Mr Palinya and Ms Manivong proudly display their award from the ASEAN Data Science Explorers competition.

Lao students win ASEAN AI data science award

Two Lao students have brought pride to their country after winning first place in the ASEAN AI-Data Science Explorers competition, organised by the ASEAN Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The talented students, Mr Palinya Sengdalavong and Ms Manivong Kounlasaty, represented Laos in the regional finals, competing against the best young innovators from the 10 ASEAN member states.
Their project, and the award they received on October 28, was a historic achievement for Lao youth in the field of artificial intelligence and data science.
Mr Palinya and Ms Manivong received scholarships from the government of Singapore in 2017 to pursue secondary school and undergraduate studies in Singapore.
They are currently in their final year of university studies in Singapore.
The ASEAN AI-Data Science Explorers 2025 competition is a flagship initiative of the ASEAN Foundation, which aims to empower young people across Southeast Asia with essential digital and data analytics skills.
The programme encourages students to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in creating innovative solutions that address real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This year’s competition brought together talented youth from across ASEAN, who presented their projects at the regional finals.
The event served as a platform for collaboration, creativity, and regional integration, showcasing the role of young innovators in driving ASEAN’s digital transformation and sustainable development agenda.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 30, 2025)