From November 25, 2022, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TNMT) of Da Nang City – in collaboration with the Center for Environmental and Community Research (CECR), the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology – Bach Khoa University Faculty of Hanoi (IEST), and Danang University of Science and Technology- launched the Contest “Innovative Ideas for Smart Water Use” within the framework of the Project “Collective Actions for Water Conservation” (CAWACON) organized by Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The purpose of the Contest is to select ideas, initiatives, designs, water reuse models, promote smart water use, adapt to climate change in accordance with the scale of production facilities, business, services, small and medium enterprises and conditions in Da Nang city. Besides, the Contest also creates a useful playground, arouses passion, creativity, promotes the spirit of scientific research and creative movement of students at universities, colleges in Da Nang city. Thereby, creating a source of ideas with quality, novelty, applicability and feasibility to introduce connections with business incubators and investors in the city.

A lot of ideas have been submitted to the Contest within 2 weeks of opening. On December 10, 2022, the Organizing Committee selected 12 teams with 12 best ideas, entered 02 capacity building training sessions at the Center for Materials and Communication, Danang University of Technology. Through the training sessions, the students who were members of the teams registered for the competition were able to learn and learn design thinking methods and design creative solutions on the topic of smart water management; as well as discuss the technical issues of the proposals. Through the training round, 09 ideas and initiatives were selected to enter the Final Round.

2 training sessions

On April 22, 2023, at the Hall of Danang University of Science and Technology (No. 54 Nguyen Luong Bang, Hoa Khanh Bac, Lien Chieu, Da Nang), the Final Round of the Contest, named: ” ‘Innovative ideas for smart water use’ and share models of circulation and reuse of water at enterprises” is held. The program is expected to have the presence of representatives of city leaders including: Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Director of CECR Center; representatives of 02 universities (Hanoi University of Technology and Danang University of Technology); and especially the presence of more than 50 students of 09 teams from universities participating in the Competition.