Uniting Innovators Across Vietnam to Build the Next Megacity Innovation Ecosystem
With the ambition to foster collaboration, attract high-quality resources, and catalyze intellectual contributions toward building a future-ready megacity innovation ecosystem, Design Thinking Village hosted the virtual event “KICK OFF 2024 – INNOVATION TALK” on January 3rd, 2024 via Zoom.
The event drew nearly 100 participants from 18 provinces and cities across Vietnam, including representatives from government agencies, universities, enterprises, startup incubation centers, and leaders of Techfest’s national technology villages. Provinces represented included Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Da Nang, Hue, and Long An, all of which are key components of Vietnam’s emerging megacity regions.
Mr. Pham Hong Quat – Director General of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (NATEC), and Member of the Steering Committee of Project 844 TECHFEST Vietnam – shared that Design Thinking Village is one of the most active Villages with many new initiatives contributing to the overall development of the ecosystem; Mr. Le Toan Thang – Deputy Director of the National Startup Support Center (NSSC) – announced that TECHFEST Vietnam 2024 will focus on depth with concrete projects, aiming to attract investment resources from both domestic and international communities.
7 Flagship Projects to Accelerate Innovation in Urban Transformation
During the event, Design Thinking Village introduced seven key projects and strategic initiatives, calling for participation from the broader innovation community. These projects are designed to address critical challenges that arise in rapidly growing urban environments, particularly in the context of future megacities:
Strengthening human connection in a digital world
Building a culture of innovation across sectors
Developing hands-on creative spaces for urban practitioners
Applying design thinking to organizational innovation
Creating new growth opportunities for local enterprises
Facilitating stronger investment pipelines
Incubating solutions for megacity-level challenges such as infrastructure strain, urban sustainability, and inclusive growth
Each project invites individuals and organizations to participate as co-creators — building not just solutions, but an entire innovation ecosystem at scale.
Spotlight: The “Innovation Talent 2024” Competition
One of the most highly anticipated initiatives introduced during the event is the Innovation Talent 2024 competition — a first-of-its-kind program designed to identify visionary individuals who can tackle complex social challenges while elevating local advantages within Vietnam’s urban growth corridors.
The competition targets founders, CEOs, and community leaders with experience in market development, organizational leadership, and social impact. More than just technical skills, the competition values purpose-driven leadership — people who act from a place of gratitude, patriotism, and love for community.
Techfest Village Leaders from left to right: Mr. Ly Dinh Quan – Head of the Culinary & Tourism Technology Village; Ms. Duong Tuong Nhi – Head of the Design Thinking Village; Mr. Vu Viet Anh – Head of the Martech Village; Ms. Le Thanh Tam – Head of the Student Innovation Village; Mr. Le Toan Thang – Deputy Director of the National Startup Support Center (NSSC); Mr. Lam Quang Tung – Head of the Entertainment and Media Technology Village.
Toward a National Innovation Network for the Megacity Era
At the heart of Design Thinking Village’s 2024 roadmap is the formation of the Vietnam Innovators Network — a platform to bring together elite minds, pioneering talent, and committed changemakers with a “dare-to-think, dare-to-do” spirit.
The goal is to co-create scalable startups, attract investment into strategic sectors, and empower communities to solve real-world problems — positioning Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem to contribute meaningfully to the future megacity landscape of Southeast Asia.
Kickoff 2024: Laying the Foundation for Collective Growth
Beyond project announcements, the KICK OFF 2024 event served as a catalyst for connection — where entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and tech leaders came together to form relationships that will drive long-term, mutual growth.
As Vietnam prepares for its megacity future, events like these serve as essential touchpoints that align shared values with scalable action.
