Scientific and technological innovation brings Hai Phong to breakthrough development

Strong investment in science and technology

In the period 2020 - 2025, Hai Phong city has made great strides in investment in science and technology. The budget expenditure ratio for this field has increased more than three times, from 63 billion VND in 2021 to 217 billion VND in 2024.

The city has developed 41 national standard laboratories, promoted investment attraction in the field of science and technology, notably the education , science and technology, and urban complex with a scale of nearly 100 hectares (specializing in high technology, AI, and semiconductors).

In the western area of the city, many research projects are applied to production and life practices with investment in 127 topics and projects in the fields of agriculture (50.4%), medicine (18.1%), social sciences (19.7%), engineering and technology (11.8%).

The average technological innovation rate reached 15.02%, bringing Hai Phong to the third position in the country in terms of innovation index for two consecutive years (2023 - 2024), clearly demonstrating the development orientation based on knowledge and technology.

Currently, 100% of seaports apply TOS management system, more than 40% deploy digital seaport platform, moving towards forming smart logistics ecosystem; 24/25 medical facilities and 100% of schools apply electronic payment.

Đổi mới sáng tạo khoa học-công nghệ đưa Hải Phòng phát triển bứt phá - Ảnh 1. — *Illustration photo*

Telecommunication infrastructure has been heavily invested with 4,690 BTS stations, 4G coverage in all residential areas, and 340 5G stations. Thanks to that, the proportion of digital economy reached 27.19% of GRDP, putting Hai Phong in the leading group of the country.

Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Pham Thi Sen Quynh said that the city has proposed to issue Resolution No. 226 of the National Assembly on a number of specific policy mechanisms of Hai Phong, including a specific mechanism on science - technology development and innovation.

In addition, the city also establishes cooperative relations with countries with developed science and technology, connects intellectual networks and overseas Vietnamese to mobilize all resources to serve the development of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, etc.

Vibrant startup ecosystem

The establishment of the Center for Supporting Innovative Startups has strongly promoted the startup movement. Many regular activities such as Techfest Hai Phong or "Innovative Startup Cafe" create a meeting space between businesses, startups and investors.

To date, the city has more than 300 innovative start-up projects and businesses; nearly 150 projects have been supported, including more than 70 new businesses. In the 2021 - 2025 period alone, the city has supported 133 start-up ideas, 28 projects have received intensive support.

An Khang Garden business owner (Vinh Bao commune) Nguyen Van Kien shared: "We received support from the center from legal procedures, trademark registration to business model consulting, thanks to that we are more confident when bringing products to the market."

Techfest Haiphong has also become the city's brand. While in 2017 there were only 23 participating projects, by 2023 the event attracted more than 200 units and 400 innovative products. In 2024, Haiphong will host Techfest Vietnam and next October, the event will take place with the theme "Unlimited Creativity - Haiphong Reaches Out to the Ocean", expected to gather more than 3,000 delegates and 270 booths.

Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology) Pham Hong Quat assessed: "Hai Phong is a bright spot in the country in terms of creative startups, connecting with many international partners, and building prestige on major technology forums."

Towards an innovative city

After the merger, Hai Phong formed an urban area of more than 4.6 million people, with the third largest economic scale in the country, which is considered an important boost to expand the space for innovation and creativity.

However, Hai Phong also faces many challenges when high-tech industry and supporting industry are still lacking, research infrastructure is not strong enough to master advanced technology, there is a lack of research institutes and international-class universities, the startup ecosystem is still young, high-quality human resources do not meet the demand...

Faced with new development requirements, the city has proposed many synchronous solutions. Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Pham Thi Sen Quynh said that the focus in the coming time is to develop marine science and technology, aiming to turn Hai Phong into an international center for training, research and application of marine science and technology.

Accordingly, the city's staff department is researching the establishment of an Innovation Center for logistics and artificial intelligence; deploying a platform to operate a free trade zone, acting as an "operating system" to manage and monitor goods in real time, ensuring transparency and preventing tax losses.

"The city also needs to encourage research and application of science and technology, support creative startups; invest in and improve the capacity to effectively operate the Science and Technology Development Fund and research the establishment of a Venture Capital Fund to nurture creative ideas," Ms. Pham Thi Sen Quynh emphasized.

According to Deputy Director of the Information Technology and Communications Center (Department of Science and Technology) Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, the center proposed standardizing data, bringing specialized data to the city's centralized database. This solution effectively serves the direction and operation activities, expands the ability to exploit information, and contributes to promoting digital government and innovation.

With high political determination and strong investment resources, Hai Phong is making steady progress on the path to becoming an innovative city, a growth pole with regional and international influence.

In recent times, the city has organized more than 100 specialized training courses, operated the Innovation and Startup Information Portal and established the Science and Technology Development Center. Startups have created more than 2,000 high-quality jobs, contributing to Hai Phong's goal of being included in the list of 1,000 cities with "the world's most outstanding startup ecosystem index".

According to Hai Phong newspaper

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/doi-moi-sang-tao-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-dua-hai-phong-phat-trien-but-pha-197251118210538903.htm