Hai Phong pioneers innovative startup ecosystem development
Hai Phong has been honored by the Ministry of Science and Technology as one of 10 exemplary localities in developing an innovative startup ecosystem, reflecting its efforts to build an innovative environment and implement practical initiatives.
National model
Since 2020, Hai Phong city has paid close attention to and actively supported startups on multiple fronts, helping create momentum for young people to think boldly and pursue entrepreneurship through various approaches and concrete models. The “Hai Phong – Innovative Startup Café” program, launched by the Innovative Startup Support Center under the Department of Science and Technology in October 2024, has attracted strong interest from startups in the city and neighboring localities, particularly among young people.
According to Do Thi Nhung, Director of the Innovative Startup Support Center, 30 editions of the “Hai Phong – Innovative Startup Café” program attracted thousands of individuals and units with startup ideas and projects, as well as mentors, investors and startup experts. The program focuses on issues encountered during innovative startup processes, including startup management, updates on technology trends such as green transformation and artificial intelligence, fundraising skills and brand building.
Expanding the program, the Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with Vietnam Maritime University, has organized the “Hai Phong – Innovative Startup Café Station 01,” marking the beginning of a journey to bring the program to universities across the city, attracting a large number of lecturers and students.
Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee Hoang Minh Cuong has repeatedly affirmed that science, technology and innovation play an important role in the city’s socio-economic development. Innovative startups are also a key factor in attracting foreign direct investment into Hai Phong. The city consistently creates favorable conditions for innovative startups to expand globally.
For three consecutive years, Hai Phong has ranked among the leading localities in the Provincial Innovation Index (PII). The city has been assessed by the Ministry of Science and Technology and experts as being among the top five nationwide at various forums and innovative and startup ecosystems. The city also continues to refine and expand its scale of activities and make significant contributions to the national ecosystem.
Promoting startup ecosystem
Hai Phong’s strengths lie not only in vision but also in action. To realize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, the city has established an advisory council comprising leading experts and scientists nationwide and locally, and organized consultations with experts and scientists. The city People’s Council also adopted five thematic resolutions on science and technology development and innovation.
The city has also activated policies to attract and expand the pool of science and technology enterprises, including incentives such as exemptions and reductions in land and water surface rental fees for enterprises operating in the city and the establishment of a city venture capital fund. These measures provide important conditions for science and technology enterprises to seize opportunities, unleash their potential and achieve strong breakthroughs in the coming period.
Overall, Hai Phong is converging all the necessary factors to become a leading locality nationwide in innovation. These include strong political determination from the leadership; a science- and data-driven mindset with expert consultation; substantial investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and data; and a strategic focus on key sectors such as logistics, seaports, high technology, artificial intelligence and semiconductors.
A series of major projects are also being prepared under the direction of the city, including the project on developing a digital seaport ecosystem and a smart free trade zone; the Hai Phong data strategy to 2030; the project to upgrade the Hai Phong Innovation and Science and Technology Application Center with a focus on artificial intelligence and logistics; and the project to build a sandbox city for smart transport, digital health care and digital education.
Le Luong Thinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, affirmed that by maintaining its current pace and action-oriented spirit, Hai Phong has a solid basis to achieve its goal of becoming a center for innovation and high technology in northern Vietnam by 2030 and a destination for global technology corporations. This is not merely an aspiration but gradually becoming reality through the city’s strategic, methodical and determined steps.
HONG ANH