The 2017 ISSF featured the participation of 108 official delegates from 10 countries together with more than 1,500 students from the region participating in the forum’s exchanges. Among the 108 excellent delegates, there were 8 students from VNU’s member universities including VNU University of Science, VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, VNU University of Economics and Business, VNU School of Law, VNU International School and VNU International Francophone Institute. The only international delegate of the VNU’s delegation, also the only delegate from the forum’s African region, was an excellent student of the Master's program in Intelligent Systems and Multimedia from VNU International Francophone Institute.

The 2017 ISSF under the theme "Industry 4.0 and Building Smart City" was held for five days (21/6-25/6), with discussions, the sharing of research results and site visits focusing on: Industry 4.0; Models and ideas of Smart City; the fundamental technologies and smart applications in building Smart City; Smart soft wares for building Smart City; Smart urban services; and Smart urban dwellers’ role.

VNU students brought their papers of various content to the Forum, such as “Research and develop essential services for Smart city, focusing on E-government, Smart traffic, Smart health care, Smart education" by Hoàng Tuấn Anh (VNU International School); “Mobilizing capital for smart cities” by Đinh Phương Anh (VNU University of Economics and Business); "More specific approach to Industry 4.0" by Nguyễn Việt Hưng (VNU University of Engineering and Technology); "Smart services and smart cities" by Gervais Sertilange (VNU International Francophone Institute) ...

The above-named papers provided new perspectives on the concept of smart city as well as smart urban services. The authors also addressed the challenges of deploying infrastructure and service investments to form a smart urban system and suggested some strategies and solutions for developing this system based on the application of technology compatible with the characteristics and strengths of each city.

During the Forum, the Organizing Committee also organized such networking and exchange activities as visiting key facilities, science and technology centres, and historic sites in Ho Chi Minh City.

VNU students attended the ISSF 2017