Following their impressive second-place finish at the VietFuture Awards 2024, Shao Di Tâm (Business Administration, NIIE) and Hoàng Thị Thúy (Graphic Design, NTTU) once again demonstrated their prowess by winning First Place in the University – Idea category at R&D to Start-up 2024. The competition, organised by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi saw participation from hundreds of teams across universities and high schools nationwide.
A fierce yet inspiring startup competition
R&D to Start-up 2024 is a significant platform for young entrepreneurs passionate about innovation and technology. The final round featured 18 top teams selected from 206 projects submitted by over 80 universities and high schools nationwide.

To reach the final stage, teams had to pass through four rigorous rounds, evaluated by 30 judges who were CEOs from technology companies, banking leaders, experts from investment funds, and startup support organisations.
The competition was hosted by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi collaborating with major organisations such as the Knowledge Transfer and Startup Support Center (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Youth Startup Support Center, and many other reputable institutions.
PURE Project: From concept to reality
After their remarkable second-place finish at the VietFuture Awards 2024, PURE – Productive Utilization of Renewable Algae, a cosmetics line made from algae and natural compounds by Shao Di Tâm (Business Administration, NIIE) and Hoàng Thị Thúy (Graphic Design, NTTU), once again made a significant impact by winning First Place in the University – Idea category at R&D to Start-up 2024.
This project is not just a creative idea but also a breakthrough solution for pressing environmental issues. Aiming to mitigate air pollution and climate change, the NIIE student team applied algae cultivation technology to absorb CO2 while producing biomass containing active compounds to develop high-value natural cosmetic products.

The products from this project include skincare cosmetics extracted from algae such as Chlorella Vulgaris and Haematococcus Pluvialis, with key items like facial cleansers, shower gels, and clay masks. The standout feature of these products is Astaxanthin – a powerful antioxidant extracted from algae, known for its anti-ageing properties, protecting the skin from environmental damage, and effective skin regeneration.
PURE not only provides bright, youthful skin but also promotes environmental protection, aligning with the trend of sustainable, safe, and health-conscious beauty care.
After their success at R&D to Start-up 2024, the PURE project will continue to be nurtured and developed at the NTTU Innovation and Incubation Center. This will serve as a springboard for the project to participate in higher-level competitions and open opportunities for commercialisation, bringing this promising startup idea closer to the community. Let’s look forward to further advances from PURE and the young talents from NIIE. 🌱💡
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