Awarding ceremony of Nghe An Open Innovation Startup Search Competition 2022

Attending the award ceremony were comrades: Bui The Duy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Bang - Rector of Vinh University.

Delegates attending the award ceremony. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Innovative startups are increasingly asserting their important role in the country's socio-economic development. In Nghe An, the innovative startup ecosystem has been formed and developed quite firmly. The innovative startup movement in the province has developed in both breadth and depth, with the participation of all social sectors. Organizations, authorities and people understand more about startups, have agreed, cared, encouraged, motivated and are ready to help startup groups.

In recent years, the province has also issued many policies to support the innovative startup ecosystem and startups. These are important successes and have great significance for the province's innovative startup movement, creating an important premise for the next steps of development.

The contest organizers presented flowers to sponsors. Photo: Phuong Thuy

The Nghe An Open Innovation Startup Talent Search Competition 2022 (Techfest Nghe An open 2022) has the theme "Digital transformation with innovative startups". This is a program to search for and support individuals, groups of individuals, innovative startups founded or co-founded by Nghe An people domestically and internationally, or those who choose Nghe An as a place to start a business.

The contest aims to solve community and social problems by applying technology and digital transformation, contributing to creating breakthroughs in administrative reform and promoting socio-economic development of Nghe An in the new normal state.

The competition attracted 116 projects in many different fields such as: technology application, digital transformation serving the socio-economic fields: agriculture, rural areas, industry, urban areas, transportation, logistics, culture, tourism, education, healthcare, trade, finance - fintech, information security... Digital transformation solutions in the fields of state management and corporate governance.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy and Standing Deputy Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Thong presented the First Prize to the group of authors. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Chairwoman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee Vo Thi Minh Sinh and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long awarded the Second Prize to the authors and groups of authors. Photo: Phuong Thuy

In particular, this year’s competition continues to attract many startups from provinces and cities in the country such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. to participate. This is a good thing, because to build a healthy and developing startup ecosystem, it is not only necessary to promote internal strength but also to mobilize the strength of Nghe An people living far from home, contributing to building their homeland.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long launched the 2023 contest. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that in order to effectively promote innovative start-up activities, for the innovative start-up movement to develop vigorously and widely throughout the province, in the coming years, it is necessary to continue to implement start-up competitions on a larger scale, at the same time, promote communication to introduce the Nghe An start-up ecosystem to all start-ups, investment funds in the province, domestically and internationally with the spirit of "Nghe An is a destination for success".

Along with that, continue to improve policies and support mechanisms for startups to come to Nghe An as a channel to attract investment and attract talent; continue to support the establishment of more and more incubation centers and investment support funds for startups in the province with the participation of local businesses and entrepreneurs at different levels; at the same time, strengthen connections with domestic and foreign funds.

Director of the Department of Science and Technology Enterprise and Market Development Pham Hong Quat and Director of the Department of Science and Technology Tran Quoc Thanh awarded the Third Prize to the authors and groups of authors. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long acknowledged, placed deep trust in and called on individuals, organizations, businesses, especially the young generation of the province with their youth, enthusiasm and passion, to be proactive, creative, bold in starting a business, starting an innovative business based on exploiting intellectual property, technology, and new business models.

“Innovation and start-up in particular, and the start-up movement in general, are important environments to exploit and promote the intelligence and the spirit of daring to think and do of Nghe An people. I hope and believe that, together with this award, the innovation and start-up movement will develop more and more, to realize the policy of building Nghe An into a Center for Start-up and Innovation in the North Central region." - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long emphasized.

Investment funds commit to investing in startup projects. Photo: Phuong Thuy

Phuong Thuy