HÀ NỘI — As science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), continue to advance rapidly and exert a profound impact across all sectors of the economy, the need for an open forum where enterprises, start-ups and the broader ecosystem can jointly explore how innovation moves into real-world operations has become increasingly clear.

Against this backdrop, Tasco Innovation Day 2026, jointly organised by Tasco JSC and GenAI Fund, officially took place at Tasco Mall Long Biên in Hà Nội. The event gathered more than 100 Vietnamese and international start-ups alongside representatives from regulatory bodies, major corporations, technology partners and the regional start-up community.

Rather than positioning innovation as a technology showcase, the event was designed as a practical exchange platform, where enterprises and start-ups could discuss how emerging technologies, especially AI, can be embedded into day-to-day operations. 

The programme centred on three technology pillars: AI and Data, Automotive and Mobility, and Fintech and Insurtech.

Speaking at the event, Hoàng Ngọc Nhân, director general of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development, said the most critical question for enterprises today is no longer what technologies they possess, but how technology can truly create value in operations and business activities. 

He noted that Tasco's approach of starting from concrete enterprise problems reflected an effective innovation model, as successful innovation must originate from real demand.

"Many Vietnamese start-ups have strong technologies and capable teams, yet struggle not because they lack ideas, but because they lack an environment in which solutions can be tested under real operational conditions," Nhân said. 

He added that in the innovation ecosystem, large enterprises can play a pivotal role not only as solution buyers, but also as environments where new technologies are validated and matured. 

Nhân said that innovation becomes substantive when enterprises are willing to share operational challenges and allow controlled experimentation, with the commitment to scale solutions that prove effective.

From the perspective of technology platforms, Hoàng Hiếu of Amazon Web Services (AWS) said AWS is committed to supporting both large enterprises and start-ups throughout their technology adoption journey.

He highlighted AWS's role in providing technical consulting and optimisation across security, efficiency, cost and operations, as well as broader access to opportunities within the Amazon ecosystem.

"With the rapid development of AI, GenAI and agentic AI globally, the playing field is becoming flatter," Hiếu said, adding that Vietnamese development teams now have opportunities to compete on a more equal footing with global peers provided they start early, experiment quickly and iterate based on real business needs.

The conference agenda also addressed leadership in the AI era, innovation governance in large organisations and effective collaboration models between corporations and start-ups. 

According to deputy director of the National Innovation Centre Đỗ Tiến Thịnh, the event created opportunities for large corporations to reorient their strategies toward stronger technology adoption while expanding applied AI ecosystems.

He said the format helped the innovation community better understand and directly engage with practical innovation demands from enterprises. 

During the event, Tasco signed memoranda of understanding with GenAI Fund, Zalo and BytePlus, a subsidiary of ByteDance, outlining cooperation in technology, data, AI and innovation ecosystem development. — BIZHUB/VNS

A central feature of Tasco Innovation Day 2026 was its 'enterprise problem–centric' approach. Ahead of the event, companies within the Tasco ecosystem released more than 30 real-world challenges derived from operational management, data governance, business processes and customer experience. From an initial outreach to more than 2,500 start-ups across the region and over 300 submitted proposals, the organising committee conducted multiple screening rounds to select suitable teams for direct dialogue and solution presentations with individual business units. These business matching activities were complemented by the technology exhibition, enabling enterprises to 'see, touch and understand' AI, data and automation applications in real operational contexts. The approach was intended to shorten the distance between ideas, proof-of-concept testing and large-scale deployment.