Volterra – A VinUni Spin-off* Won Second Prize at Techfest Vietnam 2025 – When Research Creates Real-world Impact
March 23, 2026
At the Grand Finale of the National Innovative Startup Talent Search Competition 2025** – Techfest Vietnam 2025, Volterra was awarded Second Prize, standing out among the Top 10 most outstanding teams selected from hundreds of submissions in Vietnam and abroad. This achievement not only recognizes the capabilities of a young technology startup but also affirms the path VinUniversity has consistently pursued: transforming academic research into solutions with tangible, real-world value.
Volterra is a research spin-off originating from interdisciplinary work at Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI), VinUniversity, and is incubated and supported by Entrepreneurship at VinUniversity– the University’s innovation and startup ecosystem. The project was born from a fundamental question at the heart of the green mobility transition: How can electric vehicle charging infrastructure operate efficiently, maximize the use of renewable energy, while remaining economically viable and scalable?
To address this challenge, Volterra has developed an AI- and Digital Twin–based platform to optimize the operation of EV charging stations. The system enables real-time simulation, forecasting, and energy dispatch, integrating multi-layer optimization algorithms, dynamic load management, and game theory. As a result, charging stations can reduce peak-hour pressure, enhance grid stability, and significantly improve energy efficiency.
A key differentiator of Volterra lies in its ability to integrate renewable energy sources with battery energy storage systems (BESS). This approach not only lowers electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions but also delivers a sustainable operational model for charging infrastructure investors. Based on application simulations in Vietnam, Volterra’s solution can:
– Reduce operating costs by up to 40%
– Increase investment efficiency by threefold (based on Vietnam-based simulations)
– Significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy integration
– Enable a smart, scalable, and sustainable EV charging infrastructure
Throughout this journey, VinUni students were also given opportunities to participate directly in the project, supporting research alongside senior professors and leading experts, and even representing the project on the TECHFEST stage – a clear reflection of VinUni’s commitment to experiential, research-driven education.
From a broader perspective, Volterra’s Second Prize at TECHFEST 2025 serves as a powerful catalyst for the next generation of spin-offs at VinUni, where scientific ideas are nurtured, tested, and brought to market with national and international competitiveness. Through CEI, Elab, and a comprehensive research–entrepreneurship ecosystem, VinUniversity continues to affirm its role in shaping science and technology solutions for a green, digital, and sustainable Vietnam.
Congratulations to Volterra. This milestone represents a steady and meaningful step forward in VinUni’s journey to bring research closer to society and contribute to sustainable development in Vietnam and beyond.
