Invention ideas mostly originate from subtle observations in order to respond, resolve social problems, and to serve the community; Scientific research is a challenging road ahead which requires great dedication and passion to attain success. In addition, it presents the opportunity to push forward scientific knowledge to discover and manufacture products for the community; Transforming a "raw" idea into reality takes effort and innovative thinking to initiate inventions that come from such deceptively simple things.

Attending the ceremony, in attendance were Engineer Le Trung Hieu - Inventor and Founder of Ewater Engineering Company, Dr. Huynh Ky Tran - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lan Hao Cosmetics Manufacturing Company Limited (Thorakao) and Dr. Ngo Dac Thuan – Chairman of the Board of Directors of IP Group Company. "Invention - The Foundation of Innovative Start-ups". The event was organized by Ho Chi Minh City Open University on the morning of March 10 at Hall 602, 97 Vo Van Tan, District 3. This event is part of the activities in a project on "Supporting student entrepreneurship towards 2025" of Ho Chi Minh City Open University which was signed by the Prime Minister on October 30, 2017 and is presided over by the Ministry of Education and Training.

The program aims to promote innovative activities to create core life values on the basis of inventions and handy solutions, boost research development network and application; transfer scientific technologies and commercialize academic science products, promote connections between inventions & inventors, research institutions, businesses and learners, especially biotechnology students.

Through the seminar, students who are interested in entrepreneurship and passionate about scientific research had opportunities to listen to the sharing, advice on steps to build and nurture ideas, ultimately, solutions to realize their ideas and inventions for their start-up.

Scientific research is a challenging road ahead which requires great dedication and passion to attain success. In addition, it presents the opportunity to push forward scientific knowledge to discover and manufacture products for the community. A product that has recently resonated meaningfully in both Vietnam and abroad refers to the Covid-19 drug extracted from betel leaves (Piper betle L.). Based on the convincing data underscore the remarkable immunomodulatory candidates from betel leaves against the growth of the virus, Dr. Huynh Ky Tran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lan Hao Cosmetics Manufacturing Company Limited (Thorakao) has developed a new product to improve citizen well-being. He shared: “In the educational process, teachers' enthusiasm, opportunities and motivation matter regarding students’ success in terms of start-up. Primarily, the core principles are hard-working, fascination with science & entrepreneurship."

Transforming a "raw" idea into reality takes great effort and innovative thinking to initiate inventions that come from such deceptively simple things. The solution for dying flowers is a typical product for the "From concept to market". Only with 1 liter of dye solution can we dye 2,000 flower stems, especially since the cost is 10 times cheaper than the import one. Mr. Le Trung Hieu, Inventor and founder of Ewater Engineering Company shared his journey of “Genetically change colors of flowers: From concept to market”:  ‘I came up with this idea 2 years ago, when my daughter had a ‘Color changing flower experiment’ in her Biology class. Since then, the company's research team, with the participation of university students, has embarked on research, testing and commercialization of the product. Previously, the research team successfully commercialized the Humik Liquid Fertilizer - keeping cut flowers fresh longer.

“Most importantly, associate university students who will be in charge of performing tasks such as experiments, synthesis, statistics, and evaluation under the guidance of  lecturers. Our advantage is having a broad target market, what is needed will be done immediately. This product has just launched after Tet which is currently accounting for almost 50% of the total market.," shared Mr. Le Trung Hieu.

Also at the program, Dr. Ngo Dac Thuan – Chairman of the Board of Directors of IP Group Company, an innovation specialist, shared an overview of strategy to increase the value chain from applied research activities & inventions in University, moreover, he also shared success stories in consulting activities on science and technology, innovation and intellectual property.

Bringing practical sharing and valuable lessons to promote the learning spirit, contributing to creating an entrepreneurship foundation for all students attending the seminar. Trang Nguyen, a first-year student with the desire to start a business, shared: “…Since high school, I’ve come up with an idea but everything was still quite vague. After listening to the sharing of the speakers, my ideas and steps have become clearer. I hope to have the opportunity to turn my "raw" ideas into something practical and useful to the community in the future."