HCM CITY — Việt Nam is rapidly positioning itself as a regional gateway for innovation and technology, driven by its young talent pool, strong entrepreneurship culture, and government-backed digital transformation policies, experts said at the Vietnam Innovation Summit 2025 (VIS 2025) held in HCM City on Thursday.

Now in its fourth edition, the summit, themed “Building Bridges to Innovation and Growth”, gathered nearly 3,000 delegates from more than 30 countries, including policymakers, venture capitalists, corporate executives, and startup founders.

Delivering the keynote, Kent Matla, chairman of the Australian Innovation Management Institute, described Việt Nam as “one of the most exciting innovation gateways in ASEAN.”

“With its young workforce, entrepreneurial energy and forward-looking policies, Việt Nam is not just catching up – it’s setting a new benchmark for regional innovation,” he said.

Matla noted that the combination of policy reform, private-sector dynamism, and international partnerships has made Việt Nam a launchpad for global innovators entering Southeast Asia.

HCM City leads the charge

Lâm Đình Thắng, director of the HCM City Department of Science and Technology, said innovation has become a core driver of the city’s growth alongside digital transformation and green development.

“Innovation is no longer confined to research institutes – it must flow through every business, community and individual,” he said.

Thắng unveiled new policy measures, including a local venture investment fund model under a new government decree that allows city governments to directly mobilise and manage venture capital for startups and innovation projects.

The city is also piloting sandbox mechanisms in areas such as fintech, renewable energy, AI, and smart logistics, making HCM City a “living laboratory” for sustainable urban innovation.

“‘Building bridges for innovation and sustainable growth’ is not just a slogan but a commitment to action,” Thắng said. “The city will continue to act as a government that facilitates, accompanies and serves.”

Regional platform

Huỳnh Công Thắng, CEO and chairman of InnoLab Asia, said the summit has evolved from a local initiative into a regional platform connecting innovators across Asia.

“In 2022, we asked a big question: Could Việt Nam become a regional innovation hub? Now, the ecosystem has answered with action – over 15,000 participants, 500 startups and more than 50 signed cooperation agreements,” he said.

He added that the summit’s core message is collaboration: “No one innovates alone – and no one should be left behind. We need bridges between startups and corporations, between universities and industry, between policy and markets, and above all, between Việt Nam and the global innovation network.”

Trần Hoàng, editor-in-chief of Doanh Nhân Sài Gòn Magazine, said entrepreneurs are the real change-makers driving Việt Nam’s innovation agenda.

“Every enterprise is an innovation lab where ideas become products, knowledge becomes value, and creativity becomes competitiveness,” he said.

“When government acts as an enabler, businesses dare to experiment, and media spreads the spirit of innovation, Việt Nam can build a knowledge-based economy grounded in creativity and value creation,” he added.

This year’s summit features three major forums on science and technology’s role in national development, green finance and digital assets, and Việt Nam’s position in global value chains.

A dedicated 1:1 business matching programme connects startups and investors in sectors such as AI, blockchain, fintech, ESG, smart logistics, and healthtech, fostering new cross-border partnerships.

As international collaboration deepens and Vietnamese startups scale across borders, experts said Việt Nam is increasingly being recognised as ASEAN’s rising bridge for innovation, linking creativity, technology, and sustainable growth across the region.

The event was jointly organised by the HCM City Department of Science and Technology, InnoLab Asia, and Doanh Nhân Sài Gòn Magazine. — VNS