Many units and schools Da Nang-wide have formed innovation spaces to support startups. Not only do these sites support and foster creative startup ideas, connect and accompany businesses, startups and students who hold a strong passion for startups but they also contribute to building, promoting and developing the city’s startup ecosystem.

The delegation of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology pose for souvenir photos at the launching of the Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space. Photo: VAN HOANG

At the Da Nang Innovation and Startup Festival - SURF 2022, the Dong A University, one of the city’s largest private territory establishments, has put into operation a startup and innovation space called Dong A Innovation Space, directly under this school’s Centre for Startups and Innovation.

This place is expected to become a rendezvous to support and foster creative and start-up ideas developed by both lecturers and students, along with accompanying the research community, experts, businesses and organisations that have startup ideas and products that need support in Central Viet Nam and across the whole country.

After one year of operation, the Dong A Innovation Space has gradually promoted the role of scientific research and innovation in the school. Most recently, on August 22, Dong A Innovation Space became the Hub (connection centre) of the Creative Student Village for universities and colleges across Da Nang.

Mr. Luong Minh Sam, the Chairman of the School Council, Director of the Centre for Startup and Innovation at the Dong A University acknowledged that after nearly one year of operation, putting the creative space into operation has achieved achievements, making encouraging contributions and bringing many values of significance to both students and society.

Startup spaces play an important role in improving the quality of training by providing a learning and practice environment that promotes innovative and entrepreneurial thinking for students and lecturers. Besides, the space becomes a source of inspiration and starting point for many creative ideas and projects, promoting the spirit of creativity in the community and creating favourable conditions for the development of new solutions to life problems.

On the other hand, this place helps to create a practical learning environment by combining theory and practice, giving students and lecturers the opportunity to apply knowledge into practice through participating in startup activities, and to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship, exploration and discovery in both students and lecturers.

“The Dong A Innovation Space is important for contributing to creating innovative human resources, meeting the needs of society and businesses, building a creative startup ecosystem in the region, connecting eligible subjects and creating an environment that promotes innovative development.”, said Mr. Sam.

In a similar vein, many units across the city have formed innovation spaces such as the Viet Nam Innovation Hub in Da Nang, which started operation in June 2023. Ms. Le My Nga, Vice President of Viet Nam Innovation Hub in Da Nang, said that Viet Nam's innovation ecosystem was formed more than 10 years ago but is still "young" compared to similar ones in European countries, America, Japan, South Korea and other countries.

The Viet Nam Innovation Hub idea h as been cherished for ma idea has been cherished for many yny years and was born on the basis of meeting the needs for an innovation ecosystem in Viet Nam. This is high time to focus on mobilizing as many resources as possible to help the ecosystem strengthen with the births of new startups and businesses with effective digital transformation.

In Da Nang, the Viet Nam Innovation Hub will contribute to being one of the bridges, in harmony with the national startup ecosystem to provide closer and more specific support for startups through policies from the national government and municipal authorities.

Recently, in mid-August 2023, the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology and the Vietnamese Innovation Network in South Korea jointly launched ‘Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space’.

According to Ms. Le Thi Thuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Startup Space carries its great mission in supporting elements in Da Nang's innovation startup ecosystem in Seoul, opening up many opportunities for cooperation and connections to establish specific programmes between incubators, universities, startup support organiaations, projects, innovative startup businesses in the city and their partners in Seoul.

This site also act as a place to connect creative ideas and boost cooperation between Da Nang and Seoul partners, providing a workplace and the opportunity to use shared working spaces at the D.Camp building, the leading innovation space in Seoul.

With modern space, convenient location, complete ecosystem and support network, closely linked with the ecosystem in South Korea, Da Nang startups will have an ideal environment to promote their creativity, development and connection at the Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space.

At the same time, they can have favourable access to leading startup support programmes in South Korea such as D.Camp and OASIS as well as investment funds, experts, financial resources, technology, training and development programmes to develop products and expand business opportunities through the Vietnamese innovation network in Korea and the world at large.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Phuoc, the Chairman of the Viet Nam Innovation Network in South Korea, hopes that the Da Nang-Seoul Innovation Space will act as a bridge for Da Nang businesses to easily expand their business operations into South Korea. Also, South Korean businesses can easily access information and investment opportunities in Da Nang as well as boost exchanges and cooperation with partners there.

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by A.THU