In TP.HCM, experts, scientists, and businesses shared experiences and proposed solutions to promote the innovation ecosystem in the food sector, aiming for sustainable development, enhancing competitiveness, and the value of Vietnamese products on the international market.
On the afternoon of October 14, in TP.HCM, the Trung tâm Phát triển Dịch vụ và Khai thác Hạ tầng Khoa học và Công nghệ (CSID) under the Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ, in collaboration with related units, organized a specialized workshop on “Building a strong science – technology and innovation ecosystem: Opportunities and challenges for innovative startups in the Southern region in the food sector”.
An important forum connecting multiple parties
The event attracted the participation of representatives from the Hội Sáng chế Việt Nam, units under the Bộ KH&CN, research institutes, universities, science and technology enterprises, and many innovative startup support organizations. The workshop is considered an important forum to connect managers – experts – investors – businesses, creating a bridge for technology transfer, product commercialization, and enhancing the efficiency of scientific application in the food industry.
Solutions to remove science and technology infrastructure bottlenecks
Speaking at the event, Mr. Huỳnh Văn Tùng, Director of the CSID Center, emphasized that innovation is becoming the central driving force of the knowledge economy, helping businesses increase productivity, quality, and competitiveness.
“For the food industry, applying technology in production, processing, and distribution not only ensures safety and sustainability but also helps Vietnamese businesses conquer demanding international markets,” said Mr. Tùng.
At the workshop, experts focused on discussing solutions to remove infrastructure bottlenecks in science and technology to support innovation in the food industry. Mr. Huỳnh Văn Tùng proposed developing a regional map of science and technology infrastructure, integrating data on equipment, human resources, and operational capacity to optimize exploitation and avoid investment duplication.
According to him, it is necessary to plan specialized infrastructure clusters in key localities:
- Biotechnology and agriculture: Cần Thơ, Đồng Tháp, Tây Ninh.
- Digital technology and artificial intelligence: TP.HCM, Đồng Nai.
- New materials and clean energy: Lâm Đồng, and Bình Dương.
At the same time, a Regional Infrastructure Exploitation Coordination Center should be established, possibly under the Bộ KH&CN or operating under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
In addition, he proposed establishing a maintenance and development fund for regional science and technology infrastructure, allocating 10-15% of service revenue, along with preferential policies on tax, credit, and financial support for innovative startups in the food sector.
The application of new regulations in Nghị định 180/2025/NĐ-CP and Nghị quyết 193/2025/QH15 will be an important legal foundation for realizing public-private partnership models in science and technology infrastructure development.
Application of new technology and traceability
One of the key topics at the workshop was the application of new technology in the food value chain. Mrs. Phạm Thị Hồng Phượng – senior advisor at the Innovation Center (Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City), Head of the Ecotech Community – Techfest Việt Nam, argued that traceability technology is a core element for building consumer trust and enhancing brand value.
According to Mrs. Phượng, strengthening traceability not only helps to make the production and distribution process transparent but also creates an advantage for Vietnamese enterprises when participating in global supply chains. She recommended establishing a specialized food technology incubation center, connecting businesses and research institutes closely, to support technology transfer, technical consulting, and human resource training for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In addition, she proposed making innovation and traceability a criterion for evaluating business capacity, helping to motivate enterprises to invest in technology, improve product quality, reduce losses, and optimize production.
Challenges and multi-party coordination
During the panel discussion, leading experts such as Dr. Nguyễn Thị Hồng Minh – Chairwoman of the AFT (Association of Food Transparency) and Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Cường – Deputy Secretary-General of the Vietnam Automation Association, analyzed the barriers for innovative startups in accessing capital, intellectual property protection, and quality standards.
The experts agreed that developing an innovation ecosystem in the food sector requires close coordination between the State – institutes – universities – businesses – investors. Policy mechanisms need to be flexible, transparent, encourage multi-disciplinary cooperation, and create favorable conditions for businesses to commercialize research results.
“A sustainable innovation ecosystem must have the companionship of both the public and private sectors, where the State plays a role in creating, orienting, and ensuring a favorable legal environment, while businesses are the center of creation and product innovation.”
– Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Cường
Message and Future Direction
The workshop concluded with a unified message: innovation must become the foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s food industry. The application of new technologies in production, management, and commercialization will help increase added value, ensure food safety, and expand export markets.
The delegates argued that when the innovation ecosystem is comprehensively formed, with close links between managers – scientists – businesses – investors, the Southern region can fully become the country’s center for food technology and innovation, making a significant contribution to the strategy of elevating the brand of Vietnamese agricultural products on the international market.
Source: Doanh Nhan Sai Gon