The initiative, titled “Enhancing Net-Zero Readiness of Vietnam Through Mobilizing Investments for Climate-Tech Start-ups and SMEs,” connects Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and global markets, while strengthening Vietnam’s climate-tech ecosystem through startup acceleration and investment mobilization, reinforcing policy and investment conditions needed to support the country’s net-zero transition.

The launch took place shortly ahead of the State Visit to Vietnam by the President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) from April 21 to 24. The cooperation under this project reflects the growing strategic importance of Vietnam-KoK ties not only for more resilient global supply chains, but also for accelerating the net-zero transition of global industries. In this context, GGGI serves as an intergovernmental platform connecting industry, finance and innovation.

The project is built around two closely linked pillars. Under its market-focused pillar, it will deliver two targeted acceleration programmes for climate-tech start-ups and SMEs across four priority sectors, including agriculture, circular economy and waste management in 2026, and renewable energy and transport in 2027.

In parallel, the project will strengthen policy frameworks and institutional capacity for green investment at both central-ministry and provincial levels. This includes support for the appraisal and assessment of green projects, policy analysis to promote investment in climate-tech enterprises, and the integration of net-zero and green growth objectives into provincial socio-economic development plans for the 2026–2030 period.

Speaking at the launch event, Le Viet Anh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Finance and Economic Policies for Sectoral Development under the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that: “The project’s priority sectors, from agriculture, circular economy and waste management to renewable energy and transport, are all directly relevant to Vietnam’s emissions reduction goals. At the same time, these sectors hold strong potential to create new technology-driven growth momentum, foster innovation, create jobs, and enhance the competitiveness of the economy.”

Yookyung Lee, Deputy Director of KOICA’s Vietnam Office, said: “KOICA has a long history of supporting innovative startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, while GGGI has recently successfully managed an acceleration programme for energy-efficiency startups in Vietnam with support from the European Union.”

“By leveraging the expertise of each organization, we will work to fundamentally improve Vietnam’s carbon neutrality policies and investment environment,” she added.

Although Vietnam has made important progress in strengthening its policy, industrial and investment environment in recent years, climate-tech companies still face challenges in commercialization, market expansion and access to finance. At the same time, growing interest from international companies in the Vietnamese market underscores the importance of strengthening and streamlining market-entry conditions, including familiarity with local regulations and market dynamics, access to networks, and support for initial market establishment.

The project is designed to support the commercialization of climate technology and attract investment into Vietnam.

Juhern Kim, GGGI Country Representative to Vietnam, stressed that: “The project is designed as a strategic platform connecting Korea, Vietnam and global markets to scale climate tech solutions.”

He added that: “It will serve as a timely and highly strategic opportunity for Korean and global startups seeking to demonstrate and scale climate technologies in Vietnam, while also helping accelerate market creation for Vietnamese innovators.”

At the event, the project’s flagship acceleration programme, “Climate Tech Catalyst: Vietnam and beyond,” was officially introduced. The programme will select 15 companies in each of two cohorts in 2026 and 2027 to provide expert mentoring, business strategy refinement, market-entry and scale-up support, matching with global investors, and a final investment pitch event (Demo Day).

The 2026 cohort will focus on climate-tech solutions in agriculture and the circular economy, while the 2027 cohort will focus on renewable energy and transport. Selected companies will receive grants totaling up to US$240,000 across both cohorts.

For the 2026 cohort, Vietnam Silicon Valley Capital (VSV Capital), a pioneering Vietnamese startup accelerator and early-stage venture capital firm, and MYSC, one of the RoK’s leading impact investors and accelerators, will participate as a consortium to support startups through strategic mentorship, market-entry support, and connections with global investors.

Japan extends US$600 mln in ODA loans to support Vietnam climate projects

VOV.VN - Japan has agreed to provide more than US$600 million in official development assistance (ODA) loans to support Vietnam’s green transition and climate resilience, under exchange notes signed in Hanoi on March 20.