In the afternoon of August 15, 2023, at the Saigon Innovation Hub Hall (273 Dien Bien Phu, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) it took place a workshop "Consultation with the community to Ho Chi Minh City's Week of Innovation and Startup (WHISE) and policies to support Innovation in 2023", the program was organized by the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City. On the side of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, there were Dr. Nguyen Viet Dung - Member - Director of the Department; Dr. Chu Van Hai - Deputy Director of the Department and representatives of leaders of specialized departments and units under the Department. On the side of the City Departments, there were Mr. Le Quoc Cuong - Deputy Head of the Management Board of the High-Industrial Park of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Tran Truc Cuong - representative of the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh - Director of the Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center, under the Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry - VCCI.

On the side of experts in the City Innovation Startup Ecosystem, there were Mr. Dang Duc Thanh - Chairman of Green+ Group Company; Mr. Nguyen Viet Duc - General Director of Vietnam Innovation Startup Investment Joint Stock Company; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao - Senior Manager, Business Development at Qualcomm Vietnam; Mr. Pham Dinh Anh Khoi - Director of Technology Business Incubation Center, University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Luu Danh Anh Vu - Sales Director and Partner of HCL Software; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang - Director of BSSC Youth Startup Support Center; Mrs. Vuong Thi Hong Loan - Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Center for Incubation of High-Tech Agricultural Enterprises and more than 150 delegates who are representatives of components in the City's Innovation Startup Ecosystem, including departments and agencies, People's Committees of districts and Thu Duc city, institutes, incubation centers, Innovation Startup support centers, experts and investment funds in the city.

Speaking at the opening of the Talk, Dr. Nguyen Viet Dung - Member - Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, said that 2023 is an important turning point in the strategic orientation of the development of the Innovation Startup Ecosystem of Ho Chi Minh City when approved by the National Assembly Resolution No. 98/NQ-QH15 dated June 24, 2023 on piloting a number of mechanisms and policies specific to the development of HCMC.

At the Talk, Mr. Phan Thi Quy Truc - Deputy Head of the Department of Technology Management and Technology Market, Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City also gave an overview of Article 8 of Resolution 98, especially Clause 1 of the regulation supporting Innovation and startup in the City's priority areas.

Specifically, for the group of tax exemption policies specified at Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 8, they will be exempt from corporate income tax for a period of 5 years from the time when the payable income tax is incurred from innovative start-up activities of innovation start-up enterprises, science and technology organizations, innovation centers and intermediaries supporting innovative start-ups arising in the area City. Exemption from personal income tax and corporate income tax of individuals and organizations earning income from the transfer of contributed capital to contribute capital to innovative start-up enterprises in the city.

Within the framework of the workshop, the delegates who are representatives of the components of the Ecosystem, and experts highly appreciated the specific policies of Ho Chi Minh City on Innovation approved by the National Assembly on the basis of Resolution No. 98/NQ-QH15 for this is a great motivation for organizations, individuals, units and businesses that have been operating in innovation startups in the city to develop rapidly, stronger and more sustainable. In addition, the delegates also said that the plan to organize Innovation and Starup Week in 2023 should be approved soon for better communication support. At the same time, the organization Board of the events should also have more connection with each other to attract the participation of many groups in the ecosystem.