ĐÀ NẴNG — The central city will host the third International Start-up Conference and Exhibition, or SURF 2018, on Tuesday, with the aim of attracting participants in technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.

The event’s organisers hosted a press conference on Monday, stating that more than 2,000 attendees including 20 investors and 30 speakers have registered to take part in the conference and exhibition at the city’s administrative centre.

About 70 pavilions will be set up for the one-day conference and start-up exhibition with the theme ‘linkthewaves’, in the coastal city.

The start-up pitch competition this year, which is the largest in central Việt Nam, will offer a total cash-prize of US$6,000 for the winner.

Participants will take part in opportunities to share experience with start-up programmes from Israel, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Finland, Singapore and Việt Nam.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Israel Embassy in Việt Nam, Doron Lebovich said SURF 2018 will be an event to mark the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Israel.

He said Israel and Đà Nẵng as well as the Đà Nẵng Entrepreneurship Support Centre has been in positive partnerships with start-up programmes, and the city’s leadership has strongly committed to building a start-up programme and ecosystem.

An organic cosmetic shop in Đà Nẵng. The store is part of a successful start-up project. Đà Nẵng will host the third International Start-up Conference and Exhibition with the participation of 2,000 attendees. — VNS Photo Công Thành

He said experts from Israel will take part in sharing experiences and technology transfer at the exhibition and conference next month.

Đà Nẵng has launched its business start-up programme eco-system from now until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

The city’s business start-up ecosystem debuted in 2014 as a base for a young generation beginning their business careers. Three hundred start-up projects, of which 10 received funding from investors, were born from the ecosystem’s co-working space.

In 2017, the Sông Hàn Incubator Centre, which was seen as the first private sector incubator, was debuted as a consultancy for young people starting businesses.

It aims to develop a start-up ecosystem and popularise the spirit of business among other locals in Việt Nam.

Đà Nẵng has 18,000 businesses, 95 per cent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. — VNS