TECHFEST 2025: Nationwide innovative startup in the new era of growth
On 3 December, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) held a press conference to introduce TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 under the theme "nationwide creative startups - new growth driver", which is expected to create a strong shift in the process of promoting knowledge and technology-based innovation. The press conference was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Truong Viet Dung.
Creative startups in the context of new legal framework and growth targets
The year 2025 marks a crucial phase in the implementation of Resolution 57/NQ/TW and newly enacted laws and decrees over the past year, including the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Law on Digital Technology Industry, Decree 264/2025/ND-CP on the national venture capital fund, and Decree 268/2025/ND-CP on the recognition of innovation centers and startup support, laying the legal foundation to form a more favorable environment for the large-scale startup movement.
TECHFEST 2025 is organized in an open space model in the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, aiming to connect people directly with new technologies, experimental products, and creative business models. Moving the event to a public space reflects the effort to bring innovation closer to life, associating the entrepreneurial spirit with broad community participation.
Startup is no longer limited to the technology business community but has become a method of creating new value based on knowledge, creativity, and digital technology.
TECHFEST 2025 is expected to attract over 60,000 direct and online participants, with the presence of startups, research institutes, universities, investment funds, and international delegations from North America, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and many other regions. The diversity of the ecosystem creates a complete picture of the stakeholders involved in the innovation process, from young entrepreneurs to international experts.
In parallel with activities in the public space, TECHFEST 2025 also organizes a national policy forum with the participation of representatives from central agencies and businesses.
The consultation sessions focus on policy, legal infrastructure, human resources, finance, and investment for creative startups, thereby reinforcing the state's role in orienting and creating a favorable environment.
In-depth seminars, guided by experts, contribute to broadening perspectives on technology trends, public-private cooperation mechanisms, and the need for business model innovation.
Open space connecting knowledge and technology, promoting nationwide startup spirit
The content of TECHFEST 2025 is developed based on two main pillars:
The first pillar is strengthening the ecosystem's connectivity capacity. More than twenty investment connection events, workshops, seminars, and networking activities among businesses, investment funds, institutions, and experts will take place throughout the festival.
The focus on connectivity is considered an important condition to promote the flow of knowledge, capital, and technology, helping startups find suitable partners and market expansion opportunities.
The national innovative startup talent search competition continues to be a highlight, bringing together hundreds of meticulously selected profiles, representing pioneering models in technology application and addressing economic and social challenges.
The second pillar is spreading breakthrough technology through the open experience model at Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street. Technology display and demonstration areas are organized like a laboratory in the heart of the city, where the public can directly interact with products applied with AI, big data, smart agriculture, digital healthcare, life technology devices, or AR/VR solutions.
This experience space aims to inspire innovation and help people access technologies capable of creating change in the next decade.
The choice of the center of Hanoi for the technology demonstration activities shows the orientation to expand the impact of innovation beyond professional frameworks, spreading to the community and increasing public participation.
TECHFEST 2025 is organized with 4 sub-zones representing the ecosystem, including: startup and growth, ecosystem building, breakthrough technology experience, and pre-unicorn - unicorn - technology corporation zone.
Each sub-zone is designed to express the diversity of Vietnam's startup ecosystem, while creating an environment for direct connection among businesses, investors, and research organizations.
The image of Phu Dong (Saint Giong) was chosen as the symbol of TECHFEST 2025, representing the strong breakthrough aspiration of Vietnam's startup ecosystem in the digital era.
This image is placed in the vibrant atmosphere of idea presentation sessions, specialized workshops, and policy orientation activities, contributing to the pioneering spirit and determination to innovate of the startup community.
With the theme "Nationwide Creative Startups," TECHFEST 2025 aims to affirm the role of every individual in the process of forming new values based on knowledge and technology. The event is expected to create a driving force to promote innovative ideas stemming from life's needs, contributing to expanding the foundation for economic development based on science and technology.
TECHFEST 2025 takes place from 12 to 14 December, 2025, at Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street. The event is seen as a convergence point for Vietnam's innovation community, where the startup spirit is widely spread and nurtured by knowledge, technology, and the development aspirations of all people./.
Translated by Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology (VJST - MOST).