Hải Phòng City's PII ranking reflects improvements across its institutional framework, infrastructure and business environment. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG — Ranking third nationwide in the 2026 Provincial Innovation Index (PII) and entering the global top 1,000 startup ecosystems for the first time, Hải Phòng City is making a notable shift from its traditional strengths as an industrial and port centre towards strengthening its capacity for innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.

From institutional foundations to innovation capacity

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the 2026 PII comprises 52 sub-indicators grouped into seven pillars. Five input pillars assess the conditions supporting socio-economic development driven by science, technology and innovation, while two output pillars measure knowledge, creative and technological products, as well as the impact of innovation.

In 2026, Hải Phòng scored 56.33 points, ranking third among 34 localities, behind Hà Nội and HCM City. The result marked a one-place improvement from 2025, when the city ranked fourth with 58.09 points. Hải Phòng also ranked first among the 34 provinces and cities in administrative reform and business transparency, second in general infrastructure and third in digital infrastructure.

In implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, the city has identified science, technology and innovation as key drivers of its new growth model.

Vice Chairman of the Hải Phòng People's Committee Hoàng Minh Cường said that following the expansion of its development space, the city had focused on a range of priorities, including administrative reform, digital transformation, data development, building digital government and improving services for residents and businesses.

The city has also launched several science, technology and innovation programmes and projects, including 'Building and developing startup, innovation and artificial intelligence zones and centres in Hải Phòng' and 'Hải Phòng – Innovation City'.

Science and technology activities have received greater investment and undergone reforms, with research and technology projects becoming more focused, feasible and closely aligned with pressing practical needs, Cường said.

Hải Phòng has also taken a significant step towards strengthening its innovation ecosystem by deciding to establish a venture capital fund to support startups and promote the commercialisation of science and technology products. The city has continued working with investors on the fund's establishment and operation.

Expanding the startup ecosystem

Hải Phòng City has also developed platforms connecting businesses and startups with markets, technology and capital. — VNA/VNS Photo

In 2026, Hải Phòng City entered StartupBlink's global top 1,000 startup ecosystems for the first time, ranking 765th worldwide and 23rd in Southeast Asia. The result reflects the city's growing international recognition as a startup hub, alongside its traditional strengths in industry, ports and logistics.

The city has strengthened infrastructure supporting its startup ecosystem, including an innovation startup portal, co-working spaces and the online technology and equipment exchange Hatex.vn. It has also developed platforms connecting businesses and startups with markets, technology and capital.

A startup support network has been established, linking the Hải Phòng Centre for Innovation and Science and Technology Application with universities and startup support organisations.

Hải Phòng has also launched a programme to strengthen domestic and international cooperation in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation for 2026–2030. The city has expanded cooperation with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), promoted technology supply and demand connections among research institutes, universities and businesses, and broadened collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data and advanced technology.

The city also organised the 2026 Hải Phòng Innovative Startup Talent Search, focusing on technology-based solutions to practical challenges in urban management, ports, logistics and industrial parks.

Turning strong inputs into stronger outputs

The breakdown of the city's 2026 PII score also highlights a key challenge for the next phase: translating resources, institutional support and infrastructure into more technological products, patents, innovative businesses and tangible economic value.

Director of the Hải Phòng Department of Science and Technology Nguyễn Cao Thắng said the city scored 62.03 points for innovation inputs in 2026, compared with 50.63 points for outputs. The gap suggests considerable room for improvement in translating favourable conditions into tangible innovation results, he said.

He outlined three priorities for the city in the coming period.

First, Hải Phòng needs to strengthen its research and development (R&D) capacity and increase the share of State budget spending allocated to science and technology, commensurate with its position as a major economic growth hub.

Second, stronger links are needed among research institutes, universities and businesses to strengthen the innovation value chain. In 2026, the linkage indicator stood at just 15.54 per cent. The city also needs to boost technology transfer from the foreign direct investment (FDI) sector, which accounts for 15.78 per cent of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP), to domestic businesses.

Finally, Hải Phòng should promote the commercialisation of intellectual property by increasing the number of protected patents and accelerating the transfer of research results from laboratories to the market.

From a top-three PII ranking to an innovation city

In April 2026, the Hải Phòng People's Committee issued Decision No. 1380/QĐ-UBND approving the project titled 'Hải Phòng – Innovation City', placing innovation at the centre of the city's new development model.

By 2030, Hải Phòng City aims to become one of the leading innovation centres in the Asia-Pacific region, maintain its PII and Digital Transformation Index among the country's top performers, and enter the global Top 200 startup ecosystems. The project also targets at least 400 innovative startups.

Thắng said the city's priorities include operating the venture capital fund, applying public-private partnership (PPP) models in technology incubation, accelerating investment in physical infrastructure for science, technology and innovation, and commissioning technology solutions for green ports, smart logistics and the semiconductor supporting industry.

Hải Phòng City will also support intellectual property protection and pilot preferential mechanisms to attract leading experts and scientists, he added. — VNS