Qualcomm names QVIC 2026 winners in Vietnam

Qualcomm Technologies announced the top five finalists and winners of the 2026 Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 3, spotlighting startups building AI, robotics, healthcare and edge-computing tools. The program also extends Qualcomm’s startup support in Vietnam with mentorship, IP training and access to global business opportunities.

Why it matters: - Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge is designed to turn startup ideas into commercial products, with support that includes technical help, business coaching, intellectual property training and mentorship. - The program has become a pipeline for Vietnam’s deep-tech ecosystem, with startup teams filing more than 200 patent applications through the initiative. - The winners gain access to Qualcomm Technologies’ global network, which can widen exposure to customers, trade shows and international business opportunities.

What happened: - Qualcomm Technologies announced the top five finalists of the fifth season of the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge on Sept. 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. - NAISCORP ROBOTICS won Champion, TENSOR took Second Prize, and VEEP took Third Prize. - AIZ JSC. and OPENMIND ROBOTICS received Innovation Awards. - The five winning teams shared US$255,000 in cash prizes. - NAISCORP ROBOTICS received US$100,000. - TENSOR received US$75,000. - VEEP received US$50,000. - AIZ JSC. received US$15,000. - OPENMIND ROBOTICS received US$15,000.

The details: - Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology has supported QVIC since the program launched in 2019. - The challenge targets startups and emerging companies working in AI, edge computing, 5G, IoT, robotics, smart cities, automotive technology and related fields. - Qualcomm says QVIC startups have filed more than 200 patent applications. - Qualcomm established offices in Hanoi in 2003 and Ho Chi Minh City in 2014. - Qualcomm Vietnam has helped shape how people in Vietnam connect, compute and communicate across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G eras. - The 15 finalists reflected applications across on-device AI, robotics, drones, enterprise AI, smart infrastructure, healthcare, climate technologies, semiconductors and fintech. - The program has supported 80 startups over six years, according to Qualcomm. - More than 1,300 innovators have completed the free L2Pro Vietnam IP training program. - Qualcomm is adding a new entrepreneurship course called From Innovation to Market Success. - The program’s website is available through Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge.

Between the lines: - Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoàng Minh said the challenge is expanding beyond startups to include research groups, university projects and spin-off companies, signaling a broader push to move research into market-ready products. - ST Liew said the initiative supports Vietnam’s goal of becoming a leading regional innovation and AI hub, underscoring Qualcomm’s strategic interest in the country’s tech sector. - Sudeepto Roy pointed to the range of on-device AI use cases as evidence that Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is becoming more mature and more diverse. - The new training course suggests Qualcomm is trying to strengthen not just invention, but commercialization and scale.

What's next: - The winning teams are expected to join Qualcomm Technologies’ global network and pursue more international exposure. - QVIC participants will continue to have access to mentorship, technology support and IP training. - Qualcomm plans to keep expanding founder education through the new entrepreneurship course. - The broader QVIC pipeline will likely continue feeding Vietnam’s startup and patent ecosystem.

The bottom line: - Qualcomm is using QVIC to back Vietnamese startups with money, mentorship and market access, while building a deeper pipeline for AI and advanced technology companies.