VIS 2025 was initiated by InnoLab Asia and co-organized with the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon Businessman Magazine. The event brought together more than 3,000 participants and over 150 speakers from major corporations, investors, international organizations, government agencies, universities, and startups across multiple sectors.

Vietnam is steadily rising as a technology hub. In recent years, the country secured a 250 million USD strategic investment to build an artificial intelligence research and development center. This reflects Vietnam’s ambition to strengthen its position in advanced technologies.

Between November 6 and 7, the summit featured 45 thematic sessions and an exhibition of 100 technology companies and startups. Topics ranged from AI and DeepTech to green transition, public policy, investment, and talent development. VIS 2025 served as both a knowledge-sharing platform and a meeting point for new collaborations.

Business Matching and Showcase: Real connections, practical outcomes

Nearly 300 Business Matching sessions were held, involving 50 companies in logistics, blockchain, renewable energy, technology, innovation, and sustainable manufacturing. These meetings opened pathways for future cooperation and reflected the collaborative spirit that VIS 2025 aimed to encourage.

Within the summit, 10 Memorandums of Understanding were signed between Vietnamese and international partners with a total on-site contract value of more than 120,000 USD. These agreements focused on:

• EdTech platforms for workforce training and development
• Automation and AI solutions to improve efficiency and strengthen operations
• Digital communication and voting platforms for innovation events and awards

The Business Showcase area featured close to 40 startups from Vietnam and abroad, presenting solutions in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, circular economy, fintech, and social commerce.

Strategic vision: Vietnam’s digital economy and semiconductor priorities

Mr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, shared that Vietnam is entering a period often described as the Digital Decade. The government aims for the digital economy to contribute 20 percent of GDP by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.

To maintain growth, Vietnam is focusing on the semiconductor sector, which is essential to modern technology. The National Innovation Center aims to position Vietnam as an important part of the global semiconductor supply chain by 2050 through investments in talent, chip design, and research and development.

Vietnam’s digital economy is projected to grow at an annual rate of 18 to 20 percent between 2025 and 2030, supported by foreign investment and continued progress in 5G and data center infrastructure.

Cross-Border Innovation from ASEAN to Global Scale

Mega Prawita, Managing Director of KUMPUL, represented Indonesia’s innovation ecosystem at VIS 2025. She joined policymakers, founders, and investors who are shaping Vietnam’s fast-growing tech landscape.

In her session titled Cross-Border Innovation: From ASEAN to Global Scale, she highlighted KUMPUL’s role in connecting key stakeholders across the Asia Pacific through initiatives such as Global Market Access and the Connect for Change Summit.

“At KUMPUL, we have seen that connection is what truly drives change. It starts with trust, grows through shared discipline, and continues when we learn from one another. That is how Southeast Asia becomes stronger together.” said Mega Prawita, Managing Director of KUMPUL in her session.

The future of AI and intelligent agents

Mr. Cao Dai An, Head of Solutions and Technology Office for ASEAN and Japan at Hitachi Digital Services, shared his view on the next phase of innovation:

“By 2035, digital systems and AI will be everywhere. With the capabilities of large language models, AI can automate many integration and operational processes inside organizations. The real question is not how many AI agents a company builds, but how well they work together toward one goal. This is how companies improve productivity and create value for their customers.”

Global perspectives on a collaborative ecosystem

Mr. Xu Zhou, Deputy Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted Vietnam’s growing role in the regional innovation network. He said that the summit’s theme, Building Bridges to Innovation and Growth, reflects the core logic of today’s global innovation environment: “Infrastructure is the backbone of innovation, technology is its lifeblood, and the global market is its stage. When these elements work together, they create strong economic momentum.”

He also shared China’s commitment to openness, collaboration, and shared prosperity: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. No country can move forward by standing on its own.”

Closing session: ASEAN as a launchpad to the world

The closing session, titled Cross-Border Innovation: Leveraging ASEAN’s Strengths as a Launchpad to Global Expansion, emphasized ASEAN as a 650 million person market that acts as a natural springboard for startups aiming for global growth.

Speakers from InnoLab Asia, TechShake, KUMPUL, and regional investment funds discussed fundraising, talent mobility, legal frameworks, and cultural differences. They also highlighted the role of organizations that help connect Vietnamese enterprises with the global ecosystem.

Ms. Alexandra Smith, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, shared insights on UK and Vietnam cooperation: “Vietnam can take lessons from London’s experience as a global financial center grounded in transparency and trust. The UK is committed to long-term cooperation with Vietnam to support financial transformation, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

Providing a legal perspective, Mr. Somchai Ratanachueskul from Thailand’s Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court explained: “Innovation does not fail because of mistakes. It fails because of uncertainty. When laws are unclear, ideas slow down. Clear rules give innovators the confidence to turn ideas into value.”

The summit closes, and the work begins

VIS 2025 proved to be more than an event. It became a platform for trust, collaboration, and shared purpose among businesses, policymakers, and investors. Vietnam is entering a new phase built on knowledge, technology, and long-term partnership. Mr. Huynh Cong Thang, Chairman and CEO of InnoLab Asia, said: “VIS is not an event. It is a movement. We are not here to end with applause, but to begin with action.”

Mr. Shun Ono from the Fukuoka Government added: “Fukuoka believes in a future where innovative cities connect as Innovation Ports. VIS 2025 shows that Vietnam is becoming one of these central ports.” From the conversations and connections formed at VIS 2025, a new generation of Vietnamese enterprises is emerging with confidence and creativity. The seeds have been planted, and the next chapter begins. Stay tuned for VIS 2026.

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