As part of the ongoing Da Nang Innovation Startup Festival (SURF) 2024, a scientific conference on connecting Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space was held in the city on Thursday. The event aimed to connect and discuss the development of innovation space between Da Nang and South Korea’s Seoul, contributing to promoting international cooperation in the field of startups and technology.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology Duong Hoang Van Ban (right) and Mr. Nguyen Quang Phuoc, Chairman of the Viet Nam Innovation Network in South Korea, co-chaired the conference.

According to the municipal Department of Science and Technology, the Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space was launched in August 2023. This is an important activity in connecting the startup ecosystems between Da Nang and Seoul, initially developing high-quality human resource training programmes on artificial intelligence (AI), and providing a shared workspace for partners of the both sides.

At the Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space, some of the first businesses in Da Nang have had the opportunity to directly approach leading partners and investment funds in South Korea. This space is not only a bridge for the city-based businesses to reach out, but also an attractive destination for South Korean enterprises.

A representative of a startup business discussing at the conference.

The presence of South Korean businesses in Da Nang and vice versa not only contributes to creating a diverse and rich startup ecosystem, and the source of breakthrough ideas and potential cooperation projects, thereby contributing to fostering the sustainable development and enhancing the cooperative and friendly relationships between Da Nang and Seoul.

The conference was a good opportunity to evaluate the achievements gained from the cooperation programmes between the two cities, and at the same time to discuss solutions for the effective development of the Da Nang - Seoul Innovation Space in the future.

During the event, startups, businesses and investors were introduced and discussed about the Da Nang innovation and startup ecosystem, the Da Nang - Seoul innovation space, a talent incubator in Korea, a model of using the Da Nang - Seoul innovation space to expand the city’s startup market in South Korea, and connection activities between Vietnamese  and South Korean businesses.

Reporting by V.HOANG, C.THANG - Translating by M.DUNG