From November 29th to December 1st, 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) successfully co-organized the event series "KNU & HUIT RISE 2025: The Innovation Challenge" with Kangwon National University (KNU - Korea). The event was not only an intellectual playground for entrepreneurship but also affirmed a sustainable strategic partnership, opening up valuable opportunities for cultural exchange and practical experience for students of both countries.
The ceremony was chaired by Dr. Bui Hong Dang, Vice President in charge of the Council of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, with the participation of Mr. Jang Hong-Jun – Director of the RISE Center, Kangwon National University. Mr. Jang Hong-Jun expressed his interest and desire to build a close, long-term cooperative relationship with HUIT.
At the opening ceremony, representatives of the two sides signed a cooperation agreement to jointly build an innovative startup network, promote student exchange activities, share educational resources, and commercialize scientific research products. HUIT continues to affirm its position as a trusted destination and an important strategic partner for Korean universities in Vietnam.
Dr. Bui Hong Dang, Vice President in charge of the Council of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, and Mr. Jang Hong-Jun – Director of the RISE Center, Kangwon National University, representing the two units, signing the cooperation agreement.
The centerpiece of the event series was the "Korea-Vietnam University Student Startup Idea Competition" held on the morning of November 29th. The 10 best teams (5 from HUIT, 5 from KNU) delivered compelling presentations in English before an international panel of judges.
This year's projects were highly appreciated for their practicality, technological elements, and sustainable development orientation. The final results were:
For the HUIT delegation (Vietnam):
· Top Prize: CALMELLA Project
· Innovation Prize: BTE04 Project
· Excellence Prize: CODYNUTRI Project, J4MONEY Project, and CORDYDEW Project
For the KNU delegation (Korea):
· Top Prize: Seawater infiltration buffering technology "GROA"
· Innovation Prize: Establishment of a comprehensive platform for beauty skin diagnosis and treatment diagnosis services
· Excellence Prize: Korean language education platform, Social commerce platform gathering "MOYEO", Solar energy phase change material-based battery insulation system.
Not limited to theory, the Korean student and faculty delegation had a highly impressive tour of HUIT's modern facilities. Here, KNU students directly participated in the production process of characteristic products made by HUIT students, such as: experiencing the Gel system mixing and product filling process for "Purple Sweet Potato Yogurt Jelly & Cordyceps Militaris," and observing and practicing making the "CALMELLA - Dark Chocolate Supplemented with Magnesium" product.
This activity not only introduced HUIT's training capacity and applied research but also demonstrated to international friends the creativity of Vietnamese students in food technology.
Korean students practicing making the "CALMELLA - Dark Chocolate Supplemented with Magnesium" product at HUIT's laboratory
Under the motto "Theory goes hand in hand with practice," on November 30th, the competing teams from HUIT and KNU took to the streets together to conduct market research activities in Ho Chi Minh City.
The students directly approached Vietnamese consumers, conducted interviews, and collected data to validate the feasibility of their business ideas. This was an excellent opportunity for Korean students to better understand local customer preferences, while also helping HUIT students hone their teamwork skills and market analysis thinking in an international context.
Throughout the three-day event, language barriers were completely broken down by the enthusiastic spirit of the youth. Students from both countries shared stories about culture, cuisine, and university life. From intense group work sessions to moments experiencing Saigon street food, all created unforgettable memories, strengthening the friendship between the younger generations of Vietnam and Korea.
The KNU & HUIT RISE 2025 event series concluded brilliantly, marking an important milestone in the University's international cooperation activities and promising to bring many more useful platforms in the future.
Some images from the program:
Editorial Board
Admissions and Communications Center, HUIT