(MPI) – Deputy Minister (DM) Tran Duy Dong held a video conference with Mr. Nguyen Vu Tung, Vietnamese Ambassador in South Korea on the establishment of Vietnam National Innovation Network in the Republic of Korea (VINK) in the afternoon of July 27th, 2021. The webinar also connected with the Vietnam Innovation networks in Japan and Australia.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: MPI

Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP dated April 17th, 2021 of the Government has promulgated the Government’s action program to implement the Politburo’s Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW on September 27th, 2019, on a number of undertakings and policies for proactive participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was assigned to develop the global Vietnam Innovation Network. This network is an intiative proposed and established by the MPI in 2018.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Phuoc, Leader of the Foundation of VINK said at the meeting that VINK, with a goal to follow NIC, had a specific vision and mission in accordance with the relationship of Vietnam and South Korea, with a mission to become an important organization in the global innovation network and to enhance, connect,  share and comprehensively cooperate to increase the importance of NIC in particular and the Vietnam innovation ecosystem in general.

Being the important bridge to promote connection and cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea on the basis of innovation platform exchange, VINK consists of three main deparments: Department of Experts, Department of Business and Department of Hi-tech Agriculture, aiming to connect experts, scientific advisors and technology experts; connect businesses, consult enterprises and support start-ups; connect science/business and consult on hi-tech agriculture.

Regarding the implementation activities, Mr. Nguyen Quang Phuoc said that in 2021, the Network will work together to organize its launching ceremony at the 7th Science and Technology Student Association event on July 31st, 2021 sponsored by the Vietnam Embassy in South Korea.

VINK plans to organize five online webinars from August to December 2021 with the following topics: The role of the Vietnamese community in South Korea in the Vietnam-South Korea relationship; Introducing investment funds for start-ups; The process of establishment and calling for investment capital of start-ups in South Korea; Sharing experiences and difficulties in business activities of industrial enterprises in South Korea; Blockchain’s smart contracts: boosting automation in the digital economy.

At the webinar, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Counselor of the Vietnam Embassy in Japan, Mr. Cao Minh Viet, Advisor of Vietnam – Japan Open Innovation Network (VJON); Chairman of Vietnam Innovation Network in Japan; and Chairman of Vietnam Innovation Network in Australia had shared about the establishment and operation of the Vietnamese innovation network in Japan, Australia and wished to connect Vietnamese innovation networks globally.

Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of NIC, a unit of the MPI, said that to perform tasks assigned by the Minister of Planning and Investment, NIC had deployed to connect individuals who were experts, intellectuals working and researching in South Korea on the development of Component Network in South Korea. It would be the focal point to promote innovation activities in the Vietnamese community in particular, and innovation connection between Vietnam and South Korea in general. On that basis, representatives of experts and intellectuals shared comments and agreed to implement the establishment of the Vietnam Innovation Network in South Korea with the initial core of 16 members. Once established, the Network will be a component network of the Vietnam Innovation Network and continue to increase, expand and develop its membership in South Korea. NIC will support and coordinate to implement activities within its assigned functions and tasks.

NIC agreed with the vision and mission of VINK and had sent a document to the Network about supporting and sponsoring the Network's activities in the coming time. NIC will connect and cooperate with VINK, as well as Vietnam Innovation Network in other countries, especially innovation experts to jointly implement activities within the framework of projects that NIC is performing. 

Vietnamese Ambassador in South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung. Photo: MPI

Mr. Nguyen Vu Tung, Vietnamese Ambassador in South Korea, on behalf of Vietnam Embassy, congratulated VINK for its establishment and said that VINK was a group for young Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists in South Korea and it would be an active member of Vietnam Innovation Network globally. Representing the Embassy, Mr. Nguyen Vu Tung affirmed their support, companion and sponsorship with VINK activities. This is a task that the State and Government have assigned to the MPI to chair and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology. They will support and closely cooperate to implement this national-level project through their help for VINK in South Korea. The establishment of VINK is an important first step, and the Embassy will accompany VINK in the coming time with a very specific and clear program.

DM Tran Duy Dong had his speech. Photo: MPI

DM Tran Duy Dong congratulated VINK for its establishment and highly appreciated 16 young Vietnamese intellectuals and entrepreneurs for establishing the Network and paid his respect to the support, guidance of the Vietnam Embassy in South Korea. He also believed that VINK would develop quickly, connecting Korean intellectuals and businesses to fulfill the determined mission and vision in the coming time. 

The MPI commits to closely coordinating with the Vietnam Embasssy in South Korea and supporting VINK’s recommendations. The Ministry will participate in the launching ceremony in the 7th Science and Technology Student Association event on July 31st, 2021 and continute to sponsor employees, and they especially will provide specific projects for each network. 

DM Tran Duy Dong thanked the Vietnam Embassy in South Korea and the its Ambassador for assisting the establishment of VINK and supporting its development. He agreed with the Ambassador that this was the first step and we need to multiply the participating members and diversify activities to connect, share and establish a network of knowledge./.

Ministry of Planning and Investment