Ms. Phan Thi Quy Truc, Deputy Head of the Department of Intellectual Property Management and Innovation, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, said that the City Innovation Startups Center under Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, was established under Decision No. 4335/QD-UBND dated September 30, 2024 of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, located at No. 123 Truong Dinh, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3.

The center functions has a hub connecting resources in the innovation and startup ecosystem of Ho Chi Minh City as well as domestically and internationally. Thereby, spreading the state's support policies on innovation and startup to the community; providing services on innovation and startup, supporting technology transfer activities, R&D and commercialization of scientific research results.

The 11-storey center with a total area of over 17,000 m2, has completed more than 90% of its facilities, with areas to support the innovative startup community managed by the state, including co-working spaces, open connection spaces, training rooms, and spaces to attract the private sector to participate in investing, designing and implementing incubation and acceleration programs.

In addition, the Center also has priority spaces for technology solutions for smart cities (Big Data, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, e-government, etc.); e-commerce; financial technology; creative industries (cinema, performing arts, fine arts, etc.).

When put into operation, the Center will be the first unit in the country to apply an online platform that centralizes the ecosystem's data system for businesses and startups to register and participate in the city's support policies. This system is currently in operation, ready to connect with the innovative startup community.

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City, in the initial stage, the Center will focus all its efforts on supporting and incubating startups. This will be the place to implement policies to support the innovative startup community of Ho Chi Minh City, such as tax exemptions and reductions, non-refundable support for startup projects from 40 to 400 million VND, testing policies on new products and services, attracting experts and scientists for international standard research centers, etc.

At the Workshop, many units said that the City needs to have a framework of standards and regulations for startups eligible to participate in the Center to avoid the situation of allowing businesses to rent offices to work or operate in a way that does not meet the Center's set goals.