Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoàng Minh delivers a speech at the Đà Nẵng Innovation Startup Festival (SURF 2026). — Photo courtesy of MoST

ĐÀ NẴNG — Innovation-driven entrepreneurship should go beyond creating more startups and focus on building technology and innovation-driven companies capable of long-term growth, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoàng Minh said.

Speaking at the opening of the Đà Nẵng Innovation Startup Festival (SURF 2026), Hoàng Minh said Đà Nẵng needs to build spaces that connect experts, capital and markets and help address local economic challenges if it is to become an influential startup and innovation hub in Việt Nam and the region.

He said businesses should be placed at the centre of Đà Nẵng's innovation ecosystem.

Such enterprises, he said, should play a direct role in turning research results into commercial products and converting technology and intellectual property into economic value.

To become an international destination for innovation and entrepreneurship, Đà Nẵng must not only attract capital, technology and expertise from abroad but also help local businesses access international markets and take their products and technologies to regional and global markets, Minh said.

The deputy minister outlined six priorities for Đà Nẵng: building an effective and substantive innovation ecosystem; putting businesses at the centre; promoting the commercialisation of technology and intellectual property; developing capital and markets; training talent and fostering an entrepreneurial culture; and establishing Đà Nẵng as an international destination for innovation.

Building international links

Held in Đà Nẵng on August 19-20 under the theme “An Era of Breakthrough – Pioneering Innovation”, SURF 2026 brought together more than 30 speakers, experts and representatives of investment funds from Singapore, the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan and China.

According to organisers, the event attracted more than 3,000 registrations, while more than 150 projects entered the innovation startup competition. It also featured more than 30 exhibition booths and more than 20 partner organisations.

The programme included two seminars, two forums, investment-matching activities and the launch of a technology and innovation showcase space for Daegu, the Republic of Korea, in Đà Nẵng.

Organisers also announced a StartupBlink certificate recognising Đà Nẵng as the “fastest-growing startup ecosystem in Việt Nam”. — VNS