Promoting venture capital investment for innovative startups.

Promoting international cooperation in venture capital investment for innovative startups... was the main focus of the "International Cooperation Forum on Investment Development" held on the afternoon of December 13th in Hanoi.

The event was organized by the Department of Science Development ( Ministry of Science and Technology ) and the Hanoi People's Committee, implemented by the Vietnam National Startup Investment Fund (VNSIF) and related units within the framework of Techfest Vietnam 2025.

Speakers shared their insights at the Forum.

Vietnam is becoming a startup hub in Southeast Asia.

The forum aims to build and share a strategic vision for Vietnam's innovative startup ecosystem in 2030, with a vision extending to 2045, focusing on promoting international cooperation in venture capital (VC), connecting international investors, VC funds, startups, etc., to create concrete solutions and boost investment flows into priority areas such as AI, Blockchain, Robotics, IoT, digital mirroring, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture , and ESG (environment, social, and governance).

The purpose of the "International Cooperation Forum for Investment Development" is to strengthen international connections to learn from successful models, thereby enhancing operational capacity and attracting VC for Vietnamese startups; to promote high-quality venture capital flows into technology sectors, contributing to the creation of value-added jobs and boosting technology exports; to support the implementation of national strategies and programs, including Program 844/QD-TTg and the digital economy development goals according to the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, as well as to position Vietnam as a startup hub in Southeast Asia.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy, Vice President of the National Startup Association and President of VNSIF, the most important pillar in the development of Vietnam's economy in the new era, the age of striving in the world of AI, is proposing initiatives and solutions that can promote venture capital investment for innovative startups and investment in science and technology innovation in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy stated that, following Decree 38 on investment in innovative startups, after 7 years of implementation, approximately 100 investment funds have been established. However, the capital raised by these funds has only reached over 200 billion VND of their charter capital. Therefore, on May 13, 2025, the Government issued Decree 264/ND-CP on venture capital investment in science, technology, and innovation.

This represents a policy breakthrough, marking the first time venture capital funds have identified their role as a bridge to promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as science and technology. The State allows the central fund, represented by the Ministry of Science and Technology, to contribute between 500 million and 2 trillion VND at once. The investment will take 7-10 years and may encounter difficulties or losses not exceeding 50%.

Signing ceremony between the participating units.

Following the merger of provinces and cities, all 34 administrative units are allocated funds from their annual local budgets to invest in the development of science, technology, and innovation. Businesses are also allowed to allocate up to 20% of their tax payments. For example, if a business previously paid 100 billion VND in taxes annually, it would be allocated 20%, meaning 20 billion VND could be used to invest in science, technology, and innovation, as well as to participate in establishing venture capital funds and investing in innovation.

"These are new developments and opportunities for businesses, especially foreign investors and overseas Vietnamese, to join with domestic investors in establishing venture capital funds in Vietnam for the new phase," said Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy. He also added that entrepreneurs and businesses seeking investment capital will be connected one-on-one with domestic and foreign investment funds.

Attracting resources from overseas Vietnamese and the international community.

Currently, overseas Vietnamese are not only a source of financial resources but also a source of technology, serving as an important bridge connecting Vietnamese businesses to the world. Expressing his perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Lan Trung, Standing Vice President and General Secretary of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese (ALOV), stated that in recent times, the extremely important foundation and strategic direction for the development of science, economics, and international integration have been the Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology.

Then, Resolution 68-NQ/TW for the first time recognized the private sector as the most important pillar of the market economy. The development of the country's economy considers millions of entrepreneurs as the central force when the State opens itself up to new thinking, giving wings to the private sector to take off.

Furthermore, Resolution 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration is also considered a breakthrough with many new mechanisms and systems of solutions for Vietnam to comprehensively open up and bring the international community to Vietnam. This includes high-quality venture capital flows into technology sectors for innovative startups...

"Never before have there been so many solutions and agreements signed between countries that are comprehensive strategic partners with Vietnam. These are breakthroughs that not only create tremendous momentum domestically but also have a profound impact on the Vietnamese community abroad," Mr. Lan Trung stated.

Currently, approximately 6.5 million Vietnamese people are living and residing in 130 countries and territories. Incomplete statistics show that Vietnam has over 500,000 intellectuals and businesspeople with university degrees or higher... Among them, many hold important positions in scientific research and the economic and commercial markets. This is an external force that should be considered an internal strength of the country in the context of Vietnam's reform and integration.

Issuing certificates to foreign investors.

In the coming period, the Association will pay special attention to connecting overseas Vietnamese with domestic investors in science, technology, and investment. Recently, the Association established the Forum for Supporting Investment for Overseas Vietnamese (Vietinvest) to create favorable conditions and facilitate connections for overseas Vietnamese to invest in technology and capital in the country to develop production and business.

At the event, strategic cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between international funds and VNSIF and its partners.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/thuc-day-dau-tu-mao-hiem-cho-khoi-nghiep-doi-moi-sang-tao-197251214065522281.htm