Science park in Ho Chi Minh City to lure more talents

The panellists emphasised the need for the science park at Saigon Hi-Tech Park

At the workshop on “Science park – the innovation center for highly interactive innovation district in east Ho Chi Minh City”, Nguyen Anh Thi, director of Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) management board highlighted that the science park, which is planned for the long-term development of SHTP, will support innovative businesses to take shape and grow.

He stated the role of the science park as a multi-disciplinary centre for scientific and technological research, affiliated with regional universities. It will be a place to attract talents, domestic and foreign scientists, and enterprises to work, research and upgrade technologies.

Additionally, the science park is expected to facilitate high-tech research and development, technology application, and commercialisation activities.

Tran Thi Hong Lien, vice dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at University of Economics and Law stated that Ho Chi Minh City's startup ecosystem is just making its first steps towards globalisation, and to appeal to more startup talents worldwide it needs to create an attractive enough ecosystem.

She believed that the upcoming science park in Ho Chi Minh City could be a driving force, turning the city into a reputable startup hub.

"The science park should strike a balance between work and living. It is not only for a place for experts to settle down but for anyone to come and stay. SHTP should attract more universities or colleges to come to the park to create a land with plenty of universities. Also, the role of the government should gradually be reduced, making room for the private sector to sustain and develop the park," said Lien.

Thi said that the workshop is an opportunity for speakers to share case studies and experiences in building science parks in their countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, helping Ho Chi Minh City find a suitable model for its science park.

In 2015, the city People’s Committee approved the project to construct the innovation centre for the highly interactive innovative district in the east of Ho Chi Minh City. It is anticipated that the technology park will be built in the 197.2-hectare Long Phuoc ward, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City in 2025.

According to a report of the high-tech park, there have been 49 foreign-invested enterprises with the total investment of $5.67 trillion. The park attracted $742.4 million of foreign direct investment in 2019, 3.5 times higher than the proposed plan.