Net Zero Coffee – Where STEM Comes Alive Within the Community

Stepping into Net Zero Coffee, the first thing people notice isn’t the coffee menu or the décor, but the vibrant STEM/STEAM activities taking place. Students and university learners join weekend workshops on green agriculture, fun physics, and hands-on exploration experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

This café not only serves drinks but also functions as a hands-on educational playground, where young people can learn, experience, and connect with the community at the same time.

The first step of the STEM experience

The project, developed by a student team including Huỳnh Vũ Công Khoa from the Faculty of Electrical–Electronics, University of Technology and Education – The University of Danang (UD-UTE); Trương Anh Trí, a UD-UTE alumnus; and Trần Thị Phúc Diễm from the University of Greenwich, officially began operation on April 28, 2025.

At Net Zero Coffee, students have the opportunity to experience physics experiments, green agriculture models, and activities that help develop logical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This serves as an important first step, helping students become familiar with hands-on learning environments while fostering creativity and curiosity.

Members of the research team together with some customers on Net Zero Coffee’s opening day.

Expanding Activities

After the grand opening, the team continued to expand the model with additional activities. A mushroom-growing kit made from coffee grounds was introduced, allowing students to directly experience the cultivation process while learning STEM and practicing sustainable living. In addition, a 3D tic-tac-toe competition was organized, providing a fun and educational space to stimulate thinking and attract the interest of the youth community.

The team also finalized the café’s operational procedures, standardized business activities, completed the necessary permits, and developed a financial roadmap, raising capital and collaborating with educational, production, and media partners. Step by step, they have been improving service quality and expanding the model.

Images of some activities at Net Zero Coffee

Brand Recognition and Positioning

Net Zero Coffee was recognized in the finals of the “Students with Startup Ideas” 2025 (SV_STARTUP-2025) competition organized by UD-UTE on June 27, 2025, being one of the 13 outstanding projects to reach the final round. This is clear evidence of the project’s creativity, practical application, and commercialization potential.

Trương Anh Trí shared: “We hope Net Zero Coffee will become a model that allows students to access scientific and technological knowledge through hands-on practice, change the way they learn, explore careers, and at the same time create a dynamic, creative, and inspiring learning community.”

Community and Future Value

Net Zero Coffee has demonstrated that modern education is not confined to the classroom but can integrate hands-on experiences, community engagement, and responsible business. From the very first workshops to the mushroom-growing kits and additional STEM activities, the project has opened a new path for experiential learning and innovative entrepreneurship in Vietnam, while also promoting green living and sustainable development values among students and the wider youth community.