An event held in HCM City on March 9 to connect Austrian startups with the southern city’s innovation ecosystem.

An event aimed at strengthening cooperation between the
Austrian and Vietnamese startup ecosystems was held on March 9 at the Saigon
Innovation Hub in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the start of a series of joint
innovation activities in 2026.

The program, titled “Kick-off 2026: Connecting the
Austria–Vietnam Startup and Innovation Ecosystems,” was co-organised by the
municipal Department of Science and Technology, the Austrian Embassy’s trade
office and the Global Incubator Network Austria. It aims to connect Austrian
startups with the southern city’s innovation ecosystem to explore opportunities for
technology trials, investment cooperation and market expansion.

Five Austrian startups showcased technology solutions with
potential applications in areas such as enterprise management, healthcare and
sustainable energy. Panel discussions also focused on policies supporting
innovation, co-incubation models and strengthening business links between
companies from both countries.

The project is expected to create a foundation for long-term
cooperation between the two sides, helping Austrian and Vietnamese startups to
get access to each other’s market more effectively while promoting innovation
activities and technology commercialization.

According to a 2025 report by StartupBlink, Ho Chi Minh City
ranks 110th globally among startup ecosystems and is among Southeast Asia’s top
five innovation hubs, hosting about half of Vietnam’s startups.

VnEconomy-Như Quỳnh