Swiss ep 25- gov - hcmc dost
Short Summary:
This presentation outlines Ho Chi Minh City's (HCMC) strategies to foster its startup ecosystem and boost innovation. Key points include HCMC's ambitious goal of reaching 5000 startups by 2030, its current standing (around 2300 startups, ranked 111th globally in startup ecosystem strength), and the implementation of Resolution 20/2023, which provides non-refundable grants to incubators and accelerators to support startups (up to 400 million VND). The city is also developing a large innovation center to further support this growth. The presentation emphasizes a collaborative approach, requiring the participation of incubators, accelerators, investors, and other stakeholders to achieve its goals. Specific technologies or sectors aren't heavily emphasized, but Fintech and logistics are mentioned as priority areas.
Detailed Summary:
The presentation can be broken down into three main sections:
Section 1: HCMC's Current State and Ambitions:
This section establishes HCMC's position in the Vietnamese startup landscape. The speaker highlights the city's current size (approximately 2300 startups, 186 investment funds, 45 incubators, and 97 universities/colleges), representing about 50% of Vietnam's startups. However, it also acknowledges its global ranking of 111th in startup ecosystem strength (according to a 2024 report) and its goal to reach the top 100. The speaker emphasizes the city's commitment to innovation as a key driver of economic growth, stating that "science, technology, and innovation are the key, the driving force for the city's economic growth, and we must do it and must promote support for you to do this." The city's ecosystem is valued at approximately $5.2 billion.
Section 2: Policy and Support Mechanisms (Resolution 20/2023):
This section details the city's main policy instrument for supporting startups: Resolution 20/2023. This resolution provides non-refundable grants through incubators and accelerators, rather than directly to startups. Three funding tiers are described: seed funding (40 million VND), growth funding (80 million VND), and acceleration funding (400 million VND). Nine priority sectors are identified, including Fintech and logistics. Six key criteria for project selection are outlined: creativity, organizational capacity, economic efficiency, social impact, market applicability, and business model. The speaker explains this indirect funding approach as a strategy to maximize impact and avoid potential pitfalls of direct funding to startups.
Section 3: Infrastructure and Collaborative Efforts:
This section focuses on the physical infrastructure and the collaborative approach needed to achieve HCMC's goals. The speaker mentions the construction of a new 18,000 m² innovation center (123 Truong Dinh Street), with floors dedicated to government agencies, incubators/accelerators, and startups. However, delays in the handover of the building are acknowledged. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for collaboration with incubators, accelerators, investors, and other stakeholders to reach the ambitious goal of 5000 startups by 2030. The speaker implicitly suggests a target of 500-300 startups per incubator/accelerator to achieve this goal. The overall tone is one of ambition, acknowledging challenges but expressing strong determination to build a thriving startup ecosystem.