Vietnam has in recent years focused on the development of high
technology business incubators (HTBIs) and recorded initial
achievements, the Vietnam Economic News reported on August 18.
The
HTBI is an organisation that links centres, research institutes,
universities with groups and individuals in an effort to create a
business start-up environment in a certain time to help new
entrepreneurs overcome the initial difficulties and develop.
In other words, the HTBI provides services and facilities necessary
to support start-up business from idea shaping to development into
successful businesses. The HTBI concept is becoming increasingly popular
in both developed and developing countries.
Dr. Nguyen Hai An,
Director of Agricultural High Technology Business Incubation Centre
under the Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Board of Agricultural High
Technology said prior to 2003, Vietnam did not have any HTBI. To date,
it has recorded 11 HTBIs, including five in the north and six in the
south, incubating more than 30 businesses.
According to the
Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Agency for Technology
Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development, the incubated high
technology businesses have achieved some initial successes, with the
annual sales ranging from 1 to 150 billion VND.
According to Dr.
Mai Thanh Phong, Director of the High Technology Business Incubation
Centre under the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, the
Government should have incentives for high technology business
incubation establishments and incubated businesses such as long-term
stable funding or preferential loans to carry out incubation, production
and product testing, as well as favourable conditions to attract
international donors and non-governmental organisations. Meanwhile, high
technology business incubation establishments should strengthen mutual
linkages.-VNA