Hanoi nurtures future scientists through innovation contests

THE HANOI TIMES — The 2025 Innovation Contest for Youth and Children in Hanoi received 813 entries, marking strong growth in both quantity and quality.

Le Xuan Rao, President of the Hanoi Federation of Science and Technology Associations and Head of the contest's Organizing Committee, speaks to Hanoimoi Newspaper about upcoming plans that ensures the contest continues to nurture scientific passion among young generations.

What were the highlights of this year’s contest?

This year, now in its 21st edition, the contest covered five fields: learning aids, computer software, environmentally friendly products, household tools and children’s toys, and technical solutions for climate change mitigation, environmental protection, and economic development.

Despite a shorter application window than in 2024, entries rose 43% to 813. Students from both public and private schools, from primary to lower secondary levels, participated the contest with enthusiasm and energy.

Notably, students from the areas of former districts of Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, Bac Tu Liem, Quoc Oai, Hoai Duc, Soc Son, and Thanh Oai submitted outstanding projects in both quantity and quality.

Regarding the contest organization, we streamlined procedures to reduce unnecessary paperwork while ensuring the process was transparent and well-structured.

Especially, when the five best teams gathered to compete for the special prize, they had to present their projects to an interdisciplinary judging panel. 

This way, we were able to perform a more comprehensive assessment of their creativity, practical application, and presentation skills.

How about the quality of this year’s entries?

All five fields showcased a wide range of creative ideas, with several projects demonstrating strong scientific content.

We can see that more students have begun using IT and sensors to boost accuracy and reduce manual work, showing how they are embracing modern advances.

Many projects are ready for practical use in class, especially in teaching local content in Hanoi’s general education program.

Notable entries include an AI assistant that helps students explore textbooks, an oil-skimming robot that also monitors water quality, a multi-tasking CareBot powered by Ultra-Wideband technology, a system ensuring safer Internet access, a smart logistics solution for e-commerce using image processing, a rainwater collection and filtration system designed for fourth-grade science lessons, and a hydroponic plant-care robot.

How do you evaluate the scientific research movement among Hanoi’s youth?

The creativity movement among Hanoi’s young people is thriving. The contest is a playground for them to exchange knowledge and enjoy healthy competition. It also sparks creativity, nurtures patience and responsibility, and encourages young people to tackle real-life challenges in today’s modern world.

By joining the competition, students receive valuable recognition from the professional council and the organizing committee, and winning awards brings them great motivation to pursue their passion for innovation.

The contest also gathers strong support from parents, teachers, managers, and scientists, all working together to nurture the dreams and ambitions of future scientists who will contribute to Hanoi's socio-economic development.

I hope that from these early ideas, students can grow their ideas into bigger, practical innovations that bring value to the city’s education, culture, society, and economy.

What would you do to improve the competition in the coming years?

We will continue to collaborate with the departments of Education and Training, and Science and Technology, and the Hanoi Youth Union to expand the contest to the areas where schools and students have not yet participated.

Besides, we will also take measures to enhance communications, and spread the contest’s significances and results.

At the same time, we will conduct reviews, draw lessons, and promptly honor outstanding individuals and groups.

Our goal is to inspire students’ passion for learning and creativity, turning their early ideas into sustainable innovative capacity that aligns with real-life needs and future scientific and technological trends, ultimately contributing to Hanoi’s long-term development.

Thank you for your time!

The Grand Prize of the 2025 Innovation Contest for Youth and Children in Hanoi went to a group of students for their project “AI Assistant for Exploring Textbooks through the Lens of Curiosity" or AI Copilot. The winning students are Tran Viet Cuong from Chu Van An High School for Gifted Students, Nguyen Cong Phuc Lam from Tran Nhan Tong High School, Nguyen Khanh An from The Dewey Schools, Nguyen Ngoc Anh from Pham Hong Thai High School, and Phan Minh Chau  from Ba Dinh Secondary School. The team developed “AI Copilot,” a system that integrates advanced large language models such as GPT-4 and Google Gemini. The tool can restructure textbook content into open-ended questions, real-world scenarios, and discovery tasks. By applying cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), the project introduces a more active and creative approach to learning, turning textbooks into a source of inspiration and exploration. The group is seeking funding to expand the application, ensuring disadvantaged students can also benefit from this innovative learning tool.