Started from 2008, this annual HCMC ICT contest has proved its success by attracting a growing number of participants each year. Held by the HCMC People’s Committee, it is used to honor typical ICT products and solutions in the fields of economy, society, and administration reform, actively contributing to the sustainable development of the city, especially the transform of HCMC into a smart city in the period from 2017 – 2020, with a vision to 2025.
This year’s contest prioritizes the exploitation of all possible resources for the socio-economic growth of HCMC and the living standard upgrading of citizens. There are six categories, namely business with exceptional software solution; business with outstanding hardware solution; business with excellent value-added service; unit with most effective implementation of ICT; unit or individual with exceptional contribution to ICT development in HCMC; and ICT student with outstanding learning or researching result.
The Organization Board shared that because of this year’s theme, all submitted papers are promising solutions and products to help HCMC successfully change into a smart city. They also demonstrate the maturity of many contestants.
Another goal of this year’s contest is to create a strong motivation among ICT university students in the city and support ICT startup incubation centers while becoming a good foundation for the upcoming HCMC Innovation Awards.
The Organization Board reported the enthusiastic participation of several state departments, districts, and industries sited in HCMC. Many of them submitted practical solutions to serve a smart and innovative city, closely connecting between the authorities and citizens.
Director of the HCMC Department of Information and Communications Duong Anh Duc stated that through great efforts and fierce determination of state offices in all levels, the initial bases of a smart city have been created in HCMC, including the 4 pillars of a shared database and open database ecosystem; an operation center for a smart city; the information security center; and the socio-economic simulation and forecast center.
He then affirmed that this year’s ICT contest hopes to discover more useful solutions and products especially for the construction of these 4 pillars.
