Registration for the 2nd I-Star Award for creativity, innovation and business start-ups in HCM City has opened, the competition organisers announced on Friday.

The awards, given by the city Department of Science and Technology, are divided into four categories: small and medium business start-ups showing creativity, economic efficiency and positive impacts on society; organisations and individuals offering innovative solutions that benefit the community; media works that have a great impact on the community; and investors, experts, and incubator organisations that support innovation and start-ups.

There are three prizes in each category. The winners will be chosen by a group of experts and online voters from the community.

Nguyen Viet Dung, director of the department, said the annual competition honours outstanding and innovative start-up achievements by individuals and organisations.

“The award promotes the use of research outcomes in production and the community to foster the city’s sustainable development.”

He called on donors to continue supporting the awards.

Entry forms are available at doimoisangtao.vn/giaithuong2019.

People can vote on the website until the end of September.

The awards ceremony will be held on the sidelines of the “Week for HCM City Innovation, Start-ups and Entrepreneurship” in October.

More information is available at 2839320121, doimoisangtao.vn/giaithuong2019 and giaithuong@doimoisangtao.vn.

The competition received nearly 200 entries when it debuted last year.

Eleven individuals, organisations and businesses received the 2018 I-Star Award and a cash prize of VND50 million (US$2,150).

The prize money for the awards was donated by businesses, organisations and individuals. — VNS