Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, delivers remarks at the forum. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP  

The forum was held as part of a project funded by the Government of Japan and jointly implemented by UNDP and the National Innovation Centre (NIC) to enhance the centre’s capacity to support innovation. It brought together Vietnamese and Japanese policymakers, business leaders, researchers and university representatives.

In his opening remarks, NIC Deputy Director Hoang Trung Hieu said Vietnam is working to make science, technology and innovation key drivers of economic growth, with Japan emerging as an important partner thanks to its strengths in science and technology, industry and human resources, as well as its extensive network of businesses, research institutions and universities.

Located at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park (HHTP), the NIC is playing an increasingly important role in connecting Vietnamese and Japanese resources and promoting cooperation in research, technology testing, training and development projects, he said. The centre aims to further leverage its Japanese partnerships to make Hoa Lac a major hub for Vietnam–Japan innovation cooperation.

Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Ishikawa Isamu highlighted potential areas for cooperation, including agriculture, environmental, social and governance (ESG) solutions, smart factories, healthcare, digital infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT).

He said science, technology and innovation have become important pillars of Vietnam–Japan relations, adding that the Japanese Government will continue working with its Vietnamese counterpart to support startups and foster a favorable environment for innovation.

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, emphasized the increasingly central role of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam’s development.

She noted that a strong innovation hub should provide an environment where ideas can flourish, partnerships can take shape, and entrepreneurs and researchers can access the resources they need. She encouraged startups, researchers, investors, universities and businesses from both countries to seize opportunities for cooperation, test and validate technologies, forge partnerships, and turn promising ideas into solutions that deliver economic, social and environmental value.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung called for a new approach to Vietnam–Japan technological cooperation, shifting from technology transfer to joint research, development and commercialization; from isolated innovation hubs to interconnected networks; and from agreements to measurable results.

He stressed that the success of innovation cooperation should be reflected in concrete outcomes, including jointly developed technologies, skilled workers, laboratories and R&D centers, investment projects, startups and new products reaching the market.

The forum featured two panel discussions focusing on building a Vietnam–Japan innovation ecosystem and advancing cooperation in strategic technology sectors.

Participants explored ways to build a competitive innovation ecosystem capable of turning research results into globally competitive startups, drawing on Japan’s experience. They also discussed making HHTP a model for Vietnam–Japan cooperation, developing a world-class innovation ecosystem and advancing strategic technology initiatives, including cooperation between the Vietnam–Japan Innovation Hub and the UAV Lab at Hoa Lac.