VAA Students Harness AI for Waste Management, Earn Recognition at Innostar 2026

The competition was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation and Startup Center (SIHUB), under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology. It aims to connect Vietnamese and South Korean students, foster the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, and promote international integration. This year’s competition was themed “Applying Science and Technology to Business in the Digital Era.”

Representing the Vietnam Aviation Academy (VAA) on the EcoLoop AI team were Nguyễn Đăng Khoa from the Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering, and Nguyễn Doãn Ngọc Hân and Lê Ngọc Trinh from the Faculty of Information Technology. Together with five South Korean members, the three VAA students formed a cross-disciplinary, international team that conducted market research, developed the idea, and refined its business model.

A key strength of EcoLoop AI is the team’s use of artificial intelligence and data to address a highly practical environmental challenge. The system can predict waste generation volumes, optimize collection routes, and allocate personnel and vehicles more efficiently. It also records data on waste types, volumes, contamination levels, and handover processes. Through these capabilities, the project aims to reduce operating costs, improve the efficiency of waste collection, sorting, and recycling, and gradually transform waste into a valuable resource.

More than just a technology project, EcoLoop AI demonstrates the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Students from Aeronautical Engineering and Information Technology worked together to tackle an emerging challenge, combining technical expertise, data, and AI with business thinking and a focus on sustainable development. At the same time, collaborating with South Korean students gave team members the opportunity to experience a multicultural working environment while strengthening their communication, critical thinking, and idea-development skills in an international setting.

At INNOSTAR 2026, following rounds of market research, business model development, and pitching, EcoLoop AI advanced through the semifinals, secured a place among the Top 10 finalist teams, and won the Excellence Prize in the South Korean team category. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, INNOSTAR 2026 brought together teams from Vietnam and South Korea, creating a platform for students from both countries to jointly develop ideas, conduct market research, and learn from one another.

The achievement of EcoLoop AI is more than just an award. It represents the spirit of cross-disciplinary collaboration, the ability to apply AI to real-world challenges, and the international integration capabilities of students at the Vietnam Aviation Academy. From the classroom, the students worked alongside their international peers to seek solutions to a shared social challenge: how technology can make waste management more efficient while creating greater and more sustainable value.

P. TS & CTSV – TH – KHCN&HTQT