HÀ NỘI — The Sao Khuê Awards 2026 are being repositioned as a national platform to help shape a comprehensive map of Việt Nam’s digital technology solutions, distinguishing between market-ready products and early-stage ideas.

The Việt Nam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) officially launched the 2026 awards on Tuesday, marking what it describes as a major shift in how digital products and solutions are assessed.

According to VINASA, Sao Khuê 2026 will, for the first time, apply a next-generation evaluation model designed to more accurately reflect the capacity, maturity and real-world value of Vietnamese digital technology products and solutions.

Established in 2003, the Sao Khuê Awards have, for over 22 years, honoured nearly 2,000 digital products, solutions and services. The awards have accompanied the development of Việt Nam’s IT sector through successive stages, from computerisation and application software to digital transformation and the digital economy.

As the technology market becomes increasingly diverse, VINASA notes that users, digital technology enterprises and regulators alike need a common reference tool to identify which products are mature and ready for deployment, and which remain at the conceptual stage.

Against this backdrop, Sao Khuê 2026 is being developed as a foundation for building a “Map of Việt Nam’s Digital Technology Solutions”, helping to position both products and enterprises within the broader landscape of the industry.

At the launch ceremony, Nguyễn Thị Thu Giang, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary General of VINASA, said the organisers aim to use the awards to create a transparent and accurate map of enterprise capabilities and digital solutions.

“This map will answer key questions about the position of Vietnamese technology enterprises and the maturity of domestic digital solutions,” Giang said.

“Sao Khuê will not only accompany the industry, but also serve as a platform to define, shape and drive Việt Nam’s digital ecosystem, helping to solve major national challenges and bring Vietnamese intelligence to the global market.”

This year, the award categories have been restructured into eight key technology groups: digital infrastructure and platforms; breakthrough technologies; information security; digital government; digital economy; digital content; social impact and ESG; and digital services. The new structure is intended to cover the full value chain of the digital technology sector.

Notably, Sao Khuê 2026 introduces an evaluation framework based on three axes: domain (the nature and level of technological standardisation), maturity (operational readiness and sustainability), and value nature (economic and social impact). Products will also be classified into five maturity levels, ranging from the idea stage to solutions capable of international competition.

VINASA said the new approach ensures a more scientific and objective assessment, reducing subjectivity while enabling both start-ups and large technology firms to be evaluated on equal footing.

Submissions for the Sao Khuê Awards 2026 will be accepted from January 15 to March 20, 2026. Winning products will receive communications support, assistance with domestic and international market promotion, and opportunities to participate in business-matching activities in key global technology markets. — VNS