Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a keynote speech. (Photo: VNA)
On the evening of December 13th, at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square (Ho Hoan Kiem pedestrian area, Hanoi), TechFest Vietnam 2025, themed “Creative Entrepreneurship for All – A New Driving Force for Growth,” officially opened. The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Hanoi People's Committee.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a keynote speech at the event.
Also attending were: Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee on Science and Technology Development, Innovation and Digital Transformation; Central Committee members Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology; along with representatives from central and Hanoi city departments, ministries, businesses, investors, and the innovation community of the capital and the country.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged, highly appreciated, and commended the ministries, sectors, and localities, especially the Ministry of Science and Technology, Hanoi, the TechFest organizing committee, and the experts, scientists, business community, and domestic and foreign organizations for their great efforts and contributions to the development of the startup and innovation ecosystem and the promotion of national digital transformation, making a significant contribution to the overall achievements of the country.
The Prime Minister emphasized that over the years, the Party and State have always paid attention to and issued many policies and mechanisms to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and national digital transformation. The Politburo has issued strategic resolutions in many fields, including Resolutions No. 57, 59, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72… which identify science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key breakthroughs; require the acceleration of deep, substantive, and effective international integration; shift from a “management mindset” to a “development-oriented” mindset; reduce pre-approval and increase post-approval; identify the private sector as an important driving force of the national economy; develop green energy; and develop human resources…
The government has issued action programs to implement the Politburo's strategic resolutions with the goal of building a startup and innovation nation based on advanced technology, transparent institutions, smooth infrastructure, smart governance and human resources; developing an independent, self-reliant economy that is deeply, genuinely, and effectively integrated into the international community.
As a result, Vietnam's GII ranking increased from 71st out of 132 countries (in 2010) to 44th out of 133 countries (in 2025). The digital infrastructure is developing strongly (3G/4G coverage for nearly 95% of the population and 5G deployment is underway). The United Nations ranked Vietnam's e-Government Index in 2024 15 places higher than in 2022, placing it 71st out of 193 countries worldwide.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also assessed that, although encouraging initial results have been achieved, due to a slower starting point, Vietnam's startup and innovation ecosystem still lags behind the region and the world, and is not yet commensurate with the potential, intelligence, and capabilities of the Vietnamese people.
With the common goal of enhancing national productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness, transforming Vietnam into a nation of startups and innovation, and enabling Vietnam to continue producing technology "unicorns" to catch up, keep pace with, and potentially surpass others in the global technological flow, thereby contributing to the successful achievement of the two centenary goals, the Prime Minister requested ministries, sectors, and localities, with the Ministry of Science and Technology playing a core role, to proactively improve institutions and policies, remove barriers to new business models and technologies; accept risks and challenges in the process of testing and deploying new models, while establishing a synchronized, transparent, and open risk management and monitoring mechanism. Along with this, focus resources on investing in technology infrastructure, innovation centers, and shared digital infrastructure; and operate integrated platforms supporting businesses such as accounting, taxation, human resource management, and finance.
The Prime Minister outlined several tasks requiring breakthroughs. These include: accelerating digital transformation so that 100% of administrative procedures serving citizens and businesses are carried out digitally, regardless of administrative boundaries, aiming for a paperless administration; developing virtual assistants in agencies and units; building a credit guarantee mechanism and specific lending for innovative startup projects based on technology and intellectual property; developing national, local, state-owned, private, university, and public-private partnership venture capital funds; and operating an efficient stock exchange for innovative startups.
The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Science and Technology to urgently finalize and submit the National Strategy on Startup and Innovation by December 2025. Hanoi, the capital city, will continue to strongly support and create favorable conditions to promote the development of startups and innovation, so that the "heart of the country" becomes a center for incubating new ideas, solutions, and inventions, and a foundation for businesses to develop and expand into the region and the world.
Research institutes, universities, other science and technology organizations, and businesses should promote entrepreneurship training from high school to postgraduate level; build a system of in-depth training in STEM, innovation, and technology management; develop open laboratories, creative spaces, and centers to support the commercialization of research results. At the same time, strengthen cooperation between the "State - Universities - Scientists - Investors" to strongly promote research, technology transfer, and bring research into practice as soon as possible.
For businesses and investors, it is necessary to leverage their role as centers of innovation; proactively invest in new technologies and models, and participate in incubating and accelerating startups; form a leading business ecosystem, especially in strategic technology sectors; expand cooperation with domestic and foreign investment funds; and actively participate in developing the national venture capital market in stages.
People, especially the younger generation, should strongly promote the entrepreneurial spirit, daring to think, daring to act, daring to accept risks and failures as valuable lessons; forming a culture of innovation throughout society; proactively equipping themselves with knowledge and skills in technology and digital transformation.
The Prime Minister suggested that next year's TechFest should continue its strong innovation, elevating it to a regional and international level, and deeply connecting the domestic and international ecosystems. TechFest must become a platform to attract international resources, investment funds, experts, and technology corporations; promote negotiations and the signing of investment agreements with technologically advanced countries; build and effectively operate startup centers; and create conditions for Vietnamese startups to participate, test, and expand in the global market.
With the motto "The State creates, businesses are pioneers, public and private sectors work together, the country develops, and the people are happy," the Prime Minister hopes and believes that TechFest 2025, in the spirit of "valuing intellect, seizing time, and making timely decisions," will be a great success. The national startup and innovation ecosystem will make great strides. Vietnam will become an attractive destination for technology talents and the innovative startup community from countries in the region and around the world.
At the event, Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc presented commemorative plaques honoring the achievements of the three outstanding teams in the 2025 Data for Life Season 3 competition. Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Head of the Competition Steering Committee, also presented vouchers to the teams to participate in the Innovation Center. The 2025 Data for Life Season 3 competition, with a total prize value of over 900 million VND, recognizes the excellent ideas, creative efforts, and commitment to the community of the participating teams, while also opening opportunities for these projects to continue to be supported, developed, and disseminated within the innovation ecosystem.
Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung awarded Certificates of Merit to 10 outstanding localities for their development of the innovative startup ecosystem in 2025. These localities have proactively created an environment for innovation; implemented initiatives suitable to their practical conditions; built infrastructure and support services; and spread the spirit of innovation to the community, especially the younger generation. Along with this, they have created a clear socio-economic impact, contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the localities and the nation.
Specifically, the 10 localities are: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, Can Tho, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Khanh Hoa, and Hue.
With the largest scale ever, TechFest Vietnam 2025, held from December 12th to 14th, 2025, is expected to attract over 60,000 attendees in person and online; featuring more than 20 corporations, 50 investment funds, over 100 support organizations and incubators, and delegates from 6 international regions including Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
A key new feature of TechFest Vietnam 2025 is the shift from a "hall event" to an "open space event," allowing citizens, startups, investors, and academic institutions to interact directly within the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area. Panel discussions and workshops take place in spacious networking zones; technology experiences are enhanced through hands-on interaction points. The target audience is expanded to include business owners, students, senior citizens, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), creating a multi-dimensional convergence point connecting market, technology, policy, and investment. The digitized Phu Dong symbol becomes a recurring theme, representing the strong aspirations of Vietnamese startups in the digital age.
Within the framework of TechFest Vietnam 2025, the National Policy Forum on International Cooperation in Investment for Innovative Startups will also take place, with the participation of over 100 international experts discussing new trends in venture capital, technology commercialization, human resource development, and public-private partnership models; along with a series of more than 20 international workshops and professional seminars on AI, data, fintech, green technology, sports-technology, circular economy, and open innovation. In addition, there will be an exhibition space where the public can directly experience AI, IoT, robotics, new materials, and pioneering technological solutions.
Source: https://vtv.vn/viet-nam-se-tro-thanh-diem-den-hap-dan-cho-tai-nang-cong-nghe-va-cong-dong-khoi-nghiep-sang-tao-100251213224851047.htm
Comment (0)