By 2025, Da Nang will have become a national-level innovative startup hub. Despite facing many difficulties sparked by COVID-19, the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, startup supporting units, universities and colleges citywide have together effectively implemented a wide range of highly practical activities, hereby significantly contributing to the development of the Da Nang startup ecosystem.

The building of Da Nang into a national innovation startup hub cum destination connecting the Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands regions with other parts of Viet Nam, has been emphasized and unified in many guidelines and policies adopted by the national and municipal governments.  

Mr. Le Duc Vien, Director of the Department of Science and Technology acknowledged that the development of an innovative startup ecosystem in Da Nang has received great attention and met expectations from the national and municipal leaders.

In early June, the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Centre was officially established on the basis of re-organising the Science and Technology Information Centre under the Department of Science and Technology.

This is considered to be a focal point connecting the network of domestic and foreign startup ecosystems with the city in tandem with deploying supportive for activities innovative startups. At the end of June, the Da Nang Startup Network Coordinating Council was consolidated with the operating regulations.

For the time being, Da Nang has 6 incubators, 2 creative spaces, 9 co-working spaces, 10 startup clubs, a lot of startup centres built within universities and junior colleges citywide and 2 startup investment funds.
The city has, till date, incubated nearly 140 innovative startup projects and established about 50 innovative startups, including those that have attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of investment capital such as Datbike Vietnam, Hekate and EM&AI.

Since the beginning of this year, the municipal Department of Science and Technology has also offered financial support worth a total of more than VND 600 million to 3 startup businesses and 1 incubator.

Likewise, at universities and colleges across the city, despite many difficulties sparked by COVID-19, the promotion of entrepreneurial and innovative spirit amongst students is still given special heed.

In March, 2021, Duy Tan University's ‘Renewable Energy Backpack’ project won the second prize of the national Go Green in the City competition organised by Schneider Electric Vietnam.

Other elite projects such as ‘Garbage recycling machine’ by Duy Tan University, ‘Centuine milk’ by the University of Science and Technology, and ‘Mobile application for vegetarians’ by the University of Economics also entered the final round of the Hult Prize 2021 startup competition in Southeast Asia.

The Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the municipal Youth Union, has also launched the municipal-level scientific research competition for local students.

Also, the municipal Youth Union has cooperated with Da Nang Business Incubator to carry out a series of ‘Startup Coffee’ programs under which successful startup stories across the city are highlighted.

With regard to the development of material and technical facilities, the Department of Science and Technology is implementing procedures for the development of the Da Nang startup training and working area in An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District.

At the same time, from now until the end of the year, the Innovation Startup Support Centre will carry out the task of building the 2^nd phase of the Da Nang Innovative Startup Portal, and deploying a virtual reality exhibition platform integrated and operated on the Portal.

Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hau, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology said that Da Nang will strive to reach the specific targets of establishing 8 - 10 business incubators, incubating 150 startup projects/year, attracting innovative start-up consultants, establishing more startup support funds, calling for 1 - 3 venture capital funds to set up their representative offices in the city, and cooperating with at least 5 prestigious innovation startup ecosystems in the world to increase resources for the city.

To reach the above-mentioned objectives, in the coming time, focus will be on effectively implementing supportive policies for enterprises in a bid to help them boost technological innovation, improve productivity and product quality, and enhance intellectual property in the city.

At the same time, another heed will be paid to promoting scientific research in association with production and business practices and socio-economic development goals.

Reporting by PHONG LAN – Translating by A.T