Ho Chi Minh City, November 7, 2025 – After two dynamic days across four main venues, the Vietnam Innovation Summit 2025 (VIS 2025) officially concluded, leaving a strong impression of a Vietnam that is rising to become a strategic destination for global innovation and technology.
A large-scale event bringing together the innovation community from Vietnam and abroad
Initiated by InnoLab Asia and co-organized with the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon Businessman Magazine, VIS 2025 attracted more than 3,000 participants, including over 150 speakers and business leaders from major corporations, investment funds, international organizations, government agencies, research institutes, universities, and pioneering startups across multiple sectors.
During November 6–7, 45 thematic sessions and an exhibition of 100 technology companies and startups painted a comprehensive picture of Vietnam’s innovation landscape – from AI and DeepTech to green transition, policy, investment, and human capital development. As a platform for knowledge exchange, VIS 2025 also served as a meeting point for strategic partnerships.
Business Matching & Showcase: Real connections for sustainable collaboration
Nearly 300 Business Matching sessions were held, featuring 50 companies in Logistics, Blockchain, Renewable Energy, Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Manufacturing – opening doors for future cooperation and reflecting the open, collaborative spirit that VIS 2025 aims to foster.
Within the framework of VIS 2025, 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Vietnamese and international partners, with a total on-site contract value exceeding USD 120,000.
The agreements focused on investment, service provision, and the application of emerging technologies, including:
- EdTech platforms for workforce training and development;
- Automation and AI solutions to optimize costs, enhance operations, and boost business performance;
- Digital communication and voting platforms to support innovation events and awards.
The number of actual partnerships is expected to grow as B2B meetings and follow-up activities continue post-event, underscoring the sustainable collaboration potential between Vietnamese and international enterprises.
Meanwhile, the Business Showcase area featured nearly 40 startups from Vietnam and abroad, presenting solutions in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Fintech, and Social Commerce. Founders, investors, and experts gathered to exchange ideas, share insights, and discuss practical applications of technology for sustainable value creation.
Strategic vision: Vietnam’s digital economy and semiconductor ambitions
Mr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), emphasized that Vietnam is entering the “Digital Decade,” aiming to become the digital hub of Southeast Asia. The National Digital Transformation Program targets a digital economy contributing 20% of GDP by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
To sustain growth momentum, Vietnam is focusing on the semiconductor industry – “the heart of modern technology.” NIC’s goal is for Vietnam to become a key link in the global semiconductor supply chain by 2050, through high-quality human resource development and targeted investment in chip design and R&D.
According to NIC, Vietnam’s digital economy is projected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18–20% between 2025–2030, driven by high-value FDI inflows and leadership in 5G infrastructure and data centers.
Shaping the future with AI and intelligent agents
Sharing his perspective on the next phase of innovation, Mr. Cao Dai An, Head of Solutions & Technology Office for ASEAN and Japan, Hitachi Digital Services, stated:
“Looking ahead to 2035, traditional digital systems and AI will become ubiquitous. With the capabilities of large language models (LLMs), AI can automate numerous integration and operational processes across entire organizations. The key is not how many AI agents a company creates, but how effectively they are orchestrated and aligned toward a common goal – enhancing productivity and value for enterprise customers. This is how we meet the demands of a truly global innovation hub.”
Global perspective: Building a collaborative innovation ecosystem
Mr. Xu Zhou, Deputy Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, praised Vietnam’s growing role in the regional innovation network. He noted that the summit theme, “Building Bridges to Innovation and Growth,” captures the essence of today’s global innovation logic.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of innovation, technology is its lifeblood, and the global market is its stage. Only when these three elements connect harmoniously can we unleash powerful economic momentum.”
He reiterated China’s commitment to innovation-driven development and high-quality international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), emphasizing openness, inclusiveness, and shared prosperity.
“As the saying goes: If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. In today’s world of complex challenges, no country can thrive in isolation.”
Closing session: Cross-border innovation – From ASEAN to the world
The closing session, “Cross-border Innovation: Leveraging ASEAN’s Strengths as a Launchpad to Global Expansion,” highlighted ASEAN as not just a 650-million-strong market but a “natural springboard” for startups seeking global growth.
Speakers from InnoLab Asia, TechShake, KUMPUL.ID, and regional investment funds discussed fundraising, cross-border talent management, legal compliance, and cultural differences, emphasizing the role of “bridge organizations” that connect Vietnamese enterprises with the global ecosystem.
During the program, Ms. Alexandra Smith, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, shared insights on UK–Vietnam cooperation in finance and innovation:
“Vietnam can draw lessons from London’s success as a global financial hub, built on transparency, openness, and trust. The UK–Vietnam partnership is advancing this agenda—from high-level policy recommendations to training and regulatory support. The UK is committed to long-term collaboration with Vietnam to drive financial transformation, innovation, and sustainable growth.”
Adding a legal dimension, Mr. Somchai Ratanachueskul, Judge of Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, reflected:
“Innovation doesn’t die from failure, but from uncertainty. When laws are unclear, innovation stalls—not for lack of talent, but lack of certainty. Only when the rules are clear can ideas move faster. When creators understand their rights and innovators know their boundaries, trust is built, and ideas can turn into value.”
The summit concludes – and the journey begins
VIS 2025 has proven to be more than an event—it is a platform of trust and collaboration where businesses, policymakers, and investors come together to shape Vietnam’s innovation future. The doors to global integration are open, and Vietnamese enterprises are ready to enter a new era—an era of knowledge, technology, and sustainable partnership.
Mr. Huynh Cong Thang, Chairman & CEO of InnoLab Asia and Founder of VIS, shared:
“VIS is not an event—it’s a movement. We don’t organize to end with applause, but to begin with action. Vietnam will not only join the global innovation race—it will create new tracks and invite the world to run together.”
Echoing that vision, Mr. Shun Ono, Representative of the Fukuoka Government (Japan), remarked:
“Fukuoka believes in a future where innovative cities across the region connect as ‘Innovation Ports’. VIS 2025 shows that Vietnam is becoming a central port—sailing into the global ocean with ideas, talent, and international opportunities.”
From the connections and conversations at VIS 2025, a new generation of bold, creative Vietnamese enterprises is emerging—driven by the belief that innovation is not just a goal, but a journey where no one is left behind. VIS 2025 has planted the seeds; now it is time for Vietnam and the global community to nurture them together. Stay tuned for VIS 2026, where the seeds sown today will bear fruit.
