Creating momentum from the innovative startup ecosystem

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Phan Ngoc Tho; Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh attended the workshop.

“Don't go first and come back later”

Thua Thien Hue is a locality with many advantages to develop and promote innovative start-up activities. The province is one of three localities nationwide to be certified by the National Start-up Program as a Locality with Active Contribution to the Start-up Ecosystem in 2021 and is honored to receive the title of "Attractive City for Innovative Start-ups in 2022".

Assessing at the workshop, Dr. Ho Thang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said that technological innovation and intellectual property development are very important for enterprises, helping to improve quality, diversify products, increase output, increase labor productivity, and use raw materials rationally and economically...

Despite many achievements in applying technology to production, Mr. Thang commented that enterprises in the area still have low productivity in production and business activities, low competitiveness of products, small scale, low equipment and technology level, especially lack of capital to invest in innovation and improvement of technological lines. In addition, very few enterprises have research and development departments, so the improvement and innovation of technology and equipment is still limited.

Faced with that situation, a number of support policies of the province have contributed to removing difficulties for enterprises, aiming to create conditions for capital sources to invest in improving productivity, quality, technological innovation, product and goods brands, and applying systems, models, and innovative tools in modern management, connecting customers, accessing new markets, and at the same time creating attraction for scientists to invest in creative research,...

“By December 2022, the Department of Science and Technology had implemented policy support for innovation, technology improvement, technology transfer and intellectual property development according to Resolution No. 22/2020/NQ-HDND. Accordingly, there were 84 applications for support, with a support budget of more than 3 billion VND,” Mr. Thang informed.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh said that in order to catch up with the current world trend, it is necessary to shift the trend from "innovation" to "open" innovation to promote internal strength combined with seeking support from external resources, seeking technological solutions from the community to solve strategic problems for enterprises under the impact of the 4.0 technology wave as well as changing market needs.

“Determining science and technology is the key to contributing to the success of enterprises. Therefore, developing an open science and technology ecosystem requires connecting and promoting the transfer of new technologies; linking the science and technology ecosystem to develop start-up projects in the area; promoting cooperation and connection between the State, schools, businesses, and farmers. When there is an idea, it must be made into reality, avoiding the situation of being ahead but falling behind,” Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh emphasized.

Promoting the startup ecosystem

At the workshop, many experts shared their perspectives and comments on the current status of innovative startups and technology application by enterprises.

Mr. Ly Dinh Quan, Vice Chairman of the National Innovation Startup Advisory Council, stated that when paying attention to innovation, enterprises will meet the needs of customers and the community, positively impact society; create value, improve production capacity, optimize resources; create new products and services, and improve product and service quality.

However, Mr. Quan said that the investment resources of enterprises are limited, reducing the ability to create new products and services. There is no strong relationship and connection with partners, scientists, and the creative community, making it difficult to innovate and develop. In addition, enterprises lack understanding of innovation, so they cannot fully exploit its potential.

“Given the current situation, businesses need to promote educational activities for the business community; improve innovation capacity for business associations; create regular and regular connection spaces; establish an information and communication system to connect businesses with the innovation community. Promote the development of a network of consultants on innovation and businesses to improve business capacity…”, Mr. Quan proposed solutions.

After citing lessons from the Netherlands' blockchain technology transfer strategy and some achievements in innovation through technology transfer in the fields of aerospace and communications technology in Vietnam, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Enterprise and Market Development, Ministry of Science and Technology Pham Hong Quat emphasized the solution of linking the startup ecosystem and national innovation in technology transfer investment activities.

According to Mr. Quat, technology transfer is a component of innovation, so open innovation linkages should be established in technology transfer investment activities, including issues of access to information, access to resources, and human resource training.

Faced with the reality that only 3% of enterprises successfully raise capital out of more than 3,000 S&T enterprises in Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam has 84 incubators and 35 business promotion organizations, concentrated in the private sector, the public sector has not shown its influence, not commensurate with the available resources, Mr. Hoang Kim Toan, Director of the Center for Innovation and Creativity, Hue University, also proposed solutions to promote the transfer and commercialization of university research results to enterprises to develop an open innovation ecosystem.

The workshop also launched the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Innovative Startup Competition 2023. Signed a cooperation agreement to implement the Startup Capital Project, phase 2021-2025 in the province; signed a diamond sponsorship contract for the Provincial Innovative Startup Competition 2023 Award.

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