UNIIC Business Challenge 2026 showcases student innovations in Ho Chi Minh City

The final round of the UNIIC Business Challenge 2026 took place at Hung Vuong University in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring student innovators from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and South Africa. The competition is organized by the University Incubation and Innovation Consortium (UNIIC), a network of 25 universities across 11 countries in Asia and Africa.

Key projects presented included Agri-iTech from Hung Vuong University, which utilizes 4G-connected sensors and AI to assist small-scale Robusta coffee farmers in Vietnam's Dak Nong Province with irrigation, fertilization, and yield forecasting. The team aims to create digital profiles for growing areas at an estimated initial investment of $19,400.

Another notable entry was the ChiChet project from Cambodia's Chea Sim Kamchaymear University. This initiative focuses on converting rice husks into biochar through pyrolysis in low-oxygen environments. The resulting carbon-rich material is intended to improve soil water and nutrient retention for farmers and organic enterprises in regions such as Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, and Battambang.