To stimulate the startup and creative ecosystem, create momentum for Binh Duong smart city

In 2020, Binh Duong province continues to enhance the development of innovative ecosystem to create a strong wave of entrepreneurship. This is one of the important foundation to build a smart city in the spirit of Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of the Politburo. Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Mai Hùng Dũng, Member of Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, about this issue.

Students' Robocon competition in Binh Duong province is hosted by Vietnam Germany University.

- Sir, in 2019, Binh Duong province continued to gain successes in the international arena, such as being recognized by the World Smart Community Forum (ICF) as one of the 21 cities having world-class smart city development strategies in 2020, Binh Duong became a member of World Trade Center Association... What are the significance of these events to create a breakthrough development for the province in 2020 and the next years?

- These events once again affirmed the province's direction of smart city to be correct, effective, and in line with the world trend, and also proved the new position of Binh Duong in the international arena. In addition, these events continued to open up opportunities for socio-economic cooperation and business exchange with ICF's network of more than 180 smart cities prospering around the world. This milestone also strengthened confidence of investors and businesses; is a premise for Binh Duong to continue to make a breakthrough in attracting foreign investment, intellectual labor and institutions in the world; is the foundation for developing high-tech serviced and productions in the future.

- The development of creative startup ecosystem to create a strong wave of entrepreneurship is one of the important prerequisites to build a smart city. So what are the specific activities of the province in facilitating the startup and creative ecosystem?

- To promote innovation in the community, support startups, encourage entrepreneurship, build a good business environment for new businesses, expand the connection of existing businesses, these are the top goal of the Smart city project, and in the list of 12 key clusters of projects.

The province is now gradually implementing startup supporting policy that were compiled and approved in 2019. Provincial Center for Community Initiatives and Startup Support will also be officially put into operation in 2020. This will be a common home for linking startups, new initiatives, connecting with institutes, schools, nurseries, etc. In 2020, the province will conduct research and tests of domestic and national models, collaborate with appropriate organizations to operate the center effectively.

Meanwhile, Becamex Business Incubator at Eastern International University has been operating successfully for the past 2 years, this year will continue to enhance the attraction of startups and investors. on the other hand, Thu Dau Mot University this year will also complete a students' start-up support network, start-up playground, and idea incubation from scientific research projects.

The province also supports provincial universities and colleges to set up fablabs and techlabs, laboratories 4.0 etc. so that new ideas can be tested and advance towards a business incubation. Additionally, the province continues to promote the connection of Triple Helix model (State - Universities - Enterprises), while organizes science and technology creativity competitions, start-up competitions to find good, practical ideas.

In particular, Becamex Corporation signed a contract with National University of Singapore so that in 2020, to put into practice Block71 building - a successful model to promote startups of National University of Singapore and being replicated in many countries. The province will also continue to develop the first Back-end semiconductor factory; this is a good example to attract high-tech investors into the province.

- Could you tell us, in 2020, what are key activities to gradually create a foundation for smart city building of Binh Duong?

- The 2020 plan is prepared and assigned fully and in detail, with the participation of 23 units, departments, branches, institutes, schools and businesses in the province. After many meetings, the Smart City Steering Committee decided to focus on 12 key project clusters, including participating in competitions and activities of ICF to gradually raise the status of Binh Duong, strive to be in  the top list of cities having outstanding smart city development strategy in the world by 2020; developing high-quality human resources, creativity environment, enhancing science and technology, practical applications in all levels; encouraging innovation in the community, support startups, entrepreneurship, building a good business environment for new businesses, expand the connection of existing businesses. In parallel, the smart production and scientific and technological industrial parks; development of scientific and technological industrial parks is one of the key and spearhead projects to create a breakthrough for forming an innovative ecosystem to attract production investment with high added values, facilitating regional strategic industries and supporting scientific and technological research, start-up, attracting technological companies; building smart supply chain and logistics ecosystems; attracting domestic and foreign enterprises and institutes, paying special attention to advanced information technology, communication, investing in research, test and pilot of new projects, actively cooperating in provincial projects, accelerating the construction of intelligent digital technology system, e-government, shared databases, especially broad-bandwidth infrastructure.

To continue building database system, e-government, administrative reform and public services, applying information technology into management, especially to assist people; continue to develop step by step the Smart City Operating Center connected to the shared database, starting with hotline 1022 inaugurated in 2019. This is the focal point to receive and promptly respond to information to people through many channels and means; developing LED lighting projects to districts, towns and cities in the province, as well as using LED lights to create aesthetic effects; performing communication and promotion of Smart City project and some specific projects, such as multimedia communication, focusing on specific messages having deep meaning than promotional messages; attaching importance to conveying messages to every citizen, enterprise and step by step internationally.

To organize major world-class events into a series of smart city events to coordinate resources, enhance synchronization to bring great, practical effects in terms of branding and investment attraction for the province, exchange of experience, technologies, human resource; develop sustainable development programs (clean energy, environmental protection, waste treatment, information disclosure to the people...), creating a good living environment for people, attracting foreign professionals and experts into Binh Duong to live and work, creating an image of smart, green, clean Binh Duong .

- Thank you Sir!

Reported by Tieu My - Translated by Ngoc Huynh