The event is among a series of over 30 conferences and workshops on innovation within the framework of Techfest Vietnam 2022, a national innovation startup programme hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

Techfest Vietnam 2022 aims to promote technological solutions that Vietnam has advantages and potential in the future to address the impacts of the pandemic, as well as bolster economic recovery and sustainable development.

This year’s edition, which is taking place from December 2-4, sees the participation of over 8,000 guests, who are representatives of the startup community from 63 domestic provinces and cities and 20 countries in the world.

Speaking at the event, PM Pham Minh Chinh hailed the MOST for holding the annual programme to encourage the startup spirit and help managers, investors, startup businesses and incubators to connect and cooperate.

He said that creating a favourable environment for innovative startups is extremely necessary and asked the relevant parties to discuss and work out effective solutions and mechanisms to provide the best support for the startup ecosystem in Vietnam to grow sustainably.

He called for further promoting education in science and technology to create strong human resources as a foundation for developing innovative startup enterprises.

The head of government also stated the need to introduce a special visa policy to attract international startup businesspeople and investors to Vietnam, as well as a mechanism to support Vietnamese startups to expand to foreign markets.

At the programme, the organisers awarded the first prize in the national innovation startup contest to Finan with the Sobanhang application, designed for nano and micro businesses to manage their cash flows better.

On the occasion, the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the MOST signed a cooperation agreement with Becamex Binh Duong on developing the innovation startup ecosystem and supporting industrial digital transformation.