Spreading the spirit of creative entrepreneurship

"Three together" to go far

Over the years, Vietnam has had many policies and guidelines to support the development of the innovative startup ecosystem. Up to now, Vietnam's innovative startup ecosystem has made significant progress, creating a favorable environment for innovative startup activities, contributing to promoting national economic growth.

The elements of the policy, financial, cultural, market, human resources and support ecosystems are increasingly closely linked, interacting and supporting each other to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and economic prosperity.

Sharing from the reality that the city has been ranked in the top 200 global innovative startup cities, the representative of Ho Chi Minh City's leadership said that although it is a dynamic locality with many universities, the construction and development of a startup ecosystem still has many challenges. In particular, the ability to cooperate and closely follow market demand from the university and research institute sector is still very weak; the facilities serving university research are also very modest. We focus too much on training, focusing on theoretical learning... As for connecting to solve practical problems of society and the market, universities are currently weak. Research activities to have many transferable results, turn them into technology and transfer them are still weak. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City is simultaneously implementing programs in which the solutions are all aimed at directly impacting the development of scientific research of universities and research institutes. For example, a program to support businesses when they cooperate in research and development with universities; or a program to promote the commercialization of university research through the Ho Chi Minh City technology exchange as well as open innovation events; or support to promote universities in Ho Chi Minh City to develop according to the startup university model; or policies to help universities form strong research centers...

At the same time, in recent times, creative startup activities in the North Central and Central Coast regions have had many highlights, with many impressive results... Events, competitions, and programs such as local, regional, and national Techfest have also been regularly organized in the area. Many training, association, and cooperation programs with domestic and international communities have been implemented; the work of building mechanisms and policies has always been of interest; many creative startup centers have been formed. A number of creative startups in fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, tourism, autonomous vehicles, etc. have had strong growth steps, connecting with the national and foreign markets.

Hai Phong City is promoting the development of Hai Phong's innovative startup ecosystem to be worthy of an internationally connected regional center and by 2025, Hai Phong will be among the top 200 cities with the best global startup ecosystem index. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh said that Hai Phong will need to build and upgrade co-working spaces, areas to support startups, agricultural technology zones, and create the best infrastructure for startups, and start-up organizations and individuals to have favorable conditions to develop. In terms of resources, Hai Phong needs to focus on calling for and creating conditions for venture capital funds, investors, and financial institutions to support and help startups. The Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to creating the best conditions from policies to resources to work with Hai Phong to build an innovation center worthy of regional and national scale. Moving towards early international connections, making Hai Phong an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors and soon putting Hai Phong on the list of global startup cities. In particular, the Deputy Minister reiterated the slogan "Three together" at the National Innovation and Startup Festival 2024 by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Together in awareness, together in action, together in enjoyment, demonstrating the determination to make creative startups a strong driving force for development for both the locality and the country...

Join hands to create local and regional advantage links

According to experts, in order to strongly develop innovative startup regions, in major cities from the North to the South such as Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, it is necessary to build Business Incubators, Accelerators and Regional Innovation Centers. Developing inter-regional startup infrastructure will help provide deeper and more consistent support for startups from the idea stage, perfecting business models to promoting strong commercialization. This stage requires a specific mechanism to attract private investment in this field to create a premise for an entire ecosystem in the long term.

Introducing innovative startup products in Ha Tinh.

Local authorities need to issue tax incentives and encourage investment in startups. Mobilize capital from international investment funds, especially in the fields of tourism, technology and high-tech agriculture, which have great development potential in the North Central and Central Coast regions.

In addition, building a network of connections between startups, investors and local authorities. This network not only helps connect resources but also creates opportunities for inter-regional cooperation and experience sharing. Provincial authorities need to strengthen close coordination to develop unified startup policies, creating a favorable environment for the development of startups.

Strengthening regional linkages with initiatives and activities closely linked to the development orientation of the North Central and Central Coast regions, facilitating the transfer of resources, exploiting local advantages in each locality for science, technology and innovation in general, and for creative startups in particular. Thereby, further increasing the contribution of science, technology and innovation to the socio-economic development of the locality, the region and the country.

In the Mekong Delta, Nguyen Truc Son, Standing Vice Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee, said that in recent years, innovative startups have become one of the important driving forces for economic growth in Vietnam. The government and localities have issued many policies to encourage and support the development of startups. Vietnam's startup ecosystem is increasingly improving, creating a favorable environment for young founders to come up with creative and highly competitive ideas, products and services.

Entrepreneurship is not only about building new businesses, but also about finding creative solutions to develop the local economy sustainably, protect natural resources, respond to climate change and contribute to improving the quality of life of the people. For Ben Tre, a locality with a special focus on agriculture, promoting startups and innovation is more necessary than ever. Startup models in agriculture applying high technology, creative solutions to protect the environment and develop sustainable ecotourism are increasingly becoming important directions to help Ben Tre develop sustainably, associated with protecting and promoting the potential of nature and indigenous culture. He said that it is necessary to focus on building sustainable startup models, both ensuring economic benefits and protecting the environment and society. In particular, the value of innovation must be promoted, as the "key" to creating breakthrough solutions, meeting the requirements of the market and society. At the same time, support policies and mechanisms to facilitate startups, especially green startups and creative startups, must be focused on.

According to the Standing Vice Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Truc Son, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once emphasized: "Startups and innovation are an important driving force and resource in the sustainable development of each country. To have startups and innovation, there must be innovative people; startups require passion, determination, perseverance and courage to overcome difficulties and challenges to achieve success". He said that startups are not only the story of an individual or a business, but also a common task of the whole community, a driving force for the development of the locality and the whole country.

Sharing experiences from Korea, Director of the Daejeon Center for Creative Innovation (Daejeon CCEI) Park Dae Hee said that Daejeon currently has 26 state-run research centers and more than 200 research centers belonging to universities. However, to get to where it is today is a journey of efforts to build a friendly environment for startups and creative research.

First of all, Daejeon CCEI regularly invites researchers and professors from universities to give lectures and discuss current issues of science and technology. Whenever local issues arise, researchers are invited to research and find solutions with the locality and businesses. Each institute and school has its own tasks and functions, but under the coordination of Daejeon CCEI, they all have one goal: to solve practical problems of Daejeon City in particular and of Korea in general.

“One of our successes in developing the startup ecosystem is developing cooperation between units, between research institutes, universities, with centers and policy-making agencies, state management agencies on startups and the startup ecosystem,” said Mr. Park Dae Hee.

The annual Innovation and Startup Festival of regions and countries is a key activity approved by the Prime Minister within the framework of Project 844 on Supporting the National Startup Ecosystem. This is also an opportunity for localities and businesses to spread the inspiration of innovation and startup for many years...

Nguyen My