The Binks group, consisting of 9 students from the Viet Nam- UK Institute for Research and Executive Education (VNUK) and the University of Economics, has recently developed the project "Botanical Inks" to create a safe and environmentally friendly drawing inks for pupils.

Student Tran Nhan Kiet (third from left), leader of the Binks group, received an honourable award at the 37th edition of The Management Grand Awards in Seoul, South Korea, in the category of Outstanding Scientific Research. Photo courtesy of the character.

The project "Botanical Inks" has excellently surpassed 10 competing teams from universities across the country to win the championship of the "KMAC - FTU Global Innovation Ideas 2024" contest themed "Green Startup" launched by the Korea Management Association Consultants Inc (KMAC) and the Foreign Trade University Viet Nam.

With the outstanding achievement, the Binks group has been honoured at the 37^th edition of The Management Grand Awards in Seoul, South Korea, in the category of Outstanding Scientific Research with Practical and Commercialization. The group represents the Southeast Asian region to receive the notable award at this international award ceremony, which will create a great source of motivation for the group to continue to bring meaningful projects in the future, and creating more green and sustainable solutions for consumers.

Sharing about the project, student Tran Nhan Kiet, Head of the Binks group, said that the project researches and applies the colour change process of Anthocyanin compounds obtained from agricultural waste such as fruit and vegetable leftovers to produce writing ink and art paints without using any toxic chemicals.

After 8 failed researches and adjusting the parameters, the group has successfully created a variety of colours such as red, orange, white, pink, purple, blue and yellow with 3 times higher fading resistance and 6 times faster drying speed than other paint products. Because the paint colour is taken by the group from the original Anthocyanin compound found in vegetables, tubers, and fruits, this is a completely new solution and no other type of paint ink has ever been applied in Viet Nam.

The Binks group's paint products are extracted from vegetables, tubers, and fruits, hoping to bring a safe, secure, and environmentally friendly product to users, especially primary school and preschool pupils. Photo: M.A

After winning the top prize in the “SV - STARTUP” - a startup contest for students organized by the Ministry of Education and Training, the group continued to complete the project and tested it to be metal-free because metal is the basic material for creating colour in order to compete in the "KMAC - FTU Global Innovation Ideas 2024" contest.

At the same time, the group has already registered exclusive intellectual property right as well as project research facilities through scientific articles at local, ministerial and national-level newspapers.

The project was tested by the General Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality of Viet Nam to have plant extracts that do not contain colour-creating metals such as Cd, Hg, Pb, As and Formaldehyde. Therefore, when using the products, children can completely taste them without affecting their health.

Notably, the group plans to organize fun activities, create games, and guide children to use Botanical Inks effectively in kindergartens and remote areas. In the future, group members will continue to complete the project and soon expand the product to many groups of users.

According to Mr. Han Su Hee, General Director of KMAC, the sponsor of the "KMAC - FTU Global Innovation Ideas 2024" contest, the "Botanical Inks" product aims to solve global problems, create green solutions, and ensure environmentally friendly criteria.

Reporting by MY AN - Translating by M.DUNG