From advancing economic development to strengthening education, from promoting culture and sports to enhancing social welfare, and from accelerating digital transformation to cultivating high-quality talent, SHB has consistently pursued a development philosophy that is closely aligned with the interests of the nation and the community. Its partnership with the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 marks another significant milestone on this journey, reflecting SHB’s aspiration to help Vietnam build a knowledge-based economy, foster innovation, and nurture the talent needed for the country to thrive in the digital era.
As Vietnam accelerates the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, while advancing the Government’s strategic roadmap for ten priority technology domains, SHB continues to embrace its role as a leading private financial institution committed to supporting the nation’s pursuit of new momentums for growth.
In the digital age, artificial intelligence has evolved beyond a standalone technology to become a strategic capability that underpins innovation, strengthens economic competitiveness, and enhances national standing. Investing in AI, therefore, is not merely an investment in technology, it is an investment in people, knowledge, and Vietnam’s sustainable future. Guided by this vision, SHB’s participation in the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 extends far beyond financial sponsorship. It represents a comprehensive commitment to helping build a nationwide AI-native innovation platform that empowers Vietnam’s next generation of AI talent and innovators.
SHB partners with the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 to help shape Vietnam’s next generation of AI Talent
Throughout the program, SHB participated in multiple capacities: as the Diamond Sponsor; as an industry partner that directly developed challenge statements based on the practical needs of the financial and banking sector; by deploying a team of experts to mentor participating teams; and by sharing its experience in AI adoption, digital transformation, and product development through the program’s workshop series.
This multifaceted engagement underscores SHB’s long-term commitment to developing high-quality technology talent and fostering Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem. As one of the country’s Top 5 largest private commercial banks, SHB continues to reinforce its position as a new-generation bank of national significance, one that pioneers the adoption of emerging technologies, places innovation at the heart of its growth strategy, and actively supports initiatives of strategic importance to Vietnam’s future.
Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge: A National-scale AI-native platform connecting Vietnamese talent with the global AI ecosystem
For the first time in Vietnam, a national-scale AI-native hackathon has brought together leading organizations from both the domestic and international artificial intelligence ecosystem. The Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 is co-organized by the National Innovation Center (NIC), Meta, the AI for Vietnam Foundation (AIV), and Duy Tan University, attracting 2,000–3,000 students, engineers, researchers, startups, and AI practitioners from across the country.
The program’s distinctive feature lies in its model of “100% AI-native, 100% based on real-world challenges, and 100% focused on connecting Vietnamese AI talent with the global stage.” Prior to the official competition taking place from 17–19 July, participating teams joined a free five-week training program covering AI product design, agentic workflows, business models, and investor presentation skills. During the 48-hour competition, teams developed their products with in-depth mentorship and presented their solutions to a panel of judges.
The Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 offers a total prize pool of VND 1.6 billion, of which VND 500 million is sponsored by SHB as the program’s Diamond Sponsor.
SHB representatives share their experience in deploying AI in banking during a Unitour session of the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026
The program’s mentor network brings together experts from Google Research, Stanford University, NVIDIA, TikTok, Meta, and many other leading AI firms from around the world. Following the competition, outstanding projects will continue to be connected with businesses for pilot implementation, participate in Vietnam Innovation Day and research programs with AI Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, and have the opportunity to compete in the Vietnam AI Stars Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, United States.
With its scale, professional expertise, and comprehensive development pathway, the Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge is expected to go beyond the scope of a conventional technology competition to become a platform for identifying, nurturing, and connecting the next generation of Vietnamese AI Builders with the global innovation ecosystem.
The Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 Unitour series, co-organized with SHB, attracted a large number of technology-passionate students
Partnering to Develop AI Talent and Reinforce SHB’s Position as a new-generation bank of national significance
Throughout its more than three decades of development, SHB has consistently aligned itself with the development orientations of the Party and the Government, as well as national policies. The Bank recognizes its role as a private financial institution in helping translate the State’s major policies and priorities into action.
Alongside supporting the economy through capital for production, business activities, and priority sectors, SHB also contributes to preserving and promoting the humanistic values, intellectual spirit, identity, and aspirations of the Vietnamese people, while consistently engaging in social welfare, community development, sports, education, and other initiatives.
In the fields of technology and innovation, SHB likewise contributes to national digital transformation and promotes the development of high-quality human resources in general, and AI talent in particular, helping Vietnam enhance productivity, competitiveness, and technological self-reliance in the new era.
SHB aspires to become a new-generation bank of national significance, supporting initiatives of strategic significance to the country’s future
The Vietnam AI Innovation Challenge 2026 is another important initiative in SHB’s ongoing journey to create sustainable value for the community and the nation. It also represents the Bank’s contribution to developing high-quality human resources and promoting innovation in the spirit of Resolution 57, while expanding opportunities for international integration in science, technology, and innovation, in line with the direction of Resolution 59 on international integration in the new context.
As one of Vietnam’s Top 5 private commercial banks, SHB is pursuing a strong and comprehensive transformation strategy, with the ambition of becoming a new-generation national-scale bank and making technology a key driver of growth through its “5 First” strategy: Data + AI First, People First, Cloud First, Security First, and Mobile First. This serves as a foundation for comprehensively transforming operations, enhancing customer experience, developing digital financial services, and making an active contribution to Vietnam’s national digital transformation.
By 2030, SHB aims to become the No. 1 bank in terms of efficiency; a favorite digital bank; the best retail bank; and a leading provider of capital, financial products, and services to strategic corporate customers with green supply chain, green value chain and green-development ecosystems, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, and individual customers. By 2035, SHB aspires to become a modern, digital, and green bank among the leading banks in the region.
On its journey of accompanying Vietnam into a new era, SHB remains steadfast in placing people and corporate culture at the foundation; making digital transformation, science and technology, and innovation the driving forces for breakthrough growth and leadership; and pursuing green banking and sustainable development as its long-term goals, creating enduring values that stand the test of time.