NANONEEM WON THE GLOBAL FIRST PRIZE AT THE SOCIAL BUSINESS CREATION (SBC) COMPETITION 2021
The global final round of the SBC competition took place in Canada on October 2, 2021 with the participation of 265 teams (for SBC 2020 and 2021) of 80 universities from 24 countries around the world. With excellent 10-minute pitching in front of six judges as leading financial experts and investors, Nanoneem team from International University (IU), Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City outstandingly beat out the two other finalists for the first Scotiabank Prize worth CAD $30,000 in cash and CAD $8,500 as tuition for from MOSAIC Summer School. Argentina’s project “Digital Transformation” came to the second prize while Mexico’s project “River Alive” came to the third prize.
The “prize” has been shipped from HEC Montréal, Canada to International University
Since SBC first edition in 2016, it is the first time a team from Vietnam has got the best prize.
NANONEEM studied herb-based pesticides for green agriculture and the application of nano-technology to improve pesticide efficiency, with the mission of serving a green and sustainable agriculture in Viet Nam. Leader of the project is Dr. Duong Nguyen Hong Nhung, a lecturer from International University (IU) with support of students from International University and Foreign Trade University in Hanoi. Nanoneem applies nanotechnology to make natural ingredients more efficient and stable, thereby improving the effectiveness of pest control at reduced prices. With herbal origins, NanoNeem aims at a clean, safe and environmentally friendly agriculture.
(For the project details: https://socialbusinesscreation.hec.ca/competing-projects/sbc2021_139_vn_nanon/ )
“Nanoneem team could not go to Canada due to Covid-19 pandemic, we joined and did the pitching virtually. It was challenging at first but then we enjoyed the experience a lot,” said Dr. Nhung, “I feel very happy, honored proud of my team.”
After 9 months participating three rounds and challenging requirements from judges who gave exceptionally sharp questions that required NanoNeem team always be well prepared and keep pushing themselves. Fortunately, there are judges/advisors who have been willing to support them in testing NanoNeem products in Canada, New Zealand, Australia… proving that green agriculture is global topic, not just Vietnam. That motivates them s a lot in this long and challenging journey.
“I would like to also express my sincere thanks to absolute supports from International University where the project has been incubated and the advisors/mentors International University and Foreign Trade University in Hanoi who have given us many useful advices and comments during SBC competition. Thank you to my students, colleagues and partners for always trusting and standing by me.” Dr. Hong Nhung shared.
This is the first time International University participated SBC competition. Honorably, at the award ceremony, it was named as the top five brightest candidates for the “Global Institutional Prize”. This is a great honor and recognition that the SBC organizer has given to IU for its contributions in social entrepreneurship and innovation, consequently enhancing IU’s position among universities all over the world.
For SBC 2021, Foreign Trade University in Vietnam got The Impactful Change Agent award and Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico for Emerging Change Agent Award
Next year, Brain Analytics, another project of students from Biomedical Engineering school of International University will compete in the final round of the SBC 2022 competition in Canada. This project focuses on using artificial intelligence (AI) software for the quick, early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. (For the project details: https://socialbusinesscreation.hec.ca/competing-projects/sbc2021_109_vn_brain/)
Both projects received Innovative Social Business Concept Awards (CAD $2,000 in cash each) for Top 5 of Round 2 Winner SBC 2021 announced on July 27,2021
When asked about the project’s future plans, Dr. Nhung also said: “This is just the beginning. We have heard about the problem of toxic chemical pesticides a lot and started to become familiarized with the topic. But it is still undeniably painful, not only in Vietnam but also on the global scale. In the final round of the contest, I told the story of my mother who always had to soak vegetables for hours, or all fruits had to be peeled before eating, from guava, apple to even tiny grapes, she’s afraid of poisonous chemicals… It’s not how it should be, we need to change it. My partners and I are still trying to bring our products to more farmers, with commitments of efficiency, safety and affordable prices. I hope in the future NanoNeem can collaborate with other projects on green agriculture to create real changes. I hope to receive more investments and policy support. For this project, I pledge to spend 100% of NanoNeem’s profits to reinvest in research and technology development, pushing green agriculture, solving environmental damages due toxic pesticides and forest protection. I would like to use the ending of NanoNeem’s final pitch to talk about the upcoming journey: “This has been a long journey and to make it a revolution, we need a lot of supports. If you want to be a part of the change, JOIN US.”
| Social Business Creation (SBC) – an annual global competition for business projects with positive social impact, was organized by HEC Montréal Canada, a public Canadian business university, and Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner. It is a global competition and an innovative training platform through which participants can learn about how to use market mechanisms to address social challenges. The total prize value is more than 2 billion VND each year, in which the first prize receives $30,000 CAD in cash, the second prize is $15,000 CAD and the third prize is $10,000 CAD. The top three teams also received a $4,200 CAD summer course in Creative Management from HEC.
Since its inception in 2016, the contest has attracted the participation of universities from many countries around the world such as Canada, France, USA, Japan, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, etc. |
Website of the SBC competition: https://socialbusinesscreation.hec.ca/