Hanoi, October 15 – At the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2026 (QVIC 2026) was officially launched, drawing significant attention from students, tech startups, and experts in the fields of innovation and intellectual property.
This marks the first time the QVIC program, one of the flagship initiatives of Qualcomm and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), has been hosted at a key national higher education institution for engineering and technology. This aims to affirm the pioneering role of universities in promoting a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation among students and youth.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Pham Hong Quat – Director General of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (NATEC, MOST) – emphasized: “Over the program’s six seasons, many Vietnamese talents have achieved success, successfully raised investment capital, and had products supported by Qualcomm for entry into distribution networks. This year, Qualcomm is launching the competition alongside a training program consisting of two modules: one on innovation, capital raising, and market development; and one on intellectual property. This is an excellent initiative.” He affirmed, “If we excel in these two modules, we will undoubtedly have potential unicorns in the future.”
Mr. Pham Hong Quat, Director General of the Department of Startup and Technology Enterprises under the Ministry of Science and Technology, speaks at the launch ceremony of QVIC 2026.
As the only higher education institution directly under the Ministry of Science and Technology, PTIT serves as a key national university for engineering and technology. Speaking at the ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac – President of PTIT – expressed his honor that the Institute was chosen as the launch location for QVIC 2026: “Today’s event is a testament to the effective cooperation and shared vision between PTIT and Qualcomm. This is not just an academic activity but also a major boost in connecting training with real-world practice, contributing to disseminating innovative thinking and intellectual property (IP) competency to every student.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac affirmed: “The program is a true launchpad for Vietnamese startups in the high-tech sector, with comprehensive support from Qualcomm’s top experts. The program’s return will create strong motivation for the Institute’s student community and young startups, encouraging them to venture into complex technological fields and contribute to creating high-quality ‘Make in Vietnam’ products that reach the global market.” The President pledged: “PTIT will fully leverage the values brought by the Platform and the QVIC to enhance training quality, aligning academics with the practical needs of the industry, while also promoting entrepreneurship, helping Vietnamese tech ideas be nurtured and developed in a systematic and professional manner.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac, President of PTIT, speaking at the Ceremony.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac also noted that PTIThas been actively promoting international cooperation and knowledge transfer. Recently, the Institute had the honor of welcoming the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for a visit and working session. Furthermore, as the host institution for the signing of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Alliance with major engineering universities in Vietnam, the Institute plays a leading and pioneering role in IP within Vietnam.
Delegates perform the launch ceremony for the L2Pro Platform.
The QVIC 2026 program aims to discover, incubate, and support potential tech startups, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G, IoT, edge computing, robotics, automotive technology, smart cities, and other pioneering digital solutions.
Through specialized support activities in training, technical consultation, IP registration, and product commercialization, QVIC has become one of the flagship initiatives driving Vietnam’s tech startup ecosystem. Over its five years of operation, QVIC startups have filed over 200 applications for patents, copyrights, trademarks, and industrial designs—a clear testament to the program’s effectiveness and practical value.
According to the QVIC 2026 timeline, the organizing committee will accept applications in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang from October to December 2025. The Top 3 outstanding projects will be announced in August 2026. Following the program, these projects will receive support for business matching and collaboration with investors and global partners.
The L2Pro (Learn to Protect) platform was also officially launched in Vietnam on this occasion. Developed by Qualcomm, L2Pro is a non-profit online intellectual property training platform. The launch marks a significant step in enhancing the competitive capacity and awareness of IP value for the local community of students, researchers, startups, and businesses.
L2Pro is a training program that has been successfully implemented in the United States, India, Taiwan, and Africa. In Vietnam, the program focuses on helping the creative community understand, protect, and effectively leverage intellectual property, transforming ideas into strategic assets for sustainable development.
