On December 14, as part of TECHFEST-WHISE 2021 (National Festival for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Ho Chi Minh City Innovation and Startup Week 2021), the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology hosted the closing and award ceremony for the HIS-COVID 2021 program.
The Top 10 outstanding initiatives from the HIS-COVID 2021 program—aimed at identifying and connecting innovative solutions to combat COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City—were officially honored. These included: WeShare.asia; CyHome smart urban management solution; a screening tool for carbapenem-resistant gut bacteria; Covidmaps—a COVID-19 prevention support map; CovidPass.vn—a blockchain-based digital COVID-19 test certificate platform; nano technology and refined herbal extracts for SARS-COV-2 prevention; a traditional medicine-based early COVID-19 treatment protocol; the PPS-TKS01 multifunctional automatic disinfection cabinet; a wastewater-based COVID-19 detection and green-zone protection system using Thuan Thien manholes and handheld testing devices; and T-Check—a health declaration and access control device.
The Department of Science and Technology will continue to support these Top 10 solutions by connecting them with relevant departments, districts, associations, and businesses in the city. The aim is to promote, communicate, and deploy these practical solutions swiftly to enhance COVID-19 prevention and control efforts across Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, to encourage further development, each Top 10 project will receive a monetary award of VND 10 million from the Department.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Chu Van Hai, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, emphasized that HIS-COVID 2021 was initiated to discover and connect innovative solutions to aid the city's COVID-19 response and economic recovery. The program received 99 submissions, from which 20 were selected for application matching events, and ultimately, the top 10 were chosen for official recognition and awards.
Looking ahead, the Department plans to launch multiple projects, particularly in public governance innovation, and address key urban challenges such as enhancing healthcare management capacities, promoting digital transformation in education, improving district-level governance, and developing housing for low-income residents. The Department hopes to continue receiving strong support from the community and encourages businesses to collaborate with universities and research institutes, fostering an open innovation network to drive scientific and technological advancement in Ho Chi Minh City.
Source: https://dost.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/hoat-dong-so-khcn/vinh-danh-top-10-chuong-trinh-his-covid-2021/
