On the morning of November 28, at the Ho Chi Minh City Innovative Startup Center (SIHUB), a ceremony took place to announce the results of the selection of SIHUB’s innovative startup projects in 2025. This is one of the two programs of the closing day of the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation, Science and Technology and Creative Startup Week (WISE HCMC⁺ 2025).

At the ceremony, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City Tran Trong Tuyen highly appreciated the practicality and effectiveness of the projects; at the same time, he affirmed that innovation is becoming an important pillar in the new growth model of Ho Chi Minh City – along with the digital economy and green economy.

The city aims to become an international innovation center in the period of 2025-2030, with the digital economy accounting for 30%-40% of GRDP and total social expenditure on research and development (R&D) reaching 2%-3% of GRDP, allocating at least 4-5% of the total annual budget expenditure for science, technology, digital transformation.

Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City Tran Trong Tuyen spoke at the ceremony. Photo: QUANG HUY

Therefore, 2025 is not only an important pivotal year to complete socio-economic development goals, but also the time when Ho Chi Minh City puts all its efforts and efforts into realizing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated 22-12-2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Ho Chi Minh City, with the mission of leading the economy, is pioneering in concretizing the Resolution through the “1-4-1” breakthrough strategy, including: Building 1 international financial center; To develop 4 key pillars (multi-objective high technology, high-quality healthcare, high-quality education and high-tech industry); and complete 1 synchronous strategic infrastructure system.

TS. Chau Vu, Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Assembly Delegation and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (3rd from left) handed over a letter of thanks to the Advisory Council and the Jury of the program. Photo: QUANG HUY

According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, the certificate that potential startups receive is a commitment to accompany the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City in the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW: “Taking businesses as the center, taking technology products as a measure of efficiency”. The Department will continue to stand side by side and support potential startups to access resources from Resolution 20/2023/NQ-HDND, connect investment and expand the market, thereby motivating startups to continue to make stronger breakthroughs in the journey ahead.

Ms. Dang Thi Luan, Acting Director of SIHUB (far left) awarded certificates to the selected projects. Photo: QUANG HUY

Reporting on the results of the selection of projects, Ms. Le Thi Be Ba, Deputy Director of SIHUB, said that the innovation startup ecosystem in Ho Chi Minh City is entering a period of strong development with many positive changes, making an important contribution to the goal of making Ho Chi Minh City the leading innovation center of the country and the region.

Ms. Le Thi Be Ba, Deputy Director of SIHUB reported on the selection of projects. Photo: QUANG HUY

With that mission, under the direction of the Department of Science and Technology, SIHUB has implemented programs to select innovative projects – innovative start-ups, focusing on key areas of the economy, including: financial technology in 2025 (FINTECH 2025), sustainable development in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025 (GIC 2025), the field of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology and digital transformation in 2025 (Innovation Quest 2025), the field of cultural industry in 2025 (Innoculture 2025), the field of educational technology in 2025 (Ednovation 2025) and finally the selection of innovation projects and creative start-ups in the public sector in 2025 – Saigon Govtech Challenge 2025 (Gov.Star 2025). As a result, 462 projects of authors and groups of authors across the country registered to participate.

Mr. Vo Thien Cang, Director of the Center for Information and Educational Programs, Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City (far right) awarded certificates to the selected projects. Photo: QUANG HUY

“Through a rigorous screening process, the Professional Council has identified 287 valid applications and selected 108 best projects (including pre-incubation, incubation and accelerated stages) to be awarded certificates. In particular, the Ednovation sector leads with 116 registered projects, showing the great interest of society in the future of education. The field of Sustainable Development (GIC) has 92 projects, affirming that the trend of green growth is inevitable. New fields such as Fintech, AI, semiconductors, etc. all have the participation of dozens of projects from all over the world, contributing to being ready for major breakthroughs of the city”, Ms. Le Thi Be Ba emphasized.

Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong Online