The announcement ceremony of the "Inno Vietnam - Japan Fast Track Pitch 2023" program.

"Inno Vietnam - Japan Fast Track Pitch 2023" aims to connect major corporations and businesses in Vietnam and Japan with innovative startups and technology-driven enterprises in Japan and the Southeast Asia region.

On August 29, 2023, the National Innovation Center (NIC) collaborated with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam to jointly announce the program "Inno Vietnam - Japan Fast Track Pitch 2023."

This program, held for the first time in Vietnam, is expected to become an annual event as part of the cooperation between the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) of Vietnam and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan, marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam - Japan friendship and cooperation.

Connecting major corporation of Vietnam - Japan with startup, innovative enterprises

The program aims to foster collaboration between companies with challenges and those proposing solutions to promote the exchange of knowledge and enhance the effective application of achievements from the Fourth Industrial Revolution and innovation activities open in Vietnam.

It is also a great opportunity for innovative companies and startups to showcase their products and solutions to potential large clients. Particularly outstanding products and solutions will have the chance to receive support and future investment from challenge-owning companies, with the goal of expanding into global markets and participating in the global value chain.

The program is expected to become an annual event.

Program Challenge Statements

This year's program involves the participation of six major corporations and companies with challenges. The organizers have worked with these entities to present intriguing challenge statements that attract not only the interest of challenge-owning companies but also the general public. VinGroup, a diversified conglomerate in Vietnam, has issued a challenge related to "Optimizing the value of used/expired electric vehicle batteries in the circular economy."

Mobile Services Corporation, a company operating in the financial technology sector, known for its mobile payment application MoMo wallet, has put forth a challenge related to "Promoting comprehensive finance for Vietnamese individuals."

Another challenge-owning company from Vietnam is FPT IS. The corporation has presented two challenges related to "Cross-border carbon credit management and trading platform" and "AI-powered virtual assistant for legal information retrieval across various sectors."

Representatives from FPT IS introducing the company's challenges.

From Japan, the Tokyu Group wishes for proposed solutions from innovative and startup companies to address the issue of "Developing a sustainable urban area, TOKYU Garden City, to create the best place to live, work, and visit in Vietnam, guided by the philosophy 'Always NEW!'."

Money Forward, Japan's largest financial technology corporation, has challenge statements revolving around "Collaboration and expansion to rationalize B2B SaaS or Fintech solutions."

Lastly, the Fujikin Da Nang Research, Development, and Production Center, as a challenge-owning company, has presented a challenge related to "Developing software utilizing AI technology."

"Inno Vietnam - Japan Fast Track Pitch 2023" is a program within the framework of the "ASEAN - Japan Co-Creation Fast Track Initiative," which has been successfully organized in Singapore and Thailand and is upcoming in Indonesia.