Reporting at the conference, Mrs. Chu Van Hai (Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology) said that in the first 6 months of 2023, the Department has supported 1,069 enterprises to improve their innovation capacity (reaching 118.78% of the annual plan target, cumulatively reaching 204% of the target of 2021-2025), 82 innovative startup incubation (reaching 27.33 percent of the planned target in 2021-2025). 35 innovative start-ups have access to venture capital sources (reaching 116.67% of the annual plan target, cumulatively reaching 271% of the target for the period of 2021-2025).

Implementing 6 programs to serve the city's socio-economic development goals, in the first 6 months of 2023,  Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology organized an evaluation of results for 3 science and technology tasks that did not use the state budget, of which 2 tasks were assessed as successful; organize the implementation of 33 new tasks with a total budget of 74.9 billion VND (of which the budget is 62.6 billion VND, other sources are 12.3 billion VND); organize the assessment of 22 scientific and technological tasks, all tasks are assessed as successful and continue to perform phase 2; organizing the acceptance of 26 science and technology tasks, 100% of the tasks have applied results.

Regarding science, technology and innovation activities in the public sector, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City transferred a set of market management tools to serve state management with the People's Committees of District 3, District 4, District 7, District 10, Nha Be, Thu Duc City.

Some outstanding results of science and technology application in the first 6 months of the year include: People's Committee of District 6 launched "Application of online trade connection 4.0" at Kinhtequan6.com, People's Committee of District 1 launched the solution "Application of geographic information system (WEBGIS) to manage business households in real time" and the solution "Issuing electronic licenses for temporary registration and issuance of business licenses in District 1", Announcement of software to apply GIS and remote sensing technology in the management of natural resources - environment and urban areas.

The districts and Thu Duc city have also actively organized activities to create a science and technology playground for students, pupils and youths on the occasion of celebrating Vietnam Science and Technology Day 18/5.

In the period of 2021-2023,  Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology has advised the City People's Committee to promulgate many mechanisms and policies to support start-ups, innovation, digital transformation, application of science and technology, and promote the development of an ecosystem of innovation and start-ups to create a favorable environment to promote and support the formation and development of capable businesses of rapid growth based on social science, technology and investment, and investment in science and technology.

Currently, the startup and innovation ecosystem in Ho Chi Minh City is growing stronger and is approaching the Top 100 Cities with the most dynamic innovation startup ecosystem in the world.

Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai acknowledged the results achieved by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology over the past time. Mr. Phan Van Mai noted that Ho Chi Minh City is the center, where resources converge, so the startup and innovation ecosystem must develop higher. The Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City needs to promote mechanisms from Resolution No.98 of the National Assembly, connect international cooperation, continue to research and propose mechanisms and policies, invest in infrastructure development and develop human resources in science and technology, at the same time expand the promotion of innovation activities in the public sector, propose solutions to bring the highest efficiency of science and technology, thereby promoting the role of science and technology.