Organized by the provincial People’s Committee, the event focused on helping businesses access support policies, adopt technology and secure resources for development.
Its theme was “Connecting Innovation - Advancing Strategic Technologies and Digital Transformation.”
The provincial Department of Science and Technology signed memoranda of understanding with the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation Startup Center and the Gia Lai Innovation Center to strengthen coordination and broaden support for local businesses and startups.
Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lâm Hải Giang said innovation must reflect Gia Lai’s strengths and address the needs of businesses and residents.
He called for closer connections between companies, experts, technology providers and investors, alongside opportunities to test ideas, commercialize research and expand successful initiatives.
Giang instructed the Department of Science and Technology to review the needs, proposals, contacts and agreements emerging from the event.
It must identify the organizations responsible for implementation, their partners, expected outcomes and completion deadlines.
He also urged departments and agencies to address barriers involving administrative procedures, information, access to resources and testing facilities. Support policies, he said, should be transparent, accessible and tailored to businesses’ needs.
Businesses should identify challenges in production, management, logistics, markets and product quality, then invest in improved processes, technology, data use and digital transformation, Giang said. Investors should contribute management expertise, business networks and market access alongside funding.
Five projects presented their business models and funding needs through the “Investment Connection – Elevating Enterprises” program: Heritage Vân Sơn Ceramics; AIEdu by FTES Co., Ltd.; Vĩnh Phú Food Production Co., Ltd.; PawsTag, a pet identification solution; and the Happy Flower Vocational Project.
Project leaders discussed their products, development plans and investment requirements with investors and experts, seeking advice and potential partners.
Trần Quang Sơn, deputy director of the Gia Lai Center for Science Discovery and Innovation, said the projects spanned traditional crafts, food, education, technology, digital services and vocational training, illustrating the breadth of entrepreneurial activity across the local economy.
He said startups needed viable business models, markets, management capabilities and suitable funding to grow. The investment program gave participants a forum to present their products, receive feedback and connect with resources suited to their needs.
Đinh Việt Hòa, chairman of the National Startup Association, emphasized the importance of developing founders’ leadership skills before they establish a business. A company’s prospects begin with its founders’ capabilities, he said, rather than the acquisition of a business license.
Hòa also called for stronger links between investment, trade and markets, and for entrepreneurs to be recognized through meaningful standards and examples that others could follow.
Other activities included a seminar on business innovation, support policies, strategic technologies and digital transformation; a forum on policies and resources for innovation; and an exhibition of startup, science and technology products.
Giang said the provincial People’s Committee would continue improving conditions for innovation within its authority, strengthening coordination among agencies and addressing legitimate concerns raised by businesses, scientists and investors.
