The Viet Nam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) on Wednesday officially launched the Sao Khue Awards 2018.

This is the most prestigious award in the Vietnamese software and information technology (IT) industry for the past 15 years. A new category in this year’s awards is for outstanding IT products and services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Thing, Big Data and 3D printing.

VINASA chairman Truong Gia Binh said technology could create huge advantages not only for the IT sector but also for the economy.

The products and services nominated for the awards must be of excellent quality, efficient, popular and highly competitive, contributing to IT development in Viet Nam.

The deadline for submission is March 5, and the results will be announced at an award ceremony in late April this year.

Viet Nam’s software and IT industry expanded by 20-35 per cent during 2000-10 and by 10-15 per cent from 2011-16.

The sector’s growth rate has always been higher than the country’s gross domestic product. Since 2003, the organising board has honoured nearly 700 outstanding software and IT products and services.

In 2017, the revenue from software and digital content reached nearly US$3.8 billion, increasing 76 times compared to 2000.

Viet Nam’s position in the global IT map has improved in the past few years. It ranked first in terms of economy index in mobile phone application among the six most developed countries in ASEAN region. Viet Nam is also considered among the six most attractive countries in the world in terms of software outsourcing.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has seen rapid development with global impacts. The IT sector has played a pivotal role in the revolution, with responsibilities to promote IT application, especially new technological trends, in all sectors to help Viet Nam take advantage. — VNS