Vietnam wins three awards at ASEAN Digital Awards 2026

In the digital startup category, MedCAT’s Idus platform, developed by MedCAT, won the gold award. Designed for reading, classifying and structuring documents, the platform has been applied in banking, public administration and healthcare, supporting automated insurance claims processing, smart healthcare services and the development of personal electronic health records.

The ASEAN Digital Awards 2025 ceremony is held in Hanoi on January 15 (Photo: VietnamPlus)
The ASEAN Digital Awards 2025 ceremony is held in Hanoi on January 15 (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hanoi (VNA) – Three Vietnamese technological solutions were honoured at the ASEAN Digital Awards 2026 (ADA), held in Hanoi on January 15 as part of the sixth ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN-6).

Established in 2012, the ASEAN Digital Awards is the region’s most prestigious annual honour for digital software products and solutions across six categories - public sector, private sector, digital inclusivity, digital content, digital startup, and digital innovation.

This year’s ADA finals brought together 18 finalists from ASEAN member states, including three entries from Vietnam. Submissions were assessed against stringent criteria focusing on innovation, practical effectiveness and community value, with the aim of recognising initiatives shaping the region’s digital future.

In the digital startup category, MedCAT’s Idus platform, developed by MedCAT, won the gold award. Designed for reading, classifying and structuring documents, the platform has been applied in banking, public administration and healthcare, supporting automated insurance claims processing, smart healthcare services and the development of personal electronic health records.

medcat.jpg
A representative from MedCAT receives gold award at the ASEAN Digital Awards 2026 in the digital startup category (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnam’s second gold award went to VCB Tablet, developed by the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), in the digital innovation category. The platform transforms traditional bank counters into mobile, paperless service points, enabling both individual and corporate customers to carry out a wide range of transactions remotely in a digital environment.

In the public sector category, the ELCOM Intelligent Transportation System (ELCOM ITS), developed by ELCOM Technology and Telecommunications JSC, won a bronze prize.

ELCOM ITS has demonstrated stable operation at scale, strong system integration and tangible community benefits, having been successfully implemented in multiple large-scale, national-level projects. This marked the first time a solution developed by a Vietnamese enterprise has been recognised in the highly competitive public sector category of the ASEAN Digital Awards, highlighting the growing regional profile of “Make in Vietnam” technologies in public governance.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung described the ASEAN Digital Awards as one of the region’s most successful initiatives. He said the nominated solutions demonstrated not only technological excellence but also a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to shared regional goals.

According to the organisers, the awards to recognise outstanding organisations, businesses and individuals in the digital technology sector, while promoting cooperation, sharing effective models and accelerating digital transformation across ASEAN.

In previous editions, Vietnam has been among the most successful participants, winning numerous gold and silver awards. “Make in Vietnam” products such as online learning platforms, digital agriculture applications and AI-based healthcare solutions have helped strengthen the country’s technological standing in the region./.

VNA

See more

Illustration of part of the digital technology and mixed-use park project in Hanoi Tay Tuu and Phu Dien wards. (Photo: FPT)

Hanoi breaks ground on digital technology, mixed-use park

The digital technology and mixed-use park in Hanoi is envisioned as a key nucleus of the capital’s innovation ecosystem, aligned with its goal of becoming a major national hub for science, technology and the digital economy.

Illustrative photo (Photo: Ampshireflag)

Promoting cooperation aligned with ASEAN digital priorities

The sixth ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADGSOM) and related meetings took place from January 12 to 14 in Hanoi. Delegations exchanged views and reviewed progress in priority cooperation areas, focusing on enhancing coordination and harmonisation of digital policies across ASEAN.

The Au Lac AI Alliance officially announces the inaugural Au Lac Grand Prize on January 12. (Photo: VNA)

Au Lac Grand Prize launched to honour Vietnamese-made AI

The competition is open to all Vietnamese citizens, regardless of age, place of residence or professional background, provided the submitted product or solution is legally protected intellectual property developed and owned by Vietnamese individuals or entities and used in compliance with the law.

An expert speaks at the International Conference on Semiconductors (ICOS) 2026 (Photo: VNA)

ICOS 2026 highlights pathways for Vietnam’s semiconductor development

This was the first international, specialised semiconductor conference held in central Vietnam and the first time the country hosted a large-scale academic forum dedicated exclusively to this sector. Organised in line with international standards, it featured plenary sessions, technical presentations and industry forums, reflecting major research trends shaping the semiconductor sector.

Resolution No.57: People should be put at centre of AI governance

Resolution No.57: People should be put at centre of AI governance

Assessing the role of AI, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasised that it is an “intellectual infrastructure.” More than an applied technology, AI is increasingly becoming a form of national infrastructure, comparable to electricity, telecommunications or the Internet.

In Vietnam, 5G technology infrastructure has begun to be widely deployed by domestic network operators (Photo: VNA)

5G technology expansion expected to boost Vietnam’s digital economy

The Ministry of Science and Technology reported that by 2025, 5G had been commercialised nationwide, covering more than 90% of the population. Viettel alone has deployed 30,000 5G base stations, achieving 90% outdoor coverage and 70% indoor coverage, exceeding its commitments to the Government.

At a display of UAVs (Photo: VNA)

HCM City pilots UAVs for delivery services

HCM City aims to promote UAV use in urban delivery - a promising field contributing to smart logistics and postal services for e-commerce, smart cities and high-tech public services, while fostering UAVs as a strategic technology sector underpinning the innovation ecosystem.

Viettel's virtual assistant for searching administrative units helps shorten time and simplify searches for people. (Photo: Viettel)

Viettel’s virtual assistant among Top 10 technology products

The accolade recognises the mastery of core technologies by the Viettel Artificial Intelligence and Data Services Centre (Viettel AI), while reaffirming the group’s capacity to successfully deploy “Make in Vietnam” artificial intelligence solutions in international markets.

Workers are operating a robotic wafer conveyor assembly line in the semiconductor industry. (Illustrative image. Photo VNA)

Innovation – Driver for new development phase

The draft action programme of the Party Central Committee to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress identifies the shift to a new growth model, economic restructuring, and accelerated industrialisation and modernisation, with science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the core engines, as key tasks.