Connecting innovative start-up networks: More opportunities to success for start-up individuals and groups

Recently, a number of start-up individuals and groups in the province have been facilitated to participate in many training programs, supported to introduce their products to new markets and provided with technology and equipment. Thereby, these contributed to the realization of startup ideas, improving the efficiency of management, production and business.

Representatives of cooperatives and start-up individuals exchange product information

Currently, most of the start-up projects in the province are developing traditional local products in the direction of goods, food process and service, etc. For a successful startup idea, the person realizing the idea must have knowledge and skills in operating production and business activities, capital management, implementing legal procedures, developing markets, calling for investment, perfecting processing and preservation technology… Without training, it is difficult for collectives and individuals to start a business, therefore, the Department of Science and Technology has connected components to support the innovative startup ecosystem (ISE) in the country to promote its development in the province and to support start-up individuals and groups.

Ms. Nong Ha Tho, Head of Technology Management and Innovation Division, Department of Science and Technology said: “In order to achieve the goal of supporting the ISE in the province, we focus on improving the capacity of ISE; consulting and supporting start-up and innovation; organizing and participating in events. From 2022 up to now, we have promoted activities to connect components in the ecosystem as well as with organizations that support start-up and innovation throughout the country to increase the chances of success for projects in the province.”

In order to effectively carry out the above tasks, from the beginning of 2022, the Department of Science and Technology has signed cooperation agreements in supporting the ISE with the Vietnam Start up Mentors Alliance (VSMA), and the National Startup Support Center (NSSC), Provincial Young Entrepreneurs Association, Provincial Startup and Investment Club. The Department has also connected with experts of VSMA, Smart Agriculture Village in organizing capacity building training for all components in the ISE in the province. The components in the ecosystem are divided, each of them receives separate training: ecosystem support subjects are oriented to develop policies to support the incubation of startup ideas with consulting skills and start-up training, businesses are equipped with brand building and development skills, the ability to analyze the business environment; start-up individuals, groups are provided with project development experience, market needs, technology to support production and business, etc. In order to achieve the goal of consulting and supporting start-up and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology has invited experts and consultants come to advise and guide the development and completion of products, and regularly exchanges to provide timely support when necessary. Most of the projects participating in the Provincial Start-Up and Innovation Contest have been implemented, therefore, the contest organizers have actively created conditions for start-up individuals and groups to participate in consulting courses on model and project development. With the aim of providing start-up individuals and groups with orientation and experience in implementing models and projects, the Department of Science and Technology has sent delegations to innovation events throughout the country to introduce and find markets about their products in the province. In particular, the Department has reviewed the needs of start-up individuals and groups to seek support in science and technology, materials, production equipment, etc. from organizations and businesses.

As a result, from 2022 up to now, the Department of Science and Technology has coordinated to organize 16 start-up and innovation skills training classes for nearly 1,500 students in the province; coordinated with NSSC, the Department of Science and Technology of Lai Chau province, the Institute of Agricultural Electromechanics and Post-Harvest Products Processing (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)… to select, consult and develop 5 potential start-up and innovation projects and models by individuals and cooperatives, including Na Pai Cooperative, Tan Van Commune, Binh Gia District; Xu Lang Agricultural Tourism Cooperative, Dong Tan Commune, Huu Lung District; Toan Thuong Cooperative, Na Sam town, Van Lang district; Thuan Anh corn noodle, Dinh Lap commune, Dinh Lap district; Individual business household Nguyen Van Quyet, Tan Huong commune, Bac Son district. Moreover, it has also found markets and investment for in 5 agricultural products of the province, including Thuan Anh corn noodle, dried pork with Clausena indica, Chi Lang custard apple, Xu Lang Camellia sasanqua oil, roast duck with Clausena indica; built 7 provincial startup product booths on Techfest247 digital space technology application; provided 2 cooperatives and production facilities with materials and equipment; introduce the content of support and advice on post-harvest preservation and treatment technology to improve the efficiency in the processing of wind-hanging  persimmons and dried persimmons of Toan Thuong Cooperative (Van Lang) into provincial scientific research tasks. In addition, it also financially facilitates and supports start-up individuals and groups to participate in the regional and national start-up and innovation competitions, in training programs on start-up in other provinces… Most of the supported models and projects are applied in practice, their subjects determine the right direction to develop products, complete legal procedures, quickly access to the market and expand of production scale.

Mr. Hoang Hai Phong, Deputy Director of Xu Lang Agricultural Tourism Cooperative, Dong Tan Commune, Huu Lung District said: “Previously, my model of growing grapes and strawberries was only in the city with a small scale. After being advised and guided by experts, I cooperated with a number of households in Lang Son city, Huu Lung district to establish cooperatives and develop towards green agriculture and ecotourism. Recently, participating in the seminar Connecting to promote start-up and innovation in the Red River Delta region held in Nam Dinh province in May 2023, we received a support package of up to 50 million VND from the Mevi Vietnam Ecosystem and Dalani Investment Group Joint Stock Company. With this support package, we received technology of treating pests and diseases, improving orchards, powdered organic fertilizers, liqid organic fertilizers, organic fish protein, organic potassium banana juice, herbal biological plant protection drugs … These all contributed to help me sustainably and effectively develop green agriculture combined with ecotourism.

To facilitating the start-up products of Lang Son province to come to domestic and foreign markets, models to improve production and business efficiency, it is important to regularly connect, learn from experience, seek investment opportunities, advertise, develop product. Therefore, in the coming time, the connection of the start-up and innovation network will continue to be promoted by the Department of Science and Technology with diverse and practical contents for start-up individuals and groups in the province.