HCM City officials on Friday launched the I-Star Award 2018 competition on creativity, innovation and business start-ups.

Nguyen Viet Dung, director of the city’s Department of Science and Technology, said the organisers want to build a culture of innovation and start-ups in all fields and spread the spirit of creativity and innovation.

In recent year, startups have grown rapidly in the city, attracting domestic and foreign investors.

“We hope this annual award will encourage and speed up innovation activities, and that research results will be applied in the community,” he said.

Dung is head of the award’s organisation board, which includes officials from the city’s departments and divisions.

The awards are divided into four categories: business start-ups showing creativity and economic efficiency; organisations or individuals offering solutions that benefit the community; media work that has great impact in the community; and investors, consulting experts, and incubator organisations that support innovation and start-ups.

The contest will have 12 prizes, with three prizes in each category. The winners will be judged by a group of experts as well as online votes from the community.

Individuals and organisations can register online until August 31 by filling out the form at the website www.doimoisangtao.vn/giaithuong2018.

Participants should attach an article of no more 5,000 words, photos, videos and links featuring their work or projects.

People can submit their votes on the website until the end of September.

The awards ceremony will be held during the city’s Creativity and Innovation Week in October. — VNS