collaboration. 

Strategic Context & Vision

Within the national context of implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW on national science, technology innovation, and digital transformation, nurturing creative thinking, innovation capacity, and the entrepreneurial spirit among youth has emerged as a strategic priority. ICIA Global 2025, therefore, is both a global education initiative and a bridge between STEM/STEAM education and startup practices, enabling young talents to connect with global challenges through innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship as pathways toward sustainable development. 

UEH’s co-organization of ICIA Global 2025 alongside Krya Global and NSSC reflects a firm commitment to promoting educational innovation, fostering international partnerships, and making a meaningful contribution to the national innovation strategy.