Data for Life is an international competition that seeks ideas, solutions and technology products capable of addressing real-world problems in public administration, socio-economic development and public service delivery.

The theme for this Season is "Build Together", reflecting a commitment to co-creation, shared development and the translation of technology ideas into solutions for concrete social problems.

Join us on 8 September 2026 (Tuesday), 6pm - 8pm for the first kick-off session to find out more.

Eligibility and Participation

  • This competition is open to all with an interest in technology, science, innovation and data applications, regardless of nationality, age or professional background.

  • Each team comprises 3 to 10 members and may draw on members from different universities, organisations or countries. Multidisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged, combining:- Members with technical and engineering capability

  • Domain experts or practitioners with applied knowledge of the problem area

  • Members experienced in product design, business models or user experience

All teams must comply with the Competition Rules and Regulations, respect intellectual property rights, refrain from using unlawfully obtained information, and observe requirements on information security, data protection and the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals.

Full details are available at https://dataforlife.vn.

Competition Stages

Round 1, Application and screening (15 August - 20 September): teams register, select or propose a problem statement, and outline their intended solution.

Round 2, Solution development (25 September - November 2026): shortlisted teams build a prototype or minimum viable product and take part in training, mentoring and technical support programmes.

Round 3, Exhibition and demonstration (Early November 2026): teams present and demonstrate their products, and connect with government agencies, enterprises, experts and investors.

Round 4, Grand Final (20 - 25 November 2026): finalist teams present, demonstrate their products and respond to the judging panel in Viet Nam.

Solutions are assessed principally on creativity and originality; technical feasibility; social impact; team capability; and potential for real-world application and deployment.

Prizes

1st Prize: $20,000 USD

2nd Prize: $4,000 USD

3rd Prize: $2,000 USD

The Organising Committee expects to present a number of special awards, including Most Innovative Solution, Greatest Social Impact, Most Impressive Technology, and the Community Choice Award.

Winning teams and teams with high-potential solutions will also have the opportunity to:

  • Connect with government agencies, enterprises, innovation organisations and investors

  • Join mentoring, incubation and product development programmes

  • Receive support for research, piloting or real-world deployment of their solutions

  • Expand research and product development partnerships in Viet Nam and across ASEAN

For more information, please visit: https://dataforlife.vn/

Watch Data for Life Season 4 promotional video here.

Organised by:

  • Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam

  • Hanoi University of Science and Technology

  • Vietnam Television

Singapore Ecosystem Partner:

  • AI Singapore