First launched in 2017, the BK Creative Youth Competition is an annual intellectual playground for students nationwide. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition which originally scheduled for late December 2020, was postponed to March 2021.
The 2020 competition was held under the theme “Smart up for life”, focusing on innovative, startup-oriented products serving practical needs in fields such as transportation, education, environment, marine and islands, industry, agriculture, and healthcare.
From hundreds of entries nationwide, six outstanding teams advanced to the final round, including Team BPlastic representing Thuyloi University.
BPlastic, comprising female students from the Faculty of Chemistry and Environment, presented the project “Fabrication of Bio-Nano Membrane from Rice Straw for BMASK Face Mask Production”. The project addresses public health concerns caused by air pollution, contributes to the prevention of Covid-19, and reduces both medical waste and agricultural organic waste such as rice straw.
The judging panel praised the team’s project for its strong concept and timeliness. They recommended expanding its application to other high-density settings such as nursing homes, healthcare facilities, and orphanages which could further enhance its impact in combating Covid-19.
The BK Creative Youth Competition, hosted annually by Hanoi University of Science and Technology, aims to foster students’ creativity, promote interdisciplinary thinking, and develop practical ideas, products, and innovative management solutions with startup potential.
Each participating team can have up to five members, with at least two being current students of engineering universities across Vietnam as of December 2020.
Over the six-month competition, the organizers provided training and mentorship to teams — from drafting initial ideas to finalizing and implementing their proposals — with enthusiastic support from reputable experts in creativity and entrepreneurship.
At the conclusion of the event, the organizing committee announced the winners. BPlastic – Thuyloi University earned a Consolation Prize. Congratulations to the talented girls from the Environmental Engineering program, Faculty of Chemistry and Environment!