Can Tho (VNS/VNA) - Developing an innovative entrepreneurialeco-system and attracting participants to it were among the topics discussed ata recent seminar in the Mekong Deltacity of Can Tho.

Vu Minh Hai,Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology’s Science andTechnology Information Centre, said Can Tho had the basic components requiredfor an innovative start-up eco-system such as 18 institutes and schools, 89,000students and 15 start-up support organisations.

He addedthat there are three shortcomings in the innovative entrepreneurial eco-systemin Can Tho in particular and the country in general: poor start-up culture(fear of risks or failure), lack of key stakeholders (advisors, investors andothers) and weak internal and external co-operation and linkages resulting in alack of start-ups with innovative and breakthrough ideas.

Can Thohas a programme to support innovative start-ups in 2017 -2020 with a totalbudget of 14.8 billion VND (637,711 USD). It focuses on communication to changethe mindset and entrepreneurship culture, training to help start-ups improvetheir entrepreneurial capacity and offering support to selected start-ups interms of facilities, equipment, management skills, training, and funding.

Accordingto Pham Hong Quat, Director of the National Agency for TechnologyEntrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development, a Ministry of Science andTechnology affiliate, developing an innovative entrepreneurial eco-systemrequires consistency and coordination from the central to local governmentlevels, between ministries and industry and from policy to practice.

It isnecessary to have in place a legal framework related to innovative start-up,help start-ups improve their capacity, promote international co-operation,establish a network connecting stakeholders in the national innovative start-upeco-system, and develop information about it.

Huynh KimTuoc, CEO of the Saigon Innovation Hub, stressed the need to apply advancedtechnology such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and internet of thingsin start-up projects and start-up exchanges to ensure efficiency.

Organisedby the Can Tho Department of Science and Technology, the National Agency forTechnology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development and SaigonInnovation Hub, the conference also shared experiences in building successful start-ups,linking and building innovative start-up systems and others.

At theevent, the city science department launched the Can Tho Startup and InnovationHub to connect and promote an innovative start-up eco-system in the city andlinking resources to support start-up individuals and groups.-VNS/VNA