Ho Chi Minh City, 25 January 2026 – The Youth Digital Citizen Challenge (YDCC) 2025 Hackathon, under the theme “AI for Climate Action,” recognized innovative AI solutions addressing climate challenges in Viet Nam. Top prizes were awarded to projects focusing on salinity forecasting for farmers, smart disease detection in shrimp aquaculture, and low-emission fertilizer optimization. These solutions were developed by youth innovators from across the country, selected from 433 applications down to 40 finalist teams, after a 36-hour intensive innovation sprint guided by mentors and experts in technology, sustainability, business, and policy.
The First Prize went to AgriTech iCoop Mekong of Trinova, which provides hyperlocal AI-powered salinity forecasts, risk maps, personalized farming recommendations, and Zalo alerts to help farmers respond to saltwater intrusion. Second Prize was awarded to Green Warriors for TOMI, an AI system that detects white spot disease in shrimp, enabling earlier intervention and reducing losses for coastal communities. Third Prize went to 5Bit GreenX for Net2Zero, a digital tool promoting efficient fertilizer use, helping farmers lower input costs, reduce emissions, and improve crop yield and soil health.
During the hackathon, participants translated validated problem statements into practical solution concepts and prototypes under time pressure, receiving continuous feedback from 57 mentors. The event emphasized responsible and ethical AI use, practical problem-solving, and solutions tailored to local climate realities in the Mekong Delta.
Savinda Ranathunga, Regional Youth Portfolio Manager at UNDP in Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the importance of youth-led initiatives in the Mekong Delta, one of the regions most exposed to climate risks. He emphasized that young innovators are actively responding to local challenges by using technology in ways that are grounded in community needs.
The hackathon followed a structured pre-event programme that included four capacity-building workshops on problem exploration, design thinking, AI ethics, and solution development. These webinars engaged over 600 participants online, helping teams enter the hackathon with well-defined problems and more mature solution strategies.
Assoc. Prof. Trịnh Thùy Anh, Rector of UEH College of Technology and Design, noted that the youth-led ideas were innovative, inclusive, feasible, and closely grounded in local contexts, demonstrating how technology can serve communities while advancing sustainable development goals.
The final pitching session was evaluated by a multi-sector judging panel representing innovation, startups, development, public institutions, venture capital, and industry. Teams were assessed based on solution relevance to Mekong Delta climate challenges, soundness of problem framing, feasibility, and potential for real-world application and scaling.
Mr. Shingo Kinoshita, Managing Director of MUFG Bank, HCMC Branch, praised the youth for combining technology with purpose, creativity, empathy, and speed, showcasing community-focused innovation. Selected teams will participate in a post-hackathon incubation programme to refine their solutions further, while the winning team will also join an international study exchange programme to gain global perspectives on innovation and sustainability.
YDCC 2025 is co-hosted by UNDP Viet Nam and MUFG Bank, HCMC Branch, with implementation support from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. It encourages innovators aged 18–30 to develop AI-powered solutions that enhance climate resilience, support livelihoods, and advance sustainable development, particularly in the Mekong Delta.
UNDP has partnered with the Government of Viet Nam since 1978 to support development, poverty reduction, and growth. Through youth empowerment, digital transformation, and climate action initiatives, UNDP helps young people contribute actively to national development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
MUFG Bank, Ltd., Japan’s premier bank, operates globally with extensive commercial and investment banking services. Its HCMC Branch has contributed to the economic development of Viet Nam while providing financial solutions aligned with sustainable growth. MUFG’s global network and long history aim to foster trust, serve society, and support shared development worldwide.
