2023 was the first year that the provincial Department of Science and Technology coordinated with relevant units to organize the "Innovative Startup" contest as part of the events of the Bac Giang Innovation Startup Festival 2023 and Techfest Bac Giang 2023 held by the provincial People's Committee.

The contest received positive responses from many organizations and individuals. In the final round, the Organizing Committee awarded nine outstanding and potential startup projects. After that competition, the authors and groups of authors continued to perfect their startup products for application.

The "The Box of Happiness" project by author Vu Thi Lan Phuong from Dinh Ke ward, Bac Giang city and her colleagues won the first prize in the contest. Phuong shared that this project was inspired by the Dharma dissemination path of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong and the ideology of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect.

Initially, "The Box of Happiness" included three product sets: a handbook for practicing meditation, incense made of Cinnamomum camphora, and rosary made of Cinnamomum camphora wood.

After the competition, the group added an incense holder made of terracotta in the shape of a bell tower, with decorative motifs symbolizing lotus. The purpose is to bring convenience to users and increase aesthetics and historical value.

The design of the box was also changed to be more beautiful and meaningful. The highlight is the image of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the bell tower outside the three-entrance gate, and the Bodhi leaf of the Ly-Tran period.

The project's authors are researching and approaching the market to produce it in large quantities in the near future. It is hoped that this will be a product that brings in many health benefits, and is used as a high-class gift, boosting the development of cultural-spiritual tourism, contributing to promoting the image of Bac Giang.

Many other projects also promote efficiency and creativity. In addition to the activities supporting innovative startups organized by the Department of Science and Technology, many agencies, units, and organizations have also paid heed to the startup movement, career guidance, and vocational training such as the Women's Union, the Cooperative Alliance, the Youth Union, and schools.

Each year, hundreds of innovative startup ideas and projects are deployed and replicated. In addition to the efforts to overcome difficulties and promote the internal strength by units with innovative startup ideas, authorities at all levels, sectors, localities, and organizations have also implemented many support solutions.

After many years of implementation, the "BG STEAM Education Ecosystem" project by lecturers from the Vietnam-Korea College of Technology and a team of bachelors majoring in information technology has become an interesting and useful learning environment for students who are passionate about information technology.

Tran Thu Huong, head of the BG STEAM Club, said that in order to continue to perfect the project and improve the quality of training, the club has invested in facilities and teaching staff, and added AI programming courses in teaching. Currently, the number of students studying face-to-face and online is more than 100, an increase of about 30% compared to the time before the startup competition.

At the recent Bac Giang Robocon 2024, teachers and instructors of the club were selected to accompany and guide contestants to conquer the challenges in the competition. This provided project authors with more opportunities to exchange, learn, share experience and spread the love for technology to the younger generation.

Promoting the results of the first Innovative Startup contest (2023), the Department of Science and Technology will continue to organize this competition every two years. In addition, it will coordinate with schools to train and provide startup orientations for students. The women's unions at all levels are also a core force in implementing the startup movement.

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Mac Yen