From 2016 to the present, the Department of Science and Technology has undertaken numerous activities to support the startup ecosystem in the city, achieving significant results. A highlight of these efforts is the expansion of legal frameworks, the search for attractive funding sources, and investments to help businesses, individuals, and organizations in the startup community to thrive.
The STC Electric company's products. Photo: CHIEN THANG
Unlocking Resources
Currently, Da Nang City has issued more than 20 documents, mechanisms, policies, and plans related to the development of the innovative startup ecosystem in the city. These are crucial legal documents to implement activities supporting innovative startups in the city. The systematic implementation of these policies has created a legal framework to promote the development of elements within the city's innovative startup ecosystem. The Department of Science and Technology is coordinating with agencies and units under the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the National Innovation Startup Support Center in Da Nang, following Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of the Politburo, aiming to stimulate the development of innovative startup activities in Da Nang and the Central Highlands region.
To leverage the effectiveness of resources from innovative startup activities, the city has supported and encouraged universities, organizations, individuals, businesses, and units in the area to establish startup support centers, incubators, creative spaces, coworking spaces, and innovation startup clubs. To date, the city has one innovation startup support center, two university-based startup centers, nine incubators, four creative spaces, nine coworking spaces, and four startup investment funds, along with startup clubs in universities, colleges, and the innovative startup community. In general, the city's innovative startup ecosystem is increasingly developing, covering essential elements with key pillars being government agencies – research institutes, universities - support organizations - business communities, and related entities actively participating in the ecosystem.
To enhance support for the development of the innovative startup ecosystem, on May 21, 2021, the People's Committee of the city issued Decision No. 1760/QDUBND on the establishment of the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center based on the reorganization of the Information Technology and Science Department under the Department of Science and Technology. Since its establishment, the center has implemented communication activities, disseminating legal mechanisms and policies, supporting technology transfer applications, spreading best practices, new models, and success stories in innovative startups to organizations, businesses, and communities in the city. Additionally, the center has organized numerous networking events for domestic and international startups and advised the Department of Science and Technology in organizing the annual innovation startup festival.
The Department of Science and Technology has implemented innovative startup activities, large-scale events with diverse participants to develop and connect elements within the startup ecosystem, such as the annual Da Nang Innovation Startup Festival - SURF since 2016; cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology to organize the National Innovation Startup Festival Techfest Vietnam - 2018; collaboration with Da Nang University to implement a series of events, competitions as part of the Youth Innovation Festival and startup competitions for students; collaboration with the Da Nang Youth Union to organize the Innovation Startup Festival and Youth Forum, Student Innovation Startup Competition; collaboration with the Market Development and Science and Technology Enterprise Development Department and BK Holding to organize the launch of the BK Holdings Innovation Center and launch the Techfest Central Highlands - Vietnam; organizing the IPHATCH Vietnam - Singapore Innovative Startup Competition; supporting the Da Nang Startup Incubation Competition to organize the GDG Devfest MienTrung Hackathon; conferences, workshops, and many other events.
Numerous events encourage creativity and entrepreneurship, such as workshops, talks, training programs, experience sharing, and policy-building discussions with large-scale participation, including events like Barcamp, Startup Weekend, and Dev Fest following international models. Thanks to these events, startup groups have been formed and developed with diverse startup ideas and products, including high technology, commerce, manufacturing, services, tourism, and more.
The People's Committee of the city has directed departments, boards, and sectors to implement various activities to connect the startup network, gather societal resources, share knowledge platforms, and open innovation to develop the innovative startup ecosystem, support innovative and creative businesses, connect startup projects/businesses with ecosystem components, spread the entrepreneurial spirit, and develop an entrepreneurial culture. Startup support incubators in the city have played a part in promoting, developing, and spreading the entrepreneurial spirit to universities, colleges, and the entrepreneurial community…
Students presenting at the final round of the Student Scientific Research Competition in November 2023. Photo: CT
Flexibility in Networking
In line with Resolution No. 328/NQ-HDND dated December 9, 2020, of the People's Council of the city, the Department of Science and Technology has organized various activities to support incubators in implementing incubation programs and acceleration with a total support budget from the state budget of 850 million VND. Specifically, these programs include the FINC incubation program of the Da Nang Business Incubator; the VTS tourism startup acceleration program of the Song Han Startup Incubation Center; and the agricultural startup training program of the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology under Da Nang University. As of now, on average, each incubator has implemented incubation for 6-8 projects per year. Through city support programs and incubation and acceleration programs, the city has developed 163 innovative startup projects, established 61 innovative startup businesses. Some of these businesses, such as Datbike, Selly, Hekate, EM and AI, VOOC, have experienced strong development, rapid growth, and attracted multimillion-dollar investments. Most of the products of these innovative startups, supported through incubation programs and city support policies, have begun to commercialize their products and access the market.
Parallel to these activities and events, the Department of Science and Technology has built systems and platforms to serve the exchange of innovative startup businesses. Particularly, the establishment of the Da Nang Innovation Startup Information Portal (http://startupdanang.vn) serves as the access point for innovative startup activities in the online environment. It links and integrates information channels, services, and applications to support members of the startup network in management, information retrieval, interaction, and online connectivity. The center has carried out many activities to attract high-quality human resources to support, advise, and participate in startups. It has also established startup support partnerships between the city and other localities, especially Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the central government. Since the end of 2021, the Department of Science and Technology has transformed science and technology exhibitions and innovation into a virtual reality-based support solution for Science and Technology businesses and innovative startups. This technology product, in a virtual environment, can be widely disseminated to many customer groups, promoting technology transfer activities, innovation, and connecting investments in Science and Technology within the city. The exhibition platform has successfully organized the expanded Da Nang Startup Exhibition - SURF 2021 with 82 virtual booths and the Da Nang Innovation Startup Festival - SURF 2022 with 100 virtual booths.
Efforts to strengthen international connections in the innovative startup network have been gradually enhanced. The city has carried out numerous activities to connect with partners in Osaka (Japan), South Korea, India, Singapore, Finland, Sweden, Norway, exchanging experiences in building startup policies, managing creative innovation spaces, and understanding the advantages and challenges in mobilizing and attracting investment funds for startups. Alongside this, the Department of Science and Technology has collaborated with various departments and sectors to introduce the innovative startup ecosystem and relevant city policies. It also seeks opportunities for cooperation in innovative startup initiatives. Through these policies and actions, the Department of Science and Technology has established legal frameworks, attracted and enhanced the development of the city's innovative startup ecosystem, achieving significant accomplishment.
CHIEN THANG