ULIS pioneers in promoting innovative entrepreneurship among students through the Junior Startup Challenge 2026
On March 13, 2026, University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (ULIS) organized the Final Round of the Junior Startup Challenge 2026 as part of the Student Innovation, Scientific Research, and Entrepreneurship Festival – ULIS FIRE DAY 2026. This event stands out as a hallmark initiative, demonstrating the university’s pioneering role in implementing programs that foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students, in alignment with Government Project 336 on supporting student entrepreneurship for the 2026–2035 period.

The Junior Startup Challenge 2026 was designed to inspire entrepreneurial spirit, equip students of ULIS Secondary School with essential knowledge and skills from an early stage, and identify as well as nurture individuals with creative thinking and strong potential in entrepreneurship for the future.

At the event, Tran Van Dat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Students Affairs under the Ministry of Education and Training, shared that in the coming years, alongside activities in scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship for university students, the Ministry will place greater emphasis on expanding such initiatives to lower secondary and high school students. In this context, the organization of the Junior Startup Challenge 2026 clearly demonstrates the proactive and pioneering approach of ULIS and ULIS Secondary School in implementing policies to promote early-stage innovation and entrepreneurship among learners.
Launched in January 2026, the competition went through two preliminary rounds, “Seed Sowing” and “Nurturing,” to select 10 outstanding startup projects for the final round. At the finale, participating teams presented and defended their projects before a panel of judges, while also showcasing their products and ideas in the exhibition space within the event.

This year’s entries demonstrated diversity in both fields and approaches, highlighting students’ creativity, problem-identification skills, and ability to propose practical solutions. The dynamic atmosphere of the final round helped spread the spirit of innovation to a wide audience of students, participants, and guests.



The first prize was awarded to the project “HEART TO HEART – PARENT & KID DIALOGUE,” developed by Nguyen Van Trang. The project focuses on designing a set of questions to support communication between parents and children during adolescence. It was highly appreciated for its human-centered idea, practical applicability, and persuasive presentation before the expert panel.

Through the Junior Startup Challenge 2026, ULIS continues to affirm its leading role in building an educational environment that promotes creativity, research, and entrepreneurship among students, contributing to the realization of Project 336 and laying a solid foundation for the younger generation to develop innovative thinking, a proactive mindset, and entrepreneurial capacity in the future.
Ngọc Thúy – ĐSTT









