IIT – ICTU STUDENTS WIN CONSOLATION PRIZE AT THE APISI 2026 INTERNATIONAL STARTUP COMPETITION IN DA NANG
Recently, at the Grand Finale of The 2nd ACIR+ Program Incubation of Start-Ups and Innovation 2026 (APISI 2026), held on July 11–12, 2026, in Da Nang City, the student team from the Institute of International Training (IIT) – Thai Nguyen University of Information and Communication Technology (ICTU) brought home the Consolation Prize with their breakthrough project “Q-Med”.
Shining at the APISI 2026 International Startup Arena
The APISI 2026 competition (The 2nd ACIR+ Program Incubation of Start-Ups and Innovation 2026) is a prestigious regional platform initiated by the ASEAN Consortium for Innovation and Research (ACIR+). The competition is organized by the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU) – The University of Danang, in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Faculties-Institutes-Schools-Universities of ICT (ICT FISU). The program receives sponsorship and support from major international organizations, including the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Hanwha Life Group, and ChildFund (ChorogUsan).
Having passed rigorous preliminary and incubation rounds from March to June 2026, the team of three students from the Institute of International Training (IIT) received an official invitation to advance directly to the Grand Finale. In Da Nang, the competing teams participated directly in poster exhibitions, live product demonstrations (Live Demo), and project presentations (Pitching) delivered 100% in English before a distinguished panel of international judges, experts, and venture capitalists.
Q-Med Project: AI-Powered Cardiovascular Health Monitoring for the Community
The Q-Med project developed by the IIT student team is an innovative mobile application for cardiovascular health monitoring integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The product was designed to tackle the urgent challenges of hospital overcrowding and high mortality rates caused by cardiovascular diseases in Vietnam today.
- Advanced Technology: Q-Med applies Remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) and PCG technologies, transforming any standard smartphone camera into a non-contact medical device.
- Fast & Accurate: Within just 30 seconds, the app analyzes microvascular color changes on the face and heartbeat sounds to accurately measure vital signs: Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Stress Levels.
- Key Competitive Advantage: Q-Med’s core strength lies in its Zero hardware cost. Operating as a personal medical assistant, the application empowers users to proactively track their health and detect potential anomalies early on.
A Capable and Professional Team Alignment
The success of the Q-Med project at the Grand Finale stems from seamless coordination and thorough preparation by the talented trio of students from the Institute of International Training (IIT):
- Luu The Ha (Class CNTT QT K22B) – Team Leader / Main Pitcher:
In charge of overall progress management and business model development. As the main pitcher delivering the presentation entirely in English, Ha successfully conveyed the story and core vision of the project to the Board of Judges.
- Hoang Manh Cuong (Class CNTT QT K22B) – Lead Developer / Stage Manager:
Responsible for core application development. On stage, Cuong managed the slide transitions and operated the real-time Live Demo on a physical device, ensuring smooth projection onto the grand display in perfect sync with the presentation.
- Nguyen Thanh Trung (Class CNTT QT K22A) – AI Engineer / Q&A Lead:
In charge of research and integration of the AI model (Med-Gemma). Trung mastered the English Q&A session with the judges, addressing technical inquiries regarding rPPG/PCG algorithms and medical data security.
Affirming IIT – ICTU’s Position and Educational Quality
Winning the Consolation Prize at a major regional startup competition like APISI 2026 is not only a well-deserved reward for the students’ relentless efforts, but also a testament to the training quality, innovative spirit, and global integration capabilities of students at the Institute of International Training (IIT) and ICTU as a whole.
The Institute of International Training warmly congratulates and praises the outstanding achievements of Luu The Ha, Hoang Manh Cuong, and Nguyen Thanh Trung. We wish you continued passion, further success in refining the Q-Med project, and even greater accomplishments on your academic, research, and entrepreneurial journeys ahead!