Vietnam aims to have 3-4 more strategic technology unicorns by 2030.

The Vietnam Innovation Startup Ecosystem 2025 report , released on December 12th as part of Techfest 2025 , shows that after more than a decade of development, the ecosystem has entered a phase of strong integration. Vietnam currently has over 4,000 startups, two unicorns, and dozens of near-unicorn businesses, becoming an attractive destination for technology capital in the region.

At the event, Mr. Luong Van Thuong, head of the Innovation Startup Department under the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises ( Ministry of Science and Technology ), said: "Vietnam expects to have 3-4 more unicorns by 2030, focusing on 11 strategic technologies, with three priority areas being AI, semiconductors, and green technology."

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Mr. Luong Van Thuong, Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department under the Department of Startups and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), presented an overview of the Vietnam Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem 2025 report. Photo: Du Lam

The 2025 report is assessed to have a higher data content than the previous year, reflecting a shift in policy from mass support to focusing resources on in-depth development. One of the highlights is the plan to establish a national venture capital fund with initial state capital of approximately $20 million, aiming for a minimum of $100 million.

Local authorities are also encouraged to establish venture capital funds using local budgets as seed capital to attract the private sector and international investors.

Explaining why the fund operates as a joint-stock company or a limited liability company with two members, Mr. Luong Van Thuong stated: "We want the State to simply be the investor, and other organizations and investors from the private sector can participate and collaborate. This is a 'public investment and private management' model, learned from developed countries like Singapore and South Korea."

The report continues to assess the ecosystem using the 5P model, which includes institutions, progress, finance, circularity, and knowledge. Many new institutions are clearly demonstrated through Resolutions 57, 59, and 66; while the startup structure has shifted strongly from e-commerce to AI and the creative economy .

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Vietnam has entered the AI deployment and systematization phase, with 765 AI/ML startups and private capital inflows into this sector increasing eightfold in 2024 to $80 million. Total venture capital investment for the year reached $398 million across 118 deals, notably in three sectors: B2B digital transformation, agricultural technology, and AI.

In the circular (Planet) aspect, the Net Zero 2050 goal opens opportunities for clean energy, recycling, and carbon credits, although Vietnam still faces challenges regarding core technologies and import dependence. The knowledge (People) pillar sees increased support for women and student entrepreneurship through projects 939 and 1665, along with deeper involvement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

The report also tracks eight specialized areas such as climate technology, the creative economy, technology for the elderly, educational technology, plastics innovation, electric vehicle startups, and the Vietnamese startup community abroad. According to Mr. Luong Van Thuong, the carbon credit exchange will be piloted in 2026, while the startup program for the elderly encourages them to become mentors for young startups.

In its first attempt at applying "social listening" analysis in its report, the Ministry noted that 2025 was a year full of emotional upheaval: a gloomy and anxious start, a positive mid-year boost thanks to new policies, and a year ending marked by a mix of pride and crises of confidence stemming from scandals involving some prominent entrepreneurs in the startup world.

Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/viet-nam-dat-muc-tieu-co-them-3-4-ky-lan-cong-nghe-chien-luoc-vao-nam-2030-2471852.html