UEH Institute of Innovation (UII) Honored with Prime Minister’s Commendation for Outstanding Contributions to the National Innovation Startup Ecosystem (2017–2025)

On April 20, 2025, at the opening ceremony of the 7th National Startup Day for students, the Institute of Innovation (UII) of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) was honored personally by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính with a Certificate of Merit. This accolade recognizes the institute’s outstanding performance in supporting student entrepreneurship and its active role in advancing Vietnam’s national innovation and startup ecosystem during the period 2017–2025. 

UII is among only three units nationwide to receive this high-level recognition, reflecting its pioneering position in UEH’s implementation of Government Project 1665, which supports student entrepreneurship initiatives.

Achievements and Recognitions

Alongside this distinction, a student project from UEH named “ROOTED” was awarded a Consolation Prize in the Social Impact Entrepreneurship category at the closing ceremony of the National Startup Day. The ROOTED project integrates AI technology with natural elements to identify plant diseases and propose care measures, while fostering a community dedicated to sustainable, green living.

Since its establishment in 2019, the Institute of Innovation (UII) has steadily asserted its role within Vietnam’s innovation–startup ecosystem. During 2019–2025, UII has organized over 400 diverse events including seminars, training sessions, hackathons, and exhibitions, attracting thousands of participants from academia, industry, and the startup community. 

UII has incubated more than 150 student-based startup projects, of which at least 20 have evolved into formally registered enterprises. Through incubation programs, acceleration initiatives, and investor networking, UII has facilitated funding and grants totaling over USD 700,000 for student startups. 

From 2018 to 2024, over 60 student startup projects participated in UII’s incubation programs, with many achieving stable revenues or attracting angel investment. The institute has built a vibrant community of more than 6,000 members, partnered with over 50 domestic organizations and 20 international partners, and its Demo Day events regularly draw attendance from nearly 60 notable venture capital and angel investor groups, such as Earth Venture Capital, Ascend Ventures, KKFund, VIISA, ThinkZone, DO Ventures, and ITI Fund. UII has also earned multiple honors over the years, including titles like “Advanced Collective,” “Outstanding Collective,” and “Unit of the Year” from UEH. It won the I-Star award in 2021 and was ranked among the Top 10 University Incubators in Asia by AsiaStar 10x10 Launchpad in 2022. The Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit thus becomes a crowning recognition of UII’s consistent contributions to the innovation, startup, and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Vietnam. 

Mandate, Strategy, and Roles

UII serves as the core hub connecting UEH’s internal units, students (current and alumni), startup ventures, investor networks, international partners, and local governmental stakeholders. Its mission is to nurture innovative solutions and startup ideas, enabling them to scale and create impactful change. 

Beyond student startups, UII extends its reach to middle and high school students, regional startup companies in Vietnam and Southeast Asia—through training, competitions (e.g. UEH BizTech Hackathon, Sandbox programs), incubation, and acceleration. 

UII is also the academic and operational backbone for two academic programs at UEH: Technology & Innovation and FinTech (Financial Technology). In addition, it administers short-term and intensive programs aimed at enhancing innovation capacity, product commercialization, fintech, and digital transformation in education and research. 

As part of national and regional research agenda, UII leads studies on topics such as innovation ecosystem in Vietnamese youth, digital skills for startup success, and supports knowledge transfer by aligning research to real-world needs.