On the afternoon of September 20, 2024, in Ho Chi Minh City, National Economics University (NEU), Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, and the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development co-organized a national scientific conference on “Assessing the Current State, Potential, and Solutions for Connecting Research and Development (R&D), Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Intellectual Property Organizations Supporting Innovative Startups to the National Innovative Startup Ecosystem.”

An overview of the conference

Representing NEU at the conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President, and representatives of the leadership of departments, faculties, institutes, and centers. Representing Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Hong Anh, Vice President. Representing the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology was Luong Van Thuong, Head of the Department of Innovative Startups. Representing the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology was Le Thi Be Ba, Deputy Director of the Center for Science and Technology Advancement Application – Saigon Innovation Hub (SIHUB). Also attending were representatives of university and college leadership; experts, scientists, representatives of departments, boards, and sectors, and representatives of agencies, organizations, and businesses in Ho Chi Minh City.

The conference was part of a national science and technology task under Project 844, “Research, Survey, Assessment of the Current State, and Proposed Solutions for Connecting Research and Development (R&D), Innovation, Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property, and Other Organizations Supporting Innovative Startups to the Innovative Startup Ecosystem.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Hong Anh, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, delivers welcoming remarks at the conference.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, delivers introductory remarks.

In his introductory remarks at the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President of NEU, noted that Vietnam’s innovative startup ecosystem in general, and innovative startup activities in particular, had developed strongly and achieved many impressive results. Innovative startups, in particular, had made breakthroughs and grown strongly, contributing significantly to socioeconomic development. Innovation and startup initiatives, solutions, and projects are increasingly demonstrating their pioneering role in addressing socioeconomic issues.

According to StartupBlink’s “Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024” report, Vietnam rose two places in the 2024 global startup ecosystem index rankings, from 58th to 56th. Vietnam maintained its fifth-place ranking in Southeast Asia and its 12th-place ranking in the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam also ranked 31st globally in the number of startups. Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is considered to have achieved considerable success, with development across multiple sectors. Sectors within Vietnam’s startup ecosystem attracting substantial investor capital include e-commerce, financial technology, food technology, enterprise solutions, and information technology services. With unicorns such as MoMo and Sky Mavis, Vietnam is emerging as a startup nation in Southeast Asia.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Huy Nhuong also emphasized that, despite some impressive achievements, Vietnam’s innovative startup ecosystem remains at a formative stage, is not yet sustainable, and lacks the capacity to compete regionally and globally. It has yet to match the determination and intellect of the Vietnamese people. The number of successful startups remains limited and falls short of development potential and expectations.

One reason for this limitation is that organizations supporting innovative startups operate relatively independently, without close connections and cooperation to establish, nurture, and support the development of innovative startups. Assoc. Prof. Bui Huy Nhuong therefore stated that strengthening connections among entities capable of supporting startups, combined with state resources to help build the capacity of ecosystem participants, is considered a key factor in developing innovative startups. This would create a new generation of businesses capable of accelerating Vietnam’s transition toward an innovation-based growth model in the coming years, while helping innovative startups improve their ability to access and develop international markets in the context of globalization.

On behalf of the organizing committee, Assoc. Prof. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President, thanked the Board of Presidents of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, scientists, managers, entrepreneurs, and delegates, particularly the speakers, for accepting the invitation and sharing ideas on connecting organizations supporting innovative startups to startup ecosystems in Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. Their contributions helped clarify the objectives and the factors hindering or facilitating connections between organizations supporting innovative startups and national and regional innovative startup ecosystems.

Representatives of the leadership of the two universities exchange gifts and pose for a commemorative photograph.

During the discussion session, delegates focused on discussing and clarifying several issues: identifying criteria for assessing the potential of key organizations, such as R&D centers and technology transfer organizations, to support innovative startups; assessing the current state of connections between organizations supporting innovative startups and startup ecosystems in Vietnam from the perspective of universities; and suggesting solutions to strengthen connections between organizations supporting innovative startups and startup ecosystems in Vietnam.

Luong Van Thuong, Head of the Department of Innovative Startups at the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development, Ministry of Science and Technology, presents “Criteria for Assessing the Potential of R&D, Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Intellectual Property Organizations to Support Innovative Startups.”

Le Nhat Quang, Deputy Director of the Software Technology Park and Director of the Innovative Entrepreneurship Center at Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, presents the paper “Connecting Participants in the Innovative Startup Ecosystem – Implementation Experience at the Innovative Entrepreneurship Center, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City”.

Dr. Pham Thi Hong Phuong, Head of the Division of Chemical and Materials Technology at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City and Director of the Center for Green Innovation at the 3AI Institute, presents the paper “The Role of Technical Universities in Connecting Participants in the National Innovative Startup Ecosystem.”

Dr. Bui Hong Dang, Vice Chair in Charge of the University Council at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, presents the paper “Connecting and Attracting Resources to Support Innovative Startups – Practical Perspectives from Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc of NEU, representing the research team, presents the paper “International Experience in Engaging R&D, Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Intellectual Property Organizations in Developing Innovative Startup Ecosystems.”

Conference delegates pose for a commemorative group photo

The conference also analyzed the current state, potential, directions, and solutions for connecting research and development, innovation, technology transfer, and intellectual property organizations supporting innovative startups to the national innovative startup ecosystem.

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.