The Da Nang People’s Committee has decided to establish the Innovative Startup Support Centre on the basis of upgrading the Da Nang Scientific and Technological Information Centre under the Department of Science and Technology. This marks an important milestone in a journey to build Da Nang into a national innovative startup support hub in the Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands regions.

The Da Nang Innovative Startup Support Centre will become the focal point of the innovation startup ecosystem in Da Nang and the Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands regions at large. Young entrepreneurs are keen on work at the Da Nang Business Incubator. (Photo taken in April 2021 by K.NINH)

During his recent interview with DA NANG Newspaper, Dr. Le Duc Vien, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology has made briefing on objectives and functions and tasks of the Innovative Startup Support Centre.

Over recent years, the national and municipal governments have issued many new policies on developing innovative startups.

In line with Resolution No. 43/NQ-TW dated January 24, 2019 of the Politburo on the construction and development of Da Nang to 2030, with a vision towards 2045, by 2030, Da Nang will become an innovation hub in Viet Nam and Southeast Asia.

In early 2020, the national government made a decision to develop a national innovative startup support centre in Da Nang.

The construction of the Innovative Startup Support Centre comes from the practical needs of the city.

Currently, the city houses 6 incubators, along with creative and co-working spaces, startup clubs and investment funds. 

In order ensure such elements of the ecosystem to operate effectively, the Centre serves as a ‘focal point’ to boost connectivity, expand the entire network of startups and cooperate with other localities and organisations, thereby developing the city’s innovative startup ecosystem and helping it join the national and international connection networks.

Also, the Centre plays a vital role in implementing a project for supporting the national innovation startup ecosystem until 2025 in Da Nang.

The Centre will specialise in implementing policies to support innovative startups, building an information foundation and database on activities and needs of startup support programmes and projects, and attracting domestic and international innovation startup experts.

Its specific tasks will focus on carrying out communications and capacity building activities for organisations and individuals wishing to embark upon startups,  and giving support to startups in terms of legal procedures, market development and access to investment capital.

Also, other duties are to organise and participate in startup events, technology transfer and the introduction of startup products, and to cooperate with scientists, investors, and startup support organisations to implement programmes for the sake of the city’s innovative startup ecosystem.

For the time being, the Centre is carrying out two key tasks, namely the building of the 2^nd phase of the Da Nang Innovative Startup Portal, and the application of virtual reality exhibition solutions in the development of the Da Nang science and technology market.

These are the initial steps to connect elements in the city's innovative startup ecosystem, support startups to bring their products closer to consumers, thus reaching the target of building Da Nang into a national innovation startup hub in the Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands regions.

Remarkably, Da Nang government has rolled out action plans in active response to the Vietnamese government-approved project for supporting Viet Nam's national innovative startup ecosystem by 2025.

Under the adopted plans, focus will placed on organising innovative startup events and training activities, as well as ensuring support services, material and technical foundations and communication activities for innovative startups, startup networking activities, and more support for businesses planning to make their innovations.

The coming time will see the launch of more science and startup competitions for youths, students and IT programmers from Da Nang and elsewhere in Viet Nam.

By late 2021, at least 30 innovative startups and enterprises will have received financial support from Da Nang government to bring their startup ideas to fruition.

Reporting by KHANG NINH – Translating by A.T