Innovative startups eyeing fresh opportunities

Launched for the first time in Vietnam by Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) in tandem with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japanese Embassy to Vietnam, the event drew the attention of innovative startups from Japan and Southeast Asia, provided an opportunity for innovative businesses to reach out to potential clients, and did some troubleshooting of the dilemmas big corporations are facing.

Vu Quoc Huy, director of the NIC

"The best products and solutions can garner opportunities to be supported by businesses, gearing towards market expansion to join the global value chain," said Vu Quoc Huy, director of the NIC.

At the launch event, representatives of Vingroup asked innovative startups how electric vehicle batteries in the circular economy can be optimised.

Fintech group MoMo also brought up the issue of promoting financial inclusion for Vietnamese people, while tech giant FPT wanted contestants to deal with cross-border carbon credit trading and management platforms.

In addition, Japanese businesses discussed challenges related to sustainable urban development, fintech solutions, and software development using AI technology.

Basing on statistics from JETRO, thousands of direct projects from Japan to Vietnam are doing business with domestic technology companies in a number of prominent fields, such as application development, factory automation, and business digitalisation.

Amid a technology engineer drought in Japan, Vietnamese technology companies are being highly appreciated for their professionalism and reliability.

On the Vietnamese side, large IT businesses have also set footholds in and scaled up business activities in Japan.

According to Hiroshi Ishikawa, executive director of JETRO Singapore, the Fast Track Pitch programme is the fastest way for innovative businesses and startups to set up businesses and access support from organisations and other government resources.

The initiatives proposed for the final round would also receive additional points during the selection process of the DX Asia Promotion Programme - an initiative that commits a total sponsorship value reaching JPY50 million ($340,000).

After about two years of proving feasibility, the initiatives are expected to be deployed in a target country or other ASEAN countries with a project partner coming from Japan.

Innovative low-carbon projects join UK's climate finance scheme Nine low-carbon Vietnamese initiatives, representing such diverse sectors such as renewable energy, resource efficiency, agriculture, decarbonising construction, and waste management have been chosen to take part in the first wave of the UK government's $14.4 million Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) scheme.

Top Innovative Enterprises Vietnam 2023 announced The ceremony to announce the list of Top 50 Innovative Enterprises Vietnam and Top 10 Innovative Enterprises Vietnam 2023 organised by VIR in collaboration with Viet Research will take place on June 28 at Pullman Hanoi Hotel.

Effective investment the way forward for infrastructure Vietnam wants to become a richer and more advanced country and improve the lives of its people. To achieve this, the country needs to build more and better quality roads, bridges, waterways, schools, hospitals, energy infrastructure, and other important structures.