Hanoi brings Techfest 2025 outdoors to energize startups and inspire young innovators

THE HANOI TIMES — The National Innovation and Startup Festival 2025 (TECHFEST Vietnam 2025), themed “National Creative Startups for New Growth Drivers”, is taking place from December 12 to December 14 around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. This year marks the first time the event is being held in an open and public format.

Tran Anh Tuan, Director of the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology, speaks with Hanoimoi Newspaper about the event’s new approach and Hanoi’s goals.

What does Hanoi aim to achieve by bringing a major national startup event into a public space and how will this influence the city’s innovation ecosystem?

TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 marks the first collaboration between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Hanoi People’s Committee to organize the event as a community-centered innovation festival. It reflects the spirit of “innovation for all” outlined in Politburo Resolution No. 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology and digital transformation.

The most significant change is the open-space model. For the first time, TECHFEST takes place outdoors in the heart of the capital, allowing residents, tourists and businesses to freely explore technology showcases, test products, join workshops and connect with investors. Cafés and restaurants may even become informal networking spaces.

By placing activities directly on the pedestrian street, from startup talent competitions to hands-on experiences, Hanoi hopes to spread creative energy throughout the community, especially among young people. The event also allows the city to experiment with open innovation spaces that integrate culture, education, arts, technology and the circular economy.

Hosting TECHFEST at Hoan Kiem Lake marks a breakthrough in how Hanoi supports startups, helping build an open, inclusive innovation ecosystem aligned with its 2045 vision of becoming a creative, innovation-driven city.

How will Hanoi boost the growth of deep-tech startups?

Most startups in Vietnam, including Hanoi, gravitate toward quick-return sectors like digital apps, e-commerce and service platforms. Deep-tech companies, those developing core technologies or holding patents, still represent a small share of the ecosystem.

Deep-tech innovation requires long-term research, significant capital and costly testing infrastructure that single startups struggle to afford. Yet if Hanoi wants sustainable growth and global competitiveness, it must focus on deeper technological foundations.

The city is driving four strategic pillars to support deep-tech startups.

First, on infrastructure, Hanoi is accelerating the development of specialized technology centers and building a strong data foundation with fiber networks, cloud systems, AI, Big Data, IoT and blockchain capabilities.

The city is also advancing the master plan for Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park to become a true innovation valley supported by modern facilities, world-class talent policies and targeted investment in core technologies.

Second, in market access and regulatory testing, the 2024 Capital Law gives Hanoi a legal framework for sandbox mechanisms. The city is also promoting a “government-as-customer” model, using public funds to purchase and test high-tech solutions, helping startups move from prototype to market.

Third, in research linkage, Hanoi is strengthening the “three-party model” that connects scientists, entrepreneurs and investors. Incubation programs will match patent-holding researchers with market-driven founders to commercialize dormant technologies.

Finally, on capital, deep-tech needs patient funding. Hanoi is establishing the Hanoi Venture Capital Fund (HVCF) with up to VND600 billion (US$22.8 million) in seed public capital under a public–private partnership model. The fund will operate flexibly, sharing risks and returns much like global VC funds rather than functioning as a traditional state entity.

With these strategies, Hanoi expects a new wave of deep-tech startups to emerge, creating knowledge-intensive innovations capable of competing internationally.

How will Hanoi use new 2025 policies to boost its innovation ecosystem?

After the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57 fostering science, technology and innovation a year ago, Hanoi has moved quickly to turn it into concrete action through a comprehensive set of policies tailored to the city’s smart urban development goals.

On September 29, 2025, the Hanoi People’s Council approved six breakthrough resolutions guiding the implementation of Resolution No. 57 and the Capital Law in science, technology, innovation and startup development. These resolutions expand scientific research, strengthen the innovation ecosystem, enable controlled sandbox models, develop a venture capital fund and establish key intermediaries such as a technology trading floor and the Hanoi Innovation Center.

These policies create incentives for research and experimentation and establish a strong legal foundation for new testing models and a more dynamic venture capital market. They reflect the principle of “Government enabling – Enterprises pioneering – Citizens participating,” positioning innovation as a driver of sustainable growth.

The city has also issued Decision No. 8602 and Plan No. 139 to assign clear responsibilities to each department, district and unit, holding leaders accountable for developing the innovation ecosystem from the ground up.

In 2025, Hanoi’s priority is to turn policy into practice. The city is building action plans, assigning implementation leads, setting annual targets and establishing monitoring mechanisms to ensure programs and startups receive tangible support.

TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 will be a major milestone in this effort. Beyond its communication value, it will serve as a platform to pilot new support models, select standout projects, operate sandbox mechanisms and strengthen international partnerships.

At the same time, Hanoi is linking innovation policies with the development of a venture capital market, open data systems and public–private startup models, laying the foundation for a market-driven, sustainable ecosystem. The Capital Law further enables the city to invest in innovation infrastructure and unlock public assets such as shared facilities and data to support startups.

Above all, Hanoi places citizens, businesses and young talent at the center of all policies, aiming to build an open, inclusive innovation culture rooted in strong collaboration between the government, academia and industry.

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