With two main tasks of providing science and technology-related information and documents, and support for innovation startups, the Innovation Startup Support Centre under the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology is considered the focal point of the city's innovation startup ecosystem.

The Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Centre has signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in science, technology and innovation development with the BK Holdings - Duy Tan Innovation Centre (BKH - DTU).

Accordingly, databases, information and documents related to science and technology play a crucial role in forming and developing start-up ideas and projects.

Groups of projects can search and exploit existing ideas and science and technology research results to develop into new products and services.

The Innovation Startup Support Centre is managing and helping readers effectively exploit databases on science and technology research topics, science and technology experts, initiatives, creative technology solutions, industrial property protection titles, and a digital library with about 26,000 important data.

In addition, the centre also carries out science and technology information and communication activities, helping to disseminate the results of science and technology research, and the success of startup projects. This contributes to spreading and promoting the startup spirit among students, young people, women, and others.

Operated from late 2021, the virtual reality-based Exhibition of Science, Technology and Innovation under the management of the centre is an useful channel to support institutes, schools and enterprises, especially science and technology enterprises and innovative start-up businesses, to introduce their products and technologies in a virtual environment, popularise them to many exhibitors, promote activities of technology transfer and innovation, and boost science and technology investment connection activities in the city.

The exhibition platform successfully organised the Da Nang Startup and Innovation Festival (SURF) 2021 from November 15 - December 15 with a scale of 82 booths.

Additionally, the Da Nang Technology and Equipment Market (Da Nang Techmart Online at www.techmartdanang.vn ) is considered as a tool to support organisations and individuals to introduce businesses and technology products, provide essential technology information, boost supply and demand connection for technology and equipment in commercialisation and technology transfer, build a technology transfer network between universities, research institutes and enterprises nationwide.

The market has till date attracted 170 businesses in Da Nang with a total of 390 technologies and equipment offered for sale.

Also being under the management of the centre, the Da Nang Innovation Startup Portal is the access point for innovative start-up activities on the network and linked environment, and the integration of information channels, services and applications to support members of the startup network in managing, looking up information, interacting and connecting online.

The portal is a discussion forum that allows users to hold conversations about startup activities in the form of posted messages, as well as collect opinions and receive feedbacks and recommendations from organizations and individuals on startup policies, plans and events in the city.

By visiting https://startupdanang.vn/, visitors can access freshly-issued support policies and programmes for startup businesses, startup-related administrative procedures, detailed information about investment funds, and the latest news about startup activities in the city and the country as a whole.

In addition, the portal will integrate and make links with databases and websites of other startup portals for the sake of users' information search and lookup. News and articles can be compiled by members of the editorial board or posted by members on their member pages and then published in the news column for information and promotion.

Currently, 94 units and individuals have already registered to join the start-up network on the portal.

In addition, the centre has cooperated and connected with foreign organisations and businesses to build international connections to the city's startup ecosystem. Included are the Ha Noi-based Korea Information Technology Cooperation Centre on the K-Startup Grand Challenge Program (KSGC), the Republic of Singapore Polytechnic College, the Viet Nam Science and Technology Office in Japan's Osaka Prefecture, and the Japan Business Association in Da Nang.

It has been active in assisting the Rainmaking organization to organize an online scientific conference on connecting Da Nang's innovative start-up ecosystem and Japanese partners.

Besides, the centre has coordinated with the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to communicate about the city's innovative startup ecosystem.

Moreover, it has supported innovative projects and businesses participating in the Thua Thien Hue Ancient Capital Festival 2022 - Techfest Hue 2022, TechFest Quang Nam 2022, TechFest 2022 South Central and Central Highlands regions in Khanh Hoa Province, and more in a bid to introduce startup products and promote technology transfer.

In the coming time, the center will continue to organize the Da Nang Startup and Innovation Festival (SURF) 2022, seminars, and competitions on innovation startup in 2022.

The focus will be on supporting the establishment of incubators in universities, as well as connecting investors, investment funds, incubators, technical facilities, co-working areas at home and abroad, in order to contribute to promoting the development of the city’s innovative start-up ecosystem.

Reporting by HUYNH SANG - Translating by M.DUNG