Vietnam emerges as a rising star in startups and innovation
VOV.VN - Vietnam is viewed as a "rising star" in the region in terms of startup and innovation as the country’s startup ecosystem is on track to record strong development, according to insiders.
Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong made the statement at a ceremony to kick-start the programme "Google for Startups Accelerator, Southeast Asia: Vietnam" in Hanoi on July 11.
Addressing the event, Dong emphasised that the Vietnamese innovation ecosystem boasts great potential for further development, mainly due to the openness of the economy.
With proper initiatives and solutions falling in line with the global trends, the country can benefit from these trends in order to become a regional and global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship moving forward, he added.
Thye Yeow Bok, head of Startup Ecosystem Southeast Asia at Google, said the launch of the startup scheme has demonstrated Google’s long-term commitment to supporting Vietnamese economic development.
The objective of the programme is to provide support for the country's digital transformation by delivering training schemes and an in-depth mentoring network specifically for Vietnamese startups.
Google's project will last for three months, with a specific focus on six main fields, namely education, health, agriculture, retail, financial technology, and smart cities.
Some 20 startups will be selected to participate in training sessions, mentoring consultations, and seminars. Selected startups will also be able to join the global Google for startups network made up of more than 1,000 businesses from many regions.
According to annual reports on innovation and entrepreneurship conducted by Do Ventures and StartupBlink, the Vietnamese startup ecosystem has risen from fifth to third place among the top six Southeast Asian economies, just behind Indonesia and Singapore.
