Increasing the effectiveness of innovation support in Da Nang

ĐNO - Digital economy and science and technology are opening up new growth opportunities, leading to the formation and expansion of innovation support organizations in the North Central and Central Coast regions. The ecosystem is developing rapidly but still faces challenges that require synchronous solutions to create more sustainable development momentum.

Startup projects need synchronous mechanisms and policies to create resources for sustainable development. In the photo: Delegates visit the startup product demonstration space at the Danang Innovation and Startup Festival 2025. Photo: PHAN VINH

Highlights of Da Nang

Mr. Nguyen Viet Toan, Director of the Center for Supporting Innovative Startups in Da Nang City, said that the local startup ecosystem is developing rapidly, creating a spillover effect to neighboring provinces.

Over the past time, more than 200 startups have been incubated; on average, about 50 startup - science and technology events take place each year. In 2025, Da Nang will rank 766th globally in terms of innovative startup ecosystem, up 130 places compared to 2024; and will be among the 12 outstanding global ecosystems.

According to Mr. Toan, one of the notable points is that 40 innovative start-up enterprises/organizations have been recognized, more than 5.2 billion VND has been allocated to support 13 enterprises, opening up important financial resources for the initial phase of the project.

The city also supports workspaces for nearly 40 AI - microchip technology projects, deploys the Basal Pay financial technology testing sandbox, and encourages controlled testing models before commercialization.

Da Nang organized a seminar on "Investment opportunities in Fintech innovation and start-up" within the framework of the Da Nang Innovation and Start-up Festival 2025. Photo: PHAN VINH

The innovative startup space with a total investment of nearly 500 billion VND is being completed, aiming at a model of a place for working, researching, and connecting concentrated investments. On the other hand, investment fund networks such as Makara Capital, Fundgo Da Nang, Quest Ventures or Summit Capital continuously participate in pitching activities (communicating ideas/projects), opening up opportunities to raise capital for young startups.

Bringing innovation into large-scale teaching at universities, promoting student sourcing, organizing SURF competitions, Startup Runway, The Next Wave… contribute to nurturing a new generation of technology entrepreneurs.

"Innovation needs to be seen as a driving force for development in the entire Central and North Central coastal regions, where small and medium-sized enterprises still account for a large proportion, have limited competitiveness, but have a lot of room for technological transformation in industrial and agricultural production.

"The establishment of regional support centers needs to be linked with testing infrastructure, simplifying support procedures, expanding investment fund connections and accelerating product commercialization," said Mr. Toan.

Capacity building for businesses

In terms of improving the capacity to receive technology in enterprises, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Center for Promoting the Development of Science and Technology Market (SATI Tech - Department of Innovation) said that the unit is implementing training - consulting - connecting experts in the direction of focusing on productivity, optimizing equipment and transferring specific solutions.

A network of more than 300 expert profiles, selecting more than 100 specialized consultants, is established by technology groups such as mechanics - automation, IoT - digital transformation, biotechnology, agricultural products and food..., thereby helping businesses easily find the right source of technical support.

Many 1:1 consulting models are deployed from the survey - technology assessment - equipment design - test operation - efficiency measurement stages, helping businesses clearly see the innovation roadmap, limiting scattered investment.

SATI Tech has organized dozens of training courses - mentoring, connecting local technology supply and demand, suggesting solutions to improve production for businesses in marine farming, agricultural processing, and medicinal herbs - these are key industries in the Central region.

"In the coming period, it is necessary to coordinate with localities to develop a program to support technological innovation for small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives, expand technology assessment activities, support the development of an innovation roadmap; at the same time, propose a mechanism to support experts to go to enterprises and support funding for equipment innovation.

"Innovation is only valuable when it goes into production, when businesses actually create new products, increase productivity and reduce costs," Mr. Thanh said.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Phi, Head of the Department of Innovation System Management, Department of Innovation, shares policies to promote innovation and form innovation centers. Photo: PHAN VINH

Mr. Nguyen Truong Phi, Head of the Department of Innovation System Management, Department of Innovation, suggested a bigger direction for the whole region. Accordingly, it is necessary to move towards planning a national - inter-regional - local innovation center network, in which Da Nang plays the role of a focal point in the Central - Central Highlands region.

Policy sandbox mechanisms, public procurement for innovative products, tax incentives and intellectual property support will be important drivers to bring products from the lab to the market.

Mr. Phi believes that future centers should operate according to an open model, linking institutes - schools - businesses - investment funds, with the function of incubating, accelerating and testing products instead of just training.

Localities need to build a regional innovation map and create a connectivity mechanism so that startups can move resources, access labs, and take advantage of mentors and capital according to development needs.

"When the three pillars of policy, businesses and support organizations develop together, the innovation ecosystem in the Central and North Central coastal regions will have the opportunity to enter a new phase," Mr. Phi affirmed.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/tang-hieu-qua-ho-tro-doi-moi-sang-tao-tai-da-nang-3313920.html