MrVina Technology Co. is showing its automatic watering and fertilising machine for plants at the WHISE 2019 exhibition that ends on October 19 in HCM City. VNS Photo Gia Lộc

HCM CITY— More than 150 foreign and Vietnamese startups are exhibiting their products and technologies at HCM City Innovation, Startup and Entrepreneurship Week (WHISE 2019) ending on Saturday.

Phạm Cao Kỳ, project manager at MrVina Technology Co.Ltd, told Việt Nam News: "My company’s automatic watering and fertilising machine for plants is being introduced here. We have been working for five years with HCM City Nông Lâm University and Institute of Agricultural Science for Southern Việt Nam to develop this product.”

The product might receive assistance from the city’s programmes for startups and innovations, Kỳ said, adding that the event would help him connect with people who can assist in seed funding.

 Like Kỳ, Lê Trung Hiếu, technical director for Ewater Engineering Co.Ltd, is also exhibiting his equipment. “My company has an opportunity to advertise our products and image, and connect with other enterprises and city authorities.”

The company is exhibiting equipment that prevents deposits and rusts in water supply systems, boilers and heat exchanger systems used in factories and other businesses.

Nguyễn Việt Dũng, director of the city's Department of Science and Technology, said the event was held to help the startup community turn the city into an innovative area in the country. It was a chance for city managers and startups to review results in innovating and starting businesses this year, he said.

Based on these results, the department would provide suggestions to the People’s Committee on policies to speed up the city’s startup ecosystem, Dũng said.

The city had set a goal toward a knowledge-based economy with green growth based on technologies and innovation, he added.

Phạm Hồng Quất, head of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the city and other areas in the country had many startups that had taken part in international contests and won prizes.

The WHISE exhibit, which has been held for three years, attracted more startups this year, Quất said, adding that the event was scheduled to be held in other provinces and cities in the country. 

WHISE also included a number of workshops and conferences on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and maths) education for students and 3D printing technology, among others. 

The event was organised by the city People’s Committee in co-operation with the Finnish Embassy in Hà Nội. VNS