HCM CITY — The management board of the Agricultural High-Tech Park of HCM City (AHTP) on April 3 officially launched the “Start-up Innovation Competition in High-Tech Agriculture 2026,” shortly known as Agritech Innovation 2026, an annual initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.

The programme, organised under the direction of the municipal People’s Committee, seeks to develop a dynamic start-up ecosystem in high-tech agriculture while supporting the broader ambition of positioning HCM City as a regional start-up hub.

Speaking at the launch, Bùi Minh Thạnh, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said the world is entering a phase of green growth in which the circular economy is an inevitable requirement. In this context, agriculture can no longer rely on traditional models based solely on resource exploitation.

“To achieve sustainable development, agriculture must be restructured towards greater modernisation, greener practices, and higher added value. This requires taking science and technology as the foundation, with the younger generation and start-ups at the centre of the transformation,” Thạnh said.

He noted that this year’s competition theme, “Circular Agriculture – Creating a Green Future,” aligns with current development needs.

“Circular agriculture not only helps optimise resources, reduce costs and emissions, and protect the environment, but also opens up new development space based on value regeneration, innovation in production models, and enhanced competitiveness of Vietnamese agriculture,” he said.

Thạnh added that in recent years, the wave of agricultural start-ups has gained momentum, with young entrepreneurs, scientists, and businesses increasingly applying digital technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and automation to address sector challenges.

“We expect not only to identify outstanding projects for awards but, more importantly, to help shape a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who dare to think and act, possess a technology-driven mindset, and aspire to elevate Vietnamese agriculture within global value chains,” he added.

Phạm Đình Dũng, head of the AHTP management board and chairman of the organising committee, said this year’s competition adopts a more systematic approach, focusing not only on identifying ideas but also on supporting projects through training, mentoring, and resource connections.

With nationwide scale and a value chain-based implementation model, the programme aims to foster a new generation of agricultural enterprises capable of mastering technology and adapting to the circular economy and sustainable development, he said.

According to the organiser, the competition is open to a wide range of participants, including start-ups, cooperatives, students, lecturers, research institutions, organisations, and individuals nationwide with ideas or technologies related to high-tech agriculture.

Entries should focus on smart agricultural value chains, from production to processing, prioritising solutions that apply digital technology, automation, and biotechnology to promote green and circular agriculture.

Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2026, via both post and email. The competition will include three rounds: preliminary, semi-final, and final.

Projects advancing beyond the preliminary round will receive training in start-up skills, business model development, intellectual property, fundraising, and pitching, along with advanced coaching on commercialisation strategies and presentation skills.

The competition is divided into two categories. Category A is for students from universities and colleges nationwide, while Category B is open to individuals, start-up teams, and start-up enterprises.

In Category A, the first prize is worth VNĐ100 million (US$3,796), including cash and incubation support, while Category B offers a top prize of VNĐ150 million (US$5,694). Each category will also include second, third, and consolation prizes.

After the competition, outstanding projects will have a chance to get support under Resolution 20/2023/NQ-HĐND, with funding of up to VNĐ400 million per project, helping start-ups commercialise their products and contribute to the city’s sustainable agricultural ecosystem. — VNS