On October 3, 2025, Ms. Nguyễn Đặng Tuấn Minh – CEO of KisStartup JSC – delivered a presentation titled “Building and Connecting an Ecosystem for Commercialization,” sharing both international experiences and practical lessons from Vietnam.
In line with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, as well as the National Innovation Day (October 1 each year) under Official Dispatch No. 4652/BKHCN-ĐMST dated September 14, 2025 from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) organized the conference “Promoting Innovation and Technology Commercialization: Connecting Institutes – Universities – Enterprises for Sustainable Development.”
Open Innovation Model: Lessons from Collaboration with Mitsui Chemicals
Ms. Tuấn Minh introduced the Open Innovation model that KisStartup has co-implemented with Mitsui Chemicals (Japan) in Vietnam. A key feature of this model is that the corporation publicly discloses its core technologies—ranging from thermoplastic resins resistant to abrasion, staining, and gas permeability/barrier, to polyolefin additives such as slip agents and viscosity control materials—and calls for co-invention and new applications.
Instead of merely seeking “customers,” Mitsui Chemicals seeks technology partners to jointly turn technology into market-ready products and solutions.
This creates a trust-based and transparent mechanism, ensuring that scientists and startups no longer fear their “ideas being taken,” but rather see real opportunities to engage in long-term collaboration with a major corporation.
Impact and Opportunities for Collaboration
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For Mitsui Chemicals: expands innovation space, identifies new applications for existing technologies, and connects directly with practical needs in Vietnam.
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For scientists and startups: access to cutting-edge global technologies, opportunities for co-creation, testing, and commercialization within a large corporate environment.
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For Vietnamese enterprises: reduced R&D costs, access to suitable solutions, and opportunities to enter global supply chains
SME Needs: The R&D Outsourcing Model
Ms. Tuấn Minh also emphasized the urgent needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of the dual transition—digitalization and greening. One practical solution is the R&D outsourcing model:
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Enables SMEs to access multi-disciplinary expertise and advanced technologies not readily available in-house.
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Reduces costs for infrastructure, equipment, and internal staff.
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Accelerates product development and shortens time-to-market.
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Provides flexibility when R&D needs change, minimizing risks of long-term investments.
Commercialization Hub: KisStartup’s Open Incubator
To make this concrete, KisStartup is establishing a commercialization hub within its current network, functioning as an “open commercialization incubator”:
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Collect issues and needs from enterprises.
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Connect with ready-to-transfer technologies.
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Support testing, validation, and refinement.
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Deliver practical solutions for enterprises, market outputs for scientists, and sustainable products for communities.
This approach has already been tested in KisStartup’s programs such as IDAP (Inclusive Digital Acceleration Program) and LIF Global, serving not only digital transformation but also as a launchpad for impactful technology commercialization.
The process is implemented in an iterative loop: Problem Identification → Experimentation → Adjustment → Commercialization, engaging multiple stakeholders: institutes, universities, enterprises, and startups.
Conclusion
The CEO of KisStartup underscored the critical role of connecting the technology commercialization ecosystem in advancing the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW and in celebrating the National Innovation Day.
When institutes – universities – enterprises – startups collaborate within a transparent and trust-based framework, Vietnam can leverage cutting-edge global technologies, address real-world challenges, and simultaneously create sustainable products and solutions—ultimately strengthening national innovation capacity.
