Startup, innovation must be crucial political task: PM
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said startup and innovation must be considered as a crucial political task that contributes to promoting robust economic growth, enhancing competitiveness edge and efficiency of production and business, increasing labour productivity, and opening up a new development space.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (C) presents awards to winners of the national startup talent contest. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh has said startup and innovation must be considered as a crucial political taskthat contributes to promoting robust economic growth, enha🀅ncingcompetitiveness edge and efficiency of production and business, increasing labour productivity, and openingup a new development space.
PM Chinh was speaking at the "TECHFEST - WHISE 2023" imprint programme in HoChi Minh City on November 25, which was held as part of the National Innovation and Startup Festival(TECHFEST) and the Week of Ho Chi Minh City Innovation, Startup andEntrepreneurship (WHISE) 2023 from November 20-25. The TECHFEST - WHISE 2023 took thetheme “Unleashing the potential of national resources –Empowering Vietnam’s innovative startup ecosystem for global integration”, bringingabout chances to connect financial resources and partners, develop domestic andforeign markets, and share knowledge with startup founders to help companiesoptimise resources and grow. In his speech, the PM affirmed that the government is readyto listen to and adjust policies to create the most favourable conditions, rollout pilot models and specific initiatives to promote innovation in general andentrepreneurship in particular. The overarching perspective is to place thepeople and businesses at the centre, who are also the core, subject, goal,driving force, and resource for entrepreneurship and innovation. According to the government leader, entrepreneurship andinnovation should be systematically carried out, focusing on four priorities inthe immediate future, including information technology, cybersecurity, digitalservices; healthcare technology and education; environmental technology andenergy; and hi-tech agriculture. He said the effortshould be closely linked to addressing the bottlenecks, difficulties, andchallenges of the country, localities, agencies and units, especially thoserelated to climate change response, green economy, digital economy, circulareconomy, knowledge-based economy, contributing to accomplishing tasks set forthby the 13th National Party Congress. On the occasion, heurged scientists, organisations, businesses, and investors at home and abroadto contribute more actively to Vietnam's entrepreneurship and innovationendeavors.
PM Pham Minh Chinh visits a stall at the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)
This year, Vietnamranked 46th out of 132 economies featured in the Global InnovationIndex, standing fourth in ASEAN and among the top growing economies in development.Ho Chi Minh City was placed in the range of 81-90 among the top 100 emergingstartup markets worldwide. At present, Vietnam has over 3,000 startups, alongwith more than 140 universities and research institutes actively engaged in startupand innovation activities, supported by incubators, centres and clubs. At the event, PM Chinh,along with leaders from ministries, agencies and Ho Chi Minh City, visited anexhibition showcasing innovative startup products and presented awards for thenational startup talent contest./.
The People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 14 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AstraZeneca Vietnam Co. Ltd. on cooperation in innovation in the healthcare sector.
The Consulate General of Vietnam in Frankfurt city of Germany and the Vietnam - Germany Innovation Network (VGInetwork) have held a symposium looking into the prospects of the two countries’ cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and smart city development.
Australian experts shared experience in innovation at a workshop held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in Hanoi on November 22.
With its biodegradable bioplastics product made from organic waste and technology exclusively patented, BUYO Bioplastics became the champion of the National Innovation Technopreneur Contest TECHFEST Vietnam 2023.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Vietnam views sci-tech as a decisive factor in national development and a key tool for achieving sustainable development goals, and is ready to boost sci-tech cooperation with Venezuela for mutual prosperity.
PM Pham Minh Chinh (C) presents awards to winners of the national startup talent contest. (Photo: VNA) 
PM Pham Minh Chinh visits a stall at the exhibition. (Photo: VNA) 
