Many students from Da Nang’s universities are now showing their keen interest in conducting their research activities at the Da Nang Maker Innovation Space which began operating in early August.

Local students introducing their products to visitors at recent start-up event

The Maker Innovation Space, which is based at the University of Da Nang (UDN) at 41 Le Duan, is a critical part of the 5-year Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) project.  It is being funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Da Nang is the 2^nd city in Viet Nam to have developed such space after Ho Chi Minh City.

The space is a key component in initiating a culture of innovation by providing an experiential space where students can design, create, innovate, and develop work-ready competencies.  The area is designed to empower students to engage in a range of activities such as sharing their ideas, designing, building, and developing their new products.  Students also have an opportunity to become involved in a combination of hands-on processes, networking and participate in industry- led programming. 

Da Nang’s invention space is fully equipped with 3-D printers, laser cutters, a wood and metal shop, as well as advanced design software, and other useful equipment available for all students from UDN’s school members.

In reality, over recent years, the UDN’s school members have faced severe lacks of advanced equipment in use for scientific research activities by their students.  Therefore, the opening of the Da Nang Maker Innovation Space is indeed a happy signal for those who have a strong passion in bringing their ideas to reality.

The USAID Viet Nam’s Deputy Mission Director, Mr Craig Hart, re-affirmed that the space facilitates students to turn their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) theory they learn in their classrooms into prototypes for technological solutions to real-world problems.

According to Doctor of Philosophy Nguyen Ba Hoi, the Deputy Dean of the International Training Faculty of the UDN, the Da Nang Maker Innovation Space is a good choice for domestic and foreign-invest businesses to learn more about prototype products for which commercialisation activities might be conducted by themselves. 

Opened one month ago, the venue has to date welcomed representatives from such US-based businesses as Autodesk Inc, Intel (Integrated Electronics), and National Instruments Corporation. 

To date, some businesses have made their orders for prototypes of a smart studying device for the visually-impaired people.  This useful product has been created by a student from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering - Electronics of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology.