Shifting the focus from scale to practical outcomes
At the current stage, Vietnam’s innovation startup activities are gradually shifting from expanding the number of participating organizations and activities toward greater emphasis on quality, applicability and the tangible outcomes generated through support programs. Against this backdrop, TECHFEST Vietnam 2026 is being developed with renewed content and an updated organizational approach. Rather than focusing solely on product showcases or networking opportunities, the event aims to bring practical needs and challenges from ministries, sectors, local authorities and enterprises closer to organizations capable of providing appropriate technologies, solutions, capital and implementation capacity. This approach is intended to create conditions for startup products and solutions to be tested, applied and further refined in real-world settings, while enabling enterprises to connect with suitable partners, investors and markets at different stages of their development. Each group of stakeholders within the ecosystem will have a specific role. Ministries, sectors and local authorities will identify needs, practical challenges and implementation conditions; research institutes and universities will contribute technologies, knowledge and human resources; enterprises, investment funds, financial institutions and support organizations will provide market access, capital and development experience. Innovation-driven startups will directly develop products and bring solutions into practical application.
An open-space format bringing TECHFEST closer to the community
Building on the results of the 2025 edition, TECHFEST Vietnam 2026 will continue to be held in Hanoi under an open-space format, with the main event area centered around Hoan Kiem Lake and the pedestrian streets. The use of public spaces will enable TECHFEST activities to reach a broader audience, including residents, enterprises and the wider community. Instead of being limited to convention centers, a number of exhibitions, technology demonstrations and product showcases will take place in spaces closely connected with urban life. This format also allows professional sessions, exchanges and networking activities to be arranged flexibly across various venues in the city center, creating more opportunities for direct interaction among enterprises, investors, experts and participants.
A series of activities focusing on technology, investment and markets
As part of TECHFEST Vietnam 2026, the Opening Ceremony is expected to be held outdoors, allowing the public and the startup community to take part in and access event activities directly in the central event area. The High-Level Policy Forum will focus on the implementation of mechanisms and policies related to venture capital and support for innovation startups. Discussions will review the practical effectiveness of existing policies, share implementation experience, and examine public-private partnership models for mobilizing resources for startup enterprises. Another key activity will be the Final Round of the National Innovative Startup Talent Competition. Finalist teams will present their projects, products and business models before expert panels, investment funds and investors. Pitching sessions will be combined with direct networking activities to facilitate further discussions and potential cooperation after the competition. In parallel, the innovation startup product and service exhibition will be organized by sector. Selected technology products and solutions are expected to be demonstrated on site, including those in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, agricultural technology and digital solutions. The exhibition will also include dedicated areas for provinces and cities to introduce representative local startup products and models. This will provide local innovation ecosystems with additional opportunities to connect with enterprises, investors and partners beyond their respective localities. Alongside activities in the central event area, a series of conferences and thematic seminars will address issues of interest to the startup community, including the venture capital market, technology transfer, digital transformation, green transformation and the development of technology enterprises. Some thematic sessions are expected to be held at hotels, innovation spaces, cafés and other suitable venues, creating a flexible environment for in-depth exchanges and direct meetings.
TECHFEST Vietnam 2026 is designed not only to increase the number of activities or participants, but also to generate outcomes that can continue to develop after the event concludes. Through TECHFEST activities, technology needs can be introduced to enterprises capable of providing suitable solutions; startups can gain additional opportunities to access investors and markets; research institutes and universities can bring research results closer to enterprises; and local authorities can identify potential solutions to specific development challenges. At the same time, the event will continue to expand cooperation with experts, enterprises, investment funds and international partners, thereby supporting Vietnamese innovation startups in accessing additional resources, experience and markets. With this organizational approach, TECHFEST Vietnam 2026 aims to serve as a shared working platform for stakeholders across the ecosystem, where ideas, technologies and practical needs can meet and develop into concrete cooperation opportunities.
