HCM City (VNA) - The Saigon InnovationHub (SiHub) under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology onMarch 21 announced its programmes through 2020, looking toward connecting theglobal start-up community.

The 10 SiHub programmes will prioritise connectingwith international partners and the world’s start-up support ecosystems.

They include Global Partnerships, GlobalStrategic Alliances, Global Events, Global Education, Global Research, GlobalEntrepreneurship, Global Social Impact, Global Culture, Global Policy andGlobal Think Tank.

SiHub looks to become an official connectionportal between Vietnam and the worlds’ innovative start-up support ecosystems,hoping to make Vietnam a start-up hub of Southeast Asia.

SiHub Managing Director Huynh Kim Tuoc said, by2020, SiHub targets collecting domestic and international resources to boostVietnam’s economic development by focusing on measures to promote internationalintegration, start-ups and innovation.

SiHub will also establish startup ecosystemmanagement boards for four key sectors, namely information technology -communication, food processing – foodstuff, mechanics – automation, plastic –rubber – and pharmaceuticals.

Statistics show that Vietnam has a taotal of 1,800start-ups, including 834 operating in Ho Chi Minh City.

However, Vietnam remains behind numerous regionalnations, such as Singapore and Malaysia, regarding its start-up and innovation supportindexes. Besides, most of the country’s start-ups are small scale and yet toenter the capital-calling period.

Over the past two years, SiHub has supported 958start-up projects and 15 incubators, helped building capacity and expandednetworks for more than 100 start-up consultants, training 115 tertiary teacherson start-ups and innovation.

In 2018, it will work with innovative and start-upecosystems of other nations to connect with international enterprises andcommunities, while building a roadmap for global economic integration.

According to Nguyen Phi Van, Chairman of the SiHubAdvising Board, SiHub has established ties with the innovative and start-upecosystems of the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Germany and Singapore.-VNA