Promoting green startups, changing consumer habits

Open discussion session with the topic: "Cooperation to promote green transformation and sustainable development".

Green transition is an inevitable requirement

Within the framework of the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Vietnam Summit 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) organized a Policy Dialogue Forum with the theme "Encouraging investment, business, promoting innovative startups in the field of green transformation and sustainable development". In the open discussion section of the forum, domestic and international experts shared experiences and proposed cooperation solutions to promote innovative startups in green transformation and sustainable development.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh emphasized that green transformation is no longer an option, but an inevitable requirement. To realize the Net Zero goal by 2050, Vietnam needs to continue promoting innovation, mobilizing investment resources, and creating a favorable environment for creative startups to develop sustainably. The world is currently facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental pollution. In that context, the transition to a sustainable business model, promoting green innovation and a circular economy is an inevitable trend.

In Vietnam, the green growth strategy has been identified by the Party and the State as a core development strategy, reflected in many policies and guidelines. Among them is the National Science and Technology Program “Net Zero” KC.16/24-30 developed and implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology, aiming to promote research and transfer of green technology, contributing to the implementation of the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 that Vietnam declared at COP26.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam's innovative startup ecosystem currently has more than 4,000 startups, including 2 unicorns, 11 businesses valued at over 100 million USD and more than 1,400 startup support organizations. Notably, about 200-300 of these businesses are operating in green transformation fields such as renewable energy, environmental technology, sustainable agriculture and circular economy. Deputy Minister Hoang Minh affirmed that the forum is an important opportunity for policy makers, businesses and investors to discuss, propose solutions and propose breakthrough initiatives to promote the green innovative startup ecosystem.

Vietnam is taking important steps in developing green solutions.

Support green technology research

P4G CEO Robyn McGuckin shared that since its establishment in 2018, P4G has supported early-stage startups in many developing countries, including Vietnam. P4G's support does not stop at technical and financial support, but also expands business connections with public-private partnership mechanisms to help them overcome barriers in capital, human resources and policies... To date, P4G has raised about 42 million USD in investment for public-private partnership (PPP) models, focusing on the fields of energy, water and agriculture. In Vietnam alone, about 20 startups have been supported, especially technology solutions on climate, clean energy, such as solar power, rooftop solar power and smart electricity...

Executive Director of State of Green (Denmark), Finn Mortensen, shared that Denmark used to be completely dependent on fossil fuels in the 70s and 80s of the last century. However, thanks to innovation, by 2030 and with a vision of 2045, Denmark expects to become a Net Zero country. The experience that Mr. Finn Mortensen gave was to focus on small and medium enterprises so that these enterprises can participate in global partners, thereby strengthening the ecosystem, achieving a pioneering position in the field of green growth. Mr. Finn Mortensen highly appreciated the spirit of creative entrepreneurship in Vietnam and hoped that the two countries would strengthen cooperation in the field of green technology.

Pham Hong Quat, Director of the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that Vietnamese startups are taking important steps in developing green solutions to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. Potential areas include green information technology, ecological products, sustainable services, clean technology and renewable energy. However, there are still many barriers that green transformation businesses face, such as difficulties in accessing finance, lack of high-quality human resources, the environment of consumer habits and the price of environmentally friendly products are still major barriers.

The world is witnessing a change in development thinking, when growth cannot be separated from environmental responsibility and the benefits of future generations. In that context, innovative startups in the field of green transformation are one of the key driving forces to realize Vietnam's Net Zero commitment by 2050. To solve these difficulties, Mr. Pham Hong Quat mentioned conducting surveys, evaluating and building a map of the green innovative startup ecosystem in Vietnam; developing a framework of indicators to assess environmental - social - economic impacts; supporting green technology research. At the same time, promoting information to change shopping habits and encourage green consumption.

As the unit directly advising and implementing activities to support innovative startups, the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises commits to continue to act as a bridge between state management agencies, businesses, investors, support organizations and international partners. At the same time, efforts will be made to promote the formation of flexible, practical policies in line with the trend of green and sustainable development.

Pham Hong Quat, Director of the Department of Startups

and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology)

Economic & Urban Newspaper

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thuc-day-khoi-nghiep-xanh-doi-thoi-quen-tieu-dung-post400536.html