Initiated in 2017, the Innovation Startup Competition which is a highlight of the annual Da Nang Startup and Innovation Festival (SURF) aims to create a culture of innovation and creativity in our community, as well as offer more opportunities for high potential startups.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung (left) and Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen (right) awarded the first prize for the project ‘Automated cabinet for cultivation of cordyceps militaris on a home scale’ developed by the Vinseed Biotechnology Co., Ltd at the Innovation Startup Competition 2022. Photo: M.Q

The Vinseed Biotechnology Co., Ltd has achieved good results from its project ‘Automated cabinet for cultivation of cordyceps militaris on a home scale’ which won first prize at the Innovation Startup Competition 2022. Ph.D. Nguyen Thanh Trung, the Director of the company, said that cordyceps is used as herbal drug with potential health benefits. Cordyceps is one of the highest valued mushrooms cultivated in many places across the country but Da Nang now has a few successful farms for cultivation of Cordyceps Militaris. Therefore, many people cannot afford to buy cordyceps products due to their high price. In its efforts to facilitate access to cordyceps products among local residents, the company has improved its automated cabinet for cultivation of cordyceps militaris at home, and provided embryos so that local people can grow cordyceps militaris at home, and use it at low prices.

Accordingly, the automated cabinet for cultivation of cordyceps militaris at home is equipped with devices to adjust temperature, humidity, light, ventilation while it is also connected to smartphones of its users, and the company's server system so that its users can monitor the process of their cultivation and the company can monitor the technical parameters during their cultivation process. A cabinet can grow 50-100 embryos per batch, and its users can harvest cordyceps militaris in a month after they reach full size. The cabinet has low power consumption like a standard refrigerator.

This cabinet helps its users grow cordyceps militaris at home in order to help them use it to benefit their health. In addition, it also provides a new livelihood for its users that create a significant source of income for them without much professional knowledge requirements. Till date, dozens of establishments and people have used the company- developed cabinets to help them make money from growing cordyceps militaris. In particular, the Vinseed Biotechnology Co., Ltd has brought its new products to the market, including bird's nest drink with cordyceps, cordyceps tea, and cordyceps with honey, and the company has gained consumer trust and confidence as it has provided its high quality products.

Third prize winner at last year’s Innovation Startup Competition was Thanh Khe District- based STC Electric Electrical Equipment Manufacturing JSC with its project ‘Safety relays for water pumping systems’. Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, the Director of the company, said that the relay can transform AC 220V input voltage to AC 12V output voltage in order to reduce the risk of electrical leakage, electric shock, and short circuit which can cause a fire or explosion in order to ensure the safety for users. To date, the product has been on the market and has been very successful and widely accepted by consumers as it has been sold through 8 distributors and 194 agents nationwide.

In the two years of its startup journey, STC Electric has launched innovative products in both technology and design. From the original function of just eliminating the risk of electric leakage, electric shock, short-circuit causing a fire or explosion, increasing the life of the electric float, reducing the load on the wiring to the electric float, now there are more outstanding features such as leading signal from telegraph buoy to safety relay, observing the status of the electric float with a convenient indicator light in the use or repair of the system.

The above-mentioned two projects are among nearly 170 entries which have taken part in the innovation startup competition since 2017. Initiated in 2017 by Da Nang Business Incubator (DNES), initially called the startup pitch competition, this event has been renamed the SURF innovation startup competition since 2019, and it has then been hosted by the municipal Department of Science and Technology. This event is a highlight of the annual SURF, and it plays a significant role in the development of the city’s startup community, creating the favourable conditions for the development of innovative startups in the city.

According to Mr. Le Duc Vien, the Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology cum Vice Chairman of the municipal Coordination Council for Business Start-up Network (DSC), the competition aims to find promising startups for honoring and supporting. Besides, participating startup projects not only create economic value but also contribute to the sustainable development of Da Nang. The municipal Department of Science and Technology and related units will continue its efforts to provide technical support and resources for successful startup projects.

Reporting by MAI QUE – translating by H.L