Digital transformation starts with the people - Part 2: Building an innovative and creative startup ecosystem

Teams participating in the preliminary round of the FPGA Open 2025 Circuit Design Competition. Photo: X.HAU

With the determination to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, the city is creating an open ecosystem, connecting knowledge, technology and the aspiration to turn innovation and creativity into a driving force for development.

Awakening the passion of young people

To stimulate the passion for scientific and technological innovation, the city organizes many technology competitions such as Robocon for students, Robotic for pupils or technical innovation competitions. According to Director of the Da Nang Center for Research and Training in Microchip Design and Artificial Intelligence (DSAC) Le Hoang Phuc, although contributing to encouraging the spirit of creativity, the "playgrounds" still have a gap between knowledge in schools and actual requirements from businesses.

With the orientation that competitions not only arouse passion, but also become a part of the training process, DSAC Center has implemented many large-scale competitions, leaving its mark with outstanding achievements.

At the 2nd Smart City Microchip Design Competition, 17 teams from the city participated in the preliminary round and won 1 national third prize and 3 promising prizes. In the FPGA Open 2025 Microchip Design Competition, 21 student teams from the city registered to participate, trying their hand at highly applicable topics, creating opportunities to access new technology and modern technical solutions.

DSAC has also expanded into the field of artificial intelligence. At the Imagine Cup 2025 competition co-organized by Microsoft, two teams from Da Nang, Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communications Technology (VKU) and University of Economics , entered the world finals, becoming the only representatives of Vietnam.

In addition, DSAC Center cooperated with the Union of Science and Technology Associations to organize a robot competition for high school students in the Central region, which is both a technological playground and an opportunity for early career orientation.

Mr. Le Hoang Phuc said he is nurturing the idea of building a “STEM Park”, an outdoor science park for students to experience the chip manufacturing process, from sand to silicon, mounting chips on circuit boards, to assembling them into electronic devices.

Winning the third prize at the second National Smart City Microchip Design Competition, Hoang Bao Long (final year student at the University of Science and Technology, Danang University) expressed that this was a valuable experience, helping him to work with real projects and learn from contestants in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. He believes that if businesses are involved and investments are increased, the winning projects can be developed into commercial products.

Coming out of the competition, with the desire to spread his passion, Long gathered about 30 students from the University of Science and Technology and the Vietnam - Korea University of Information and Communications Technology (VKU) who shared the same passion for semiconductor chips. He compiled documents, guided the chip making process, created conditions for practice and connected with businesses.

In the early stages, Long focused on building a core team and continuing to develop and expand the community to organize workshop programs and impart knowledge about microchips and semiconductors. “When you have a passion, sharing the knowledge you have learned, connecting friends with the same passion will become a community. When the community develops, you will also receive many opportunities and expand your knowledge. Give to receive more,” Long shared.

Launchpad for creative ideas

Over the past years, Da Nang has made continuous efforts to develop an innovative startup ecosystem. The city has issued many unique, groundbreaking and unprecedented policies such as: controlled testing policies for new technology solutions; tax exemptions for innovative startup activities; support for the use of science and technology infrastructure assets; non-refundable support from the state budget to develop innovative startup projects; support for information infrastructure assets to develop the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors, etc.

Opening ceremony of FINC+ 2025 interactive incubation program. Photo: HT

In the city, there are 25 enterprises operating in the field of semiconductor design, of which 17 are new enterprises and 8 are startups.

According to Mr. Le Hoang Phuc, DSAC Center researches and builds information systems and databases, AI chatbot systems to support investment promotion, answer investors' questions; coordinates the organization of a series of science and technology forum events with the goal of establishing an effective bridge between scientists, managers and entrepreneurs, enhancing the application of research results and innovation into production management practices; coordinates with Google to organize the Google AI Startups Hackathon event for 50 typical AI startups.

DSAC also coordinates with prestigious domestic and foreign incubation organizations to develop incubation plans, supporting start-up businesses in the field of semiconductors and artificial intelligence to establish businesses and operate in Da Nang city.

Recently, Danang Startup Investment and Support Company Limited (DNES) organized the opening ceremony of the FINC+ 2025 interactive incubation program with 5 projects: AI-based recruitment platform (Enfue), home technical service platform (Vietro Care), modern library management solution (Skoolib), bicycle community platform (Gooride) and ươi tea project (Nhan Tam Coop).

The program is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology with the goal of supporting innovative startup projects through incubation and accompanying founders. Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Le Thi Thuc assessed: "Currently, the Da Nang startup ecosystem has had many developments and connections with domestic and international communities. The FINC+ 2025 program helps spread the entrepreneurial spirit, connecting resources to incubate and develop ideas of practical value."

Within the framework of the program, DNES signed a cooperation agreement with the National Intellectual Property Institute (under the Ministry of Science and Technology) to support projects in accessing, registering and developing intellectual property assets effectively and sustainably.

In addition, at the City Innovation and Startup Festival - SURF 2025, the top 10 outstanding projects were introduced on the RiseGate digital platform - the official startup launchpad of the event. RiseGate is built on MetaDAP Enterprise Blockchain, providing a transparent environment for startups to introduce products and ideas, and at the same time deploy capital calls through the asset digital transaction mechanism.

Each project has its own profile page, showing full information about the name, field, founding team, progress and development direction. Startups can update information even after the competition ends, opening up opportunities to maintain long-term connections with the community and investors.

RiseGate enables the deployment of fundraising campaigns with rewards or future products, helping investors know clearly what they will receive and when, thanks to the transparent recording mechanism of blockchain.

The collaboration between SURF and RiseGate gives startups a solid “runway” to continue growing, connecting, and proactively raising capital even after the event has ended.

From competitions, business incubators to digital platforms, Da Nang is gradually perfecting its innovative startup ecosystem. This is not only a place to nurture ideas, but also an environment to nurture aspirations, creating momentum for the young generation to confidently integrate and conquer new heights.

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Final article: Developing high-quality human resources

Source: https://baodanang.vn/chuyen-doi-so-bat-dau-tu-nhan-dan-bai-2-kien-tao-he-sinh-thai-khoi-nghiep-doi-moi-sang-tao-3299410.html