Finland Expert Works with Danang Innovation Agencies on Innovation Partnership Programme

 

The meeting was attended by representatives from VN-UK Institute, Danang College of IT (CIT), Assistance Centre of Small and Medium Enterprises (DATADC), Department of Science and Technology Danang Institute of Socio – Economic Development (DISED) and Mr Kimmo Halme, Managing Director of Forefront Ltd, a research and innovation consulting company. Mr Kimmo has 25 years of experience in the design, development and evaluation of research and innovation policy -related activities, having worked in research, for the Finnish government, as a permanent expert for the EU Commission. Kimmo has been assigned to conduct the baseline study for IPP Program.

 

The objectives of the meeting are defined in the terms of reference about current state of Danang innovation system, local suggestions, based on that to assess a proper approaching programme for IPP in Danang as well as experience exchange in the current context of Danang.

 

Mr Doan Ngoc Hung Anh, Deputy Head of DHTP Management Board emphasized the importance of innovation supporting activities, especially in hi-tech industry, one of missions of DHTP to promote the development of hi-tech. He gave a brief introduction about DHTP and the current state of Danang innovation system. As result of research from DHTP and VN-UK team about current state of Danang tech ecosystem, only 1 percent of student group and 10 percent of worker group actually start their own business. It means that entrepreneurship spirit should be further developed and promoted in Danang to foster number of tech startups.

 

Mr Ly Dinh Quan, Director of DATAC and also Director of “100 Entrepreneurship Seeds” Program pointed out the interesting fact of the meeting “presence of government, universities and business. This is the result after 1 year of Danang innovation agencies in developing and working together”.

 

Mr Halme and innovation developers then discussed and exchanged information about startups and incubator projects and expectations about IPP’s supports in Danang. There are currently some incubating projects in Danang including city incubator project of DISED, University Incubator project of CIT, Danang startup ecosystem project of 9Start Lab Club and Fablab Danang. Mr Halme highly appreciated efforts and emphasized market demand, corporate culture consideration before building incubating projects.

 

 

He expressed his appreciation about presence of innovation developers “the meeting is more than he expected with presence of right people with the same interests”. The meeting gives an idea about triangle cooperation among government, universities and business which will start with frequent meetings later on.