On April 3, the Management Committee of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agricultural Zone officially launched the competition titled “Startup and Innovation in Applied High-Tech Agriculture 2026” (Agritech Innovation 2026).
Under the theme “Circular Agriculture – Shaping a Green Future,” the event is considered one of the city’s flagship projects for 2026, aiming to explore and nurture technological “seeds” capable of transforming the face of Vietnamese agriculture towards a modern, sustainable, and smart direction.
Speaking at the ceremony, Pham Dinh Dung, head of the Management Committee of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agricultural Zone and president of the competition organizing committee, shared the program’s strategic objectives. He emphasized that this year’s competition is not limited to the local scope but open to all startups, new generation agricultural cooperatives, as well as young people, students, and teachers from educational and research institutions nationwide. Individuals or organizations with creative ideas or cutting-edge technology applicable in high-tech agriculture are encouraged to participate to assert themselves and contribute to the community.
The key focus of the 2026 competition lies in its overall concentration on the agricultural value chain. The organizing committee aims to find solutions that go beyond production stages to essential ancillary areas such as post-harvest conservation techniques, deep processing technologies to increase product value, and, most importantly, smart agricultural management models based on digital platforms to optimize resources and minimize risks.
The competition is divided into two categories: Category A is dedicated exclusively to students from colleges and universities, prioritizing new ideas and enthusiastic spirit, with a first prize worth 100 million dong, a second prize of 80 million dong, two third prizes of 60 million dong each, and three encouragement prizes of 40 million dong each.
Category B focuses on individuals, professional startup groups, and early-stage companies with existing real models. The rewards in this category scale with the magnitude of projects, including a first prize of up to 150 million dong, a second prize of 120 million dong, two third prizes of 100 million dong each, and three encouragement prizes of 60 million dong each unit. Additionally, to encourage unlimited creativity, the organizing committee will award three additional prizes in each category, each worth 5 million dong, for specific breakthrough criteria.
Assessing the significance of the competition, Bui Minh Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that it represents a concrete and resolute step in fulfilling the city’s commitment to promoting the agricultural innovation ecosystem. He believes that directing the competition towards sustainable and circular agriculture aligns perfectly with global trends, helping address the challenges of climate change and food security. He is confident that this year’s competition will continue to be a gathering point for breakthrough ideas and viable solutions, directly contributing to easing bottlenecks in Vietnamese agriculture.
Sharing the same view as the city leaders, Le Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, affirmed their commitment to creating a solid launchpad for young talents. The department has enacted a series of supportive policies for creative agriculture development for the 2025-2030 period, including support for intellectual property registration, establishment, and protection to safeguard entrepreneurs’ “grey matter” and confidently enter the international market.
The competition officially accepts registrations now until July 31, 2026. Candidates can choose to submit their applications directly to the High-Tech Agricultural Business Incubation Center at 255 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Chương Dương Cầu (Ho Chi Minh City), or submit them online via the official email address of the organizing committee. Once the competition stages conclude, projects with outstanding results will have the special opportunity to be selected for support programs according to Municipal People’s Council Resolution No. 20/2023/NQ-HD, which can provide up to 400 million dong per project in support.
Text and photos: Truong Giang/CVN
