Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award

KisStartup is pleased to announce the results of the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award 2024. This award was initiated by Mitsui Chemicals R&D to seek and support projects with high commercialization potential from universities, research institutes, science and technology enterprises, and independent researchers in Vietnam.

This year, we received over 30 applications from research groups and individuals across the country. After the initial selection, the top 10 most outstanding projects that potentially fit Mitsui Chemicals' ecosystem were chosen, and finally, 6 standout projects were awarded.

First Prize:

• Technology for producing biopesticides from agricultural waste (DASHOB Ecosystem) This project successfully outperformed many other candidates to win the prize of 2,000 USD.

 

Second Prize:

• Hydrolyzed stem technology for rheumatoid arthritis treatment and
• Nanoparticle technology from functional sheets responsive to pH for drug delivery This project belongs to the research groups from Văn Lang University and Cần Thơ University, receiving a prize of 1,000 USD.

Third Prizes:

• Mobile drinking water treatment technology (Author: Vũ Ngọc Duy)
• Technology for producing durable, beautiful paper from bioplastic materials made from bagasse (Glenn')
• Technology for cultivating algae in landfill leachate to be processed into feed for Moř pine and produce high-quality seaweed seedlings (DBLP) Each third prize was awarded 500 USD.

In addition to the prizes, Mitsui Chemicals will continue to accompany the research groups through collaborative discussions and project progress updates. We are committed to supporting these promising projects as they develop and commercialize in Vietnam, ASEAN, Japan, and globally.

We sincerely thank all the organizations and individuals who participated in this year's award. The winning projects will continue to receive support to successfully develop and commercialize.

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About the Award

The Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award was initiated by Mitsui Chemicals R&D to seek commercialization potential projects to collaborate on and develop highly marketable solutions in Vietnam, ASEAN, Japan, and globally. In 2024, the Mitsui Chemicals and KisStartup teams are proud to continue organizing the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award, aiming to explore and support highly commercializable projects from universities, research institutes, science and technology enterprises, and independent researchers in Vietnam.

Attractive prizes are awarded to the most suitable and outstanding commercialization potential research projects, including:

• First Prize: 2,000 USD
• Second Prize: 1,000 USD
• Three Third Prizes: 500 USD each

Eligible participants: All research projects from universities, research institutes, science and technology enterprises, and independent researchers in Vietnam.

Key areas of focus:

• Field 1: Alternative feedstocks for fossil fuel
• Field 2: Plastics recycling
• Field 3: Sustainable solutions
• Field 4: Agrochemical products/technologies
• Field 5: Nutrition

 

 

Congratulations to the 10 groundbreaking technologies that have made it to the Top 10 of the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award 2024! 

We are thrilled to witness the creativity and tireless efforts of Vietnamese scientists, researchers, and businesses in developing advanced technologies that contribute to solving global challenges and improving the quality of life.

These 10 outstanding technologies not only meet the criteria of the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award 2024 but also demonstrate immense potential for commercialization and widespread application in Vietnam, the ASEAN region, Japan, and globally.

 

 

List of 10 outstanding technologies:

• Portable, compact, electricity-free water purification technology that filters coarse sediment, bacteria, and heavy metals, particularly suitable for areas prone to natural disasters and floods.
• PVA-based ion exchange membrane technology used in capacitive deionization - a promising technology for desalination, especially brackish water, contributing to sustainable desalination solutions to meet the global demand for fresh water.
• Technology for producing functional silk nanofibers that respond to pH for drug delivery. The goal is to enhance flexibility and control over drug release, promising to improve treatment outcomes through controlled and responsive drug release mechanisms.
• Technology for producing biopesticides from agricultural waste. The biopesticide has progressed successfully at the pilot scale and has undergone real-world efficacy assessments.
• Foam material production technology. Nam Anh Investment Joint Stock Company's project aims to innovate traditional air-filled foam products.
• Sustainable footwear production technology. Leading footwear brand G'lenn applies 3D printing technology and bio-plastic materials from sugarcane waste in Vietnam to create environmentally friendly products, simplify the supply chain, and improve sustainability.
• Hydrolyzed silk technology for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Technology for cultivating algae in treated leachate to produce environmentally friendly biodiesel. The project researches a treatment method combining traditional techniques with algae, which can remove nutrients from leachate and recover biomass for biofuel production.
• Tissue culture technology. DBLP's Tissue Culture technology produces high-quality, disease-free seaweed seedlings, allowing for rapid multiplication and stable supply for industrial-scale cultivation.
• Nano-assisted dioxin pollution treatment technology. This project aims to reduce dioxin contamination in soil caused by the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award is an excellent opportunity for Vietnamese scientists and businesses to connect with Mitsui Chemicals, one of Japan's largest chemical corporations, to jointly develop and bring groundbreaking technologies to the market.

We congratulate all the teams who have achieved this proud achievement and look forward to witnessing even greater successes in the future!

#MitsuiChemicals #RDCollaborationAward #VietnameseTechnology

Honoring Outstanding Commercialization Potential Research

The Mitsui Chemical Awards (MCA) is a prestigious award in the field of research and development, organized by Mitsui Chemicals Group in collaboration with KisStartup in Vietnam. The award aims to honor outstanding research projects with high practical application potential, especially in the fields of science and technology. In 2023, the award was presented to the research project "Nano silver chitosan inhibits bacteria causing bacterial leaf blight in rice" by a research team from Hanoi National University led by Dr. Le Thi Hien.

 

A New Step in Rice Protection

Bacterial leaf blight caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is one of the most serious problems for rice - the main food crop of Vietnam. This disease can reduce rice yield by up to 74%, causing significant economic and food losses. The research project of Dr. Le Thi Hien's team - Hanoi National University focused on using nano silver chitosan to inhibit the growth of this bacterium, opening up new prospects in protecting rice, increasing agricultural productivity, and minimizing the negative impact on the environment caused by toxic chemicals.

 

A Thousand Miles Begins with the First Steps

After winning the Mitsui Chemical Awards 2023, the research team has made significant progress in testing this technology. Before participating in the award, the team did not have the funding to conduct small-scale trials, and the project was only limited to laboratory-scale testing. However, thanks to the funding from the award, the team conducted trials on rice over two autumn-winter and winter-spring seasons to answer important experimental questions:

• How does nano silver chitosan inhibit bacteria?
• What is its effect on rice in greenhouse and field environments? What are the differences?

The research team worked closely with experts from Mitsui Chemicals Group to develop a detailed testing plan and continuously update the testing process. The tests showed that nano silver chitosan not only inhibits bacteria but also stimulates rice growth. Specifically, in the first season, bacterial leaf blight did not develop in the winter, and when grown in greenhouses, rice was only infected with some other diseases. In the second season, the team found some concentrations of nano silver chitosan that slowed down the spread of bacteria on rice.

 

Getting Closer to the "Golden Balance Point" in Cultivation

The test results from the two seasons show that nano silver chitosan can inhibit the bacteria causing bacterial leaf blight without affecting rice growth, providing the project team with more research data to get closer to the "golden balance point" in cultivation. This is an important step, opening up the possibility of widespread application of this technology in agriculture, helping to improve the yield and quality of rice in Vietnam.

 

Gratitude to Mitsui Chemicals Group

In an interview with the research team leader, Dr. Le Thi Hien, after 9 months of receiving the award, the research team expressed their gratitude to Mitsui Chemicals. She said that thanks to the program, the team had stable funding and did not have to worry about disbursement or the pressure of updating results like doing reports for sponsors. Mitsui Chemicals Group supported the team a lot in thinking comprehensively to implement the research effectively and reliably, not only to write reports but also to provide practical results for businesses.

 

Supporting and Accompanying Research Projects with Commercialization Potential

Following the success of 2023, Mitsui Chemicals R&D continues to collaborate with KisStartup to organize the Mitsui Chemicals Open Innovation Vietnam 2024 program series, including the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration award. The total value of the awards is up to 4500 USD, encouraging all early-stage research projects from universities, research institutes, science and technology enterprises, and independent researchers in Vietnam to participate.

The Mitsui Chemical Awards is not only a recognition of outstanding research but also a motivation to promote science and technology projects with high application potential. The project "Nano silver chitosan inhibits bacteria causing bacterial leaf blight in rice" is a clear demonstration of the support and positive impact from this award. The year 2024 promises to continue to bring new achievements, contributing to promoting sustainable and effective development in research related to science and technology in Vietnam.

>> For information about the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award and how to register, please see here.

>> For detailed information about the award, please see the brochure here.

>> Register to participate here: here

Registration deadline: May 31, 2024 (Extended to June 8, 2024)

In 2024, Mitsui Chemicals R&D (chemical corporation in Japan) continues to cooperate with KisStartup to organize a series of programs Mitsui Chemicals Open Innovation Vietnam 2024. Specifically, including the following 02 main programs:

A. Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award

Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award is an award initiated by Mitsui Chemicals R&D to search for potential commercialization projects to cooperate and develop solutions with high commercialization potential in Vietnam, ASEAN, and Southeast Asia markets. Japan and worldwide.

Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration 2024 awards include:

• 01 first prize worth 2000 USD,
• 01 second prize worth 1000 USD,
• 03 third prizes worth 500 USD

will be awarded to projects with the most potential commercialization technology in accordance with Mitsui Chemicals' criteria.

Participants: All early-stage research projects from Vietnamese Universities, Research Institutes, Science and Technology Enterprises, and Independent Researchers can apply to participate in the award.

Field: Research projects include but are not limited to one of the following fields:

1. Raw materials to replace fossil fuels:

• Biomass
• Biogas 
• Cellulose
• Algae
• Polyol compounds

2. Plastic recycling products/technology

• Recycling technology: Mechanical recycling, Chemical recycling
• Upcycling products/technology: Mechanical upcycling, Chemical upcycling
• Monolayer packaging
• Recycled plastic materials (Material to strengthen PCR)

3. Sustainable solutions:

• Carbon capture, utilization, and storage solutions (CCUS)
• Membrane Technology: Membrane technology for carbon dioxide gas, Membrane technology for hydrogen gas
• Water purification
• Air purification
• Perovskite Solar Cells (Perovskite Solar Cells)

4. Agrochemical products:

• Biocontrol agriculture agents
• Bio-stimulants

5. Nutrition:

• Functional foods
• Protein substitutes (Protein substitutes)
• Beneficial bacteria
• Cultured meat technology
• Micro-carriers in cell cultured

>> Information about the Mitsui Chemicals R&D Collaboration Award and how to register to participate, please see here.

>>For detailed information about the award, please see the brochure here.

Register to participate here: Here

Deadline to fill out the registration form: May 31, 2024 (Extended to 7.6.2024)

(Note: If teachers or students have more than 1 project suitable for the program and wish to participate in receiving the award, please register separately for each project. Please do not combine projects in a registration form. Registration forms that do not comply with regulations may not be eligible for review).

B. Reverse Pitch Program:

To create conditions for scientists and businesses to expand cooperation and research activities, the Reverse Pitch program opens a new approach by sharing the rights to use Mitsui Chemicals' multidisciplinary inventions for development. project projects and refine new ideas. Not stopping there, potential new projects will have the opportunity to cooperate with Mitsui Chemicals to continue developing in the next stages.

The program is expected to take place in August 2024.

With the desire to support and connect with potential scientists and potential research projects of the University in commercializing research, we respectfully hope that the University and your units will support information sharing to Mitsui Chemicals Open Innovation Vietnam program to stakeholders, including lecturers and students.

If you are interested in schools and units and want to cooperate with us or need to find out more information, please contact directly to hello@kisstartup.com or +84 376.547.880 (Vu Hai Phong).