TDTU Students Conquer the Univ.Star 2025 Competition with a HEPA Filter Idea Recycled from Fishing Nets Using Electrospinning Technology
On August 14, 2025, the Demo Day & Award Ceremony of the Univ.Star 2025 Student Startup Idea Competition took place in an energetic atmosphere, gathering the most outstanding startup projects from students of universities in Ho Chi Minh City and South Korea.
Univ.Star is a Vietnam–Korea startup playground, initiated in 2023 by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, the Jeonbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (South Korea), Jeonbuk National University, Saigon Innovation Hub, and KORETOVIET. In 2025, the competition carried the theme “Applying Science and Technology in the Digital Era”, focusing on discovering, nurturing, and supporting innovative startup ideas with strong commercialization potential.
This year, the competition attracted 153 projects from nearly 500 students representing 37 universities in Ho Chi Minh City, spanning various fields: education, high-tech agriculture, finance – commerce, and healthcare (accounting for 19% of the total projects). Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) contributed three projects.
Notably, a student team from TDTU’s Faculty of Applied Sciences — Ngo Van Tien, Nguyen Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Hong Ha, and Nguyen Tran Phuc Vinh — stood out at Demo Day with their project “HEPA Filter Fabricated from Fishing Nets Using Electrospinning Technology”, in the field of Organic Materials – Chemical Engineering. The team won Third Prize (Excellence Prize).
The project was highly evaluated for its sustainable approach and outstanding filtration efficiency, capable of removing fine dust particles PM₀.₃ at over 99.9999%, fully meeting current HEPA filter manufacturing standards.
At Demo Day, the TDTU student team delivered an impressive presentation, convincing the judging panel with the project’s feasibility and social impact. In the near future, the team hopes to collaborate with air purifier manufacturers to bring HEPA filters to the market, while also investing in equipment to self-develop electrospinning machines, aiming to increase productivity and reduce production costs. On the research & development (R&D) side, the team plans to continue studying polymer nanofiber membranes for various applications, while being open to R&D collaborations on nano-membranes, hydrogel membranes, and polymer-based materials with both domestic and international partners.
Through Univ.Star’s journey, the competition has proven to be not only a platform for students to challenge themselves with breakthrough ideas but also a valuable opportunity to access advanced technologies, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and connect with experts and investors worldwide. More importantly, it serves as a bridge linking innovative thinking and cultural exchange between Vietnamese and Korean students, helping both sides to learn from each other and broaden their global perspectives. These real-life experiences inspire creativity, enhance global competitiveness, and empower students to transform ideas into viable business projects that make positive contributions to socio-economic development.
