Students and young researchers interested in sustainable development will have an opportunity to get funding for their ideas and research through a competition introduced in Hanoi on August 16.

The Green Economy Ideas 2010 competition is for projects on energy saving, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, forestry and aquaculture.

The best idea, to be announced in January, will win 500 million VND (26,300 USD).

Vietnam had several advantages in the development of a green economy, including its largely agricultural base, said Thai Quang Trung, head of the competition's assessment board.

The competition's goal was to create a forum at which students and young researchers, who were rich in ideas but might lack technical and financial support, would be able to contribute to the nation's sustainable development.

The show was co-organised by the Green Apple Centre and Foundation of the Future and backed by the Hanoi National University 's Economic and Policy Research Centre and Dai Viet Law Company.

The Siemens Green Technology Journalism Award was launched on August 16 to honour journalists for excellent reporting on energy efficiency, industrial productivity and sustainability issues.

The award, the first of its kind for members of the Association for Southeast Asia Nations, is open to print and online media from Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam .

"Concerns such as climate change, sustainable living and conservation are at the forefront of our modern society," said Erdal Elver, president and CEO of Siemens Vietnam.

All entries must be published from January 1 to December 31, 2010, in newspapers, magazines or websites. Articles will be judged in English./.