Hà Nội-based firms showcase their technological products at a recent event in the city. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội is seeking to remove barriers to funding, intellectual property valuation and market access for science and technology companies and start-ups, as the capital looks to strengthen its position as Việt Nam's innovation hub, city officials said.

The city has 226 science and technology companies, about 1,000 innovative start-ups and nearly 11,000 digital technology businesses, according to the municipal Department of Science and Technology.

Technology companies often lack conventional assets, such as land and factories, that can be used as collateral for bank loans, enterprises said at a conference for tech businesses in Hà Nội on Wednesday. Representatives from technology firms called for clearer mechanisms to value intellectual property, inventions and other intangible assets for use in financing and capital contributions.

Lưu Hải Minh, chairman of Nhat Hai New Technology JSC, said businesses would struggle to reinvest without a mechanism to value intellectual property assets.

Businesses also called for greater Government support in creating an initial market for domestically developed technologies.

A representative from Hiep Hoa Group, which manufactures 32m and 56m rescue ladder trucks, urged Hà Nội to establish preferential policies for 'Made in Vietnam' and 'Made in Hanoi' technology, saying the Government could serve as an initial customer for innovative products.

Meanwhile, a representative from Dong Phuong Technology Company said some of the firm's products, including an energy-saving waste incinerator and an electric surgical knife, have met standards since 2017 but continue to face difficulties in commercialisation.

Other companies raised concerns over proving science and technology-related revenue to qualify for corporate income tax incentives and implementing tax incentives for employees directly involved in research and development.

Cù Ngọc Trang, director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology, said Hà Nội has introduced a new set of mechanisms and policies, particularly following Resolution 57-NQ/TW and six resolutions adopted by the city's People's Council to promote science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

The bigger challenge, however, was turning those policies into capabilities, growth and concrete opportunities for businesses, Trang said.

He noted that the role of Government agencies should go beyond citing regulations, adding that businesses need clear guidance on which category they fall into, what documents they must prepare, where to submit applications and when they can expect results.

The city has received 124 proposals from businesses grouped into six areas: financing for technological innovation; markets and first customers; testing environments and research infrastructure; institutions, recognition and intellectual property; data and digital transformation; and personnel and links between businesses and universities.

Recommendations concerning institutions, recognition and intellectual property accounted for the largest group, with 34 submissions, Trang said.

Businesses need to know which incentives they are eligible for and also how to demonstrate their eligibility, where to submit documents and which agency will process their applications, he noted.

Trang proposed that Hà Nội allow the department to establish an online portal for science and technology companies, innovative start-ups and digital technology firms to submit proposals and report problems.

Under the proposal, businesses could submit issues related to taxes, land and other incentives online, reducing the need to repeatedly provide documents, he said. The department would seek to connect the portal with tax, insurance, customs agencies and other related authorities to gradually process cases online and improve transparency, he added.

According to Trang, the system would also help clarify the nature of each issue and the responsibilities of relevant agencies in addressing it.

Turning policies into a clear pathway

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Trương Việt Dũng said the 124 recommendations did not represent separate issues. Rather, the city's policy tools had yet to form a seamless pathway connecting policies with businesses, technology with markets and public resources with outcomes.

Dũng asked the Department of Science and Technology to complete by November 30 the design of policy flows based on the lifecycle of businesses and technologies. The approach would replace the current practice of publishing lists of resolutions and incentives and leaving businesses to determine how the policies apply to them, he said.

Each policy flow should show businesses what stage they are at, which support mechanisms are available, which agency can provide guidance, what documents are required, how long the process will take and what outcome they can expect, Dũng said.

The areas to be covered include science and technology tasks; technological innovation, research and development and shared infrastructure; innovative start-ups; controlled testing; commercialisation and technology transactions; and access to capital and investment.

Dũng cited the example of a company developing a new waste treatment technology that has a preliminary product but has yet to conduct real-world testing, secure major customers or raise sufficient capital.

Under the proposed approach, authorities would identify the company's development stage and any outstanding requirements, then guide it through relevant mechanisms covering research and technology development, laboratory testing, controlled trials, intellectual property protection and commercialisation before helping it access capital and investment, he said.

The city is aiming to move from a system in which businesses must piece together different policies themselves to a process with a central point of contact responsible for guiding and monitoring cases through to completion, according to Dũng.

He said the city would not replace businesses, which remain responsible for their products, technologies, markets and business performance. The Government's role is to shorten and clarify the path from ideas to products, products to testing, testing to markets and markets to capital, with clear accountability at each stage.

The effectiveness of the city's policies to support science and technology, innovation and digital transformation businesses should be measured not by the number of policies issued, but by how much progress businesses make as a result of those policies, Dũng said.

Separately, Hà Nội said it will cover 70 per cent of the cost, capped at VNĐ100 million (US$3,850) per enterprise, for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to send workers to short-term intensive training programmes abroad.

The programme is organised by the Hà Nội Support Centre for Enterprise and Investment Promotion under the municipal Department of Finance, under a scheme supporting SMEs in the capital through 2030 approved by the municipal People’s Committee in Decision 5418/QĐ-UBND dated November 1, 2025. — VNS