Hai Phong steps up technology partnerships to drive innovation-led growth

Practical technology transfer

In late May, during a conference on implementing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Hai Phong People's Committee and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), South Korea's ECO-HOPIA Co., Ltd. and HOPIA signed an agreement with Vietnam's Song Gia Green Agriculture Co., Ltd. to launch a technology transfer project for a new-generation microbial organic fertilizer.

Do Thi Thuy Ha, Director of Song Gia Green Agriculture Co., Ltd., said the company is developing high-tech microbial products, organic fertilizers and plant nutrition solutions for sustainable agriculture. The partnership with South Korean firms will enable the company to acquire advanced technologies and establish a complete value chain spanning research, technology transfer and large-scale applications in agricultural production, soil improvement and environmental restoration.

Building on such projects, Hai Phong has expanded cooperation with research institutes, universities and businesses at home and abroad to connect technology suppliers with enterprises seeking innovation. The city has also organized surveys and partnership promotion programs with organizations from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in fields including artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, automation, renewable energy, semiconductors, equipment manufacturing, high-tech agriculture and innovation-driven startups.

KIST's decision to designate Hai Phong as its strategic partner in Vietnam marks a significant milestone.

KIST President Sang-Rok Oh said that after more than a year of building the partnership from a visit by Hai Phong officials to KIST in August 2025 to the signing of the cooperation MoU in November 2025, the two sides have gradually established mutual trust and a shared vision for advancing science, technology and innovation.

He said the MoU provides the foundation for KIST to become Hai Phong's trusted technology partner and support the city's ambition to develop into an innovation hub.

Strengthening the innovation ecosystem

A well-developed innovation ecosystem will be critical to improving businesses' ability to absorb and commercialize new technologies. However, many innovative startups continue to face challenges due to limited management capabilities, insufficient funding and, in particular, weak connections with businesses, investors and markets. Coordination among government agencies, universities, research institutes, investment funds and enterprises also remains limited, preventing many research outcomes from being widely applied in practice.

To address these bottlenecks, the city is preparing a 2026-2030 program to strengthen domestic and international cooperation in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration among research institutes, universities and businesses, expand international partnerships, mobilize expertise from scientists and professionals, and develop startup support models to build a highly connected innovation network.

According to Nguyen Cao Thang, member of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Director of the city's Department of Science and Technology, Hai Phong will focus on three strategic priorities to achieve its goal of becoming a leading regional innovation center. These include translating the partnership with KIST into concrete projects, elevating Techfest Hai Phong into an annual international event, and launching competitions to develop solutions for major challenges in smart city governance, port operations, logistics and digital transformation.

By strengthening links among researchers, businesses, investors and the market, Hai Phong is gradually building a dynamic innovation ecosystem that helps enterprises gain easier access to advanced technologies, improve productivity and competitiveness, and position the city as a leading regional center for innovation and technology transfer.

Hai Phong News