Facilitate the Expansion of Korea's Creative Innovation Space in Da Nang
On the morning of 26 October, Vice Chairman of Ho Ky Minh City People's Committee presided over a working session with the Vietnam Creative Innovation Network Team in Korea (VINK).
Reception scene
Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee takes a commemorative photo with the Vietnam Innovation Network delegation in Korea.
At a working session, the Vice Chairman of the Permanent People's Committee of Hồ Kỳ Minh City stated that as of the current time, South Korea is one of the top five countries and territories with the highest number of projects and investment capital in Đà Nẵng, with 268 projects and a total investment capital of approximately 362 million USD, accounting for 8.9% of the city's total foreign direct investment (FDI). Most of these investments are concentrated in the fields of manufacturing industry (40%) and services (36%).
South Korea is one of the major import-export markets for Đà Nẵng in the Asian region. Korean tourists make up nearly 50% of the total international arrivals to Đà Nẵng.
Regarding startup and innovation, businesses in Đà Nẵng continue to develop and commercialize their products, and some startup and innovation-oriented companies have a strong foundation in high technology, particularly in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence applications, food, and healthcare, such as Datbike Vietnam Limited Liability Company, Hekate Technology Corporation, EM&AI Joint Stock Company.
Đà Nẵng has various conditions for the development of startup and innovation, including good infrastructure and a high-quality workforce. The city has high-technology parks, industrial zones, and IT clusters, with a prominent high-technology park featuring a Research and Development (R&D) center and an artificial intelligence (AI) application plant called Fujikin Đà Nẵng. There are three IT clusters with a highly skilled workforce and high-level businesses.
Currently, Đà Nẵng is particularly interested in developing the semiconductor industry and a regional financial center. It is expected that in 2024, the city's leadership will visit South Korea to work with businesses in the semiconductor industry.
The Deputy Chairman of the Permanent People's Committee of Hồ Kỳ Minh City has expressed strong support for the activities of VINK in collaboration with Đà Nẵng in recent times. Additionally, he proposed that relevant departments and agencies continue to create conditions to expand the space for South Korean innovation and technology transfer to Đà Nẵng, particularly in the field of AI.
Regarding the proposal for cooperation in building a high-quality workforce, especially in the semiconductor industry, Deputy Chairman Hồ Kỳ Minh mentioned that Đà Nẵng has several educational institutions with strengths in information technology, particularly Đà Nẵng University's University of Information Technology and Communications Viet-Han, which are always ready to collaborate. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs advises the City People's Committee to facilitate the connection of experts to Đà Nẵng.
Deputy Chairman Hồ Kỳ Minh expressed his desire to invite potential investors to visit and gain practical insights to make suitable investments in the healthcare sector.
VINK Chairman Nguyễn Quang Phước reported that after the meeting with the City People's Committee in mid-February 2023, there have been several successful collaborations between the two parties. Notably, in August 2023, the launch of the Đà Nẵng Innovation and Startup Space in Seoul (Font 1 Building, Mapo District, Seoul), and at the end of September 2023, the launch of the Seoul Innovation and Startup Space in Đà Nẵng (Vietnam Innovation Hub Building, 179 Trần Hưng Đạo, Sơn Trà District).
Currently, VINK is researching the process for expedited visa approval provided by the National Innovation Center (NIC) and the Global Startup Immigration Center in South Korea (OASIS) for Đà Nẵng startup businesses.
VINK is actively working to establish connections for collaborative AI research and training between South Korean universities and Đà Nẵng while also encouraging AI investments from South Korea into Đà Nẵng. VINK will serve as a bridge between the two governments and work closely with the City People's Committee to invite South Korean businesses to provide training for a high-quality semiconductor workforce in Đà Nẵng.
