The Make in Vietnam Digital Technology Product Award 2026 has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of a dedicated category for artificial intelligence. The Ministry of Science and Technology announced this expansion during a recent press conference, emphasizing that the inclusion of AI aligns with national policy objectives to prioritize the mastery and advancement of artificial intelligence technologies.

Nguyen Khac Lich, Director of the Department of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence, explained that AI possesses the ability to spread across industries at remarkable speed, creating new drivers of economic growth. By establishing a separate category, the award seeks to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to develop high-value products, strengthen the AI ecosystem, and enhance productivity and competitiveness.

The award now encompasses eight categories, ranging from digital technology products in industry, construction, agriculture, natural resources, environment, transportation, postal services, logistics, education, health, culture, and society, to finance, banking, trade, and services. It also recognizes products designed for foreign markets, potential digital technology products, and now, outstanding artificial intelligence products. The initiative underscores Vietnam’s ambition to foster innovation that is researched, designed, created, and manufactured domestically, while promoting smart manufacturing and mastery of core technologies, platforms, and strategies.

Businesses and organizations are invited to register until October 15, after which applications will undergo pre-qualification, preliminary, and final rounds. In the preliminary stage, jury subcommittees will select twelve applications with the highest scores in each category.

These will be presented and defended before narrowing down to the top ten finalists. Each category will award Gold, Silver, and Bronze distinctions, with winners receiving cups and certificates, while the top ten will be recognized with certificates. The award ceremony is scheduled for November or December.

Since its inception in 2020, the Make in Vietnam Award has honored 299 digital technology products out of nearly 1,500 entries. Many of these award-winning innovations have already been applied in practice, addressing national development challenges, expanding domestic and international markets, and contributing to the country’s digital transformation journey. The addition of the AI category reflects Vietnam’s recognition of artificial intelligence as a transformative force and its determination to create a proportionate playing field for enterprises capable of building indigenous models, algorithms, and data.