Approximately 40 countries and territories will take part in the seventh International Exhibition for Young Inventors (IEYI), to be held in Hanoi from December 16-18, said the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technical Creativeness (VIFOTEC).

This will be the first time Vietnam has organized the event, which aims to develop creative thinking among children and young people. Those in the age group of 6-19 will compete in five areas: tools for learning, computer software, play toys and entertainment, environmental protection solutions and energy saving solutions.

Le Xuan Thao, Vice President of VIFOTEC, says that in order to become an industrial nation, Vietnam needs to encourage its children and young people to develop their creativity. In previous exhibitions, Vietnamese children and young people have demonstrated that they have creative ability. Those who lived in cities were stronger in information technology while those from rural areas came up with practical ideas like a machine to collect manure of fowls or a machine for splitting cinnamon.

Mr Thao added that about 3,000 inventions are submitted to the Vietnam National Office of Intellectual Property every year but only 20 percent of them are granted patents.