For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City organized the search and incubation of innovative and applied startup projects to improve management capacity in the public sector.
The first program to find innovative solutions in the public sector 2024 (Gov.Star) was announced by the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City on April 3. The program’s objective is to find innovative models and solutions applying technology and digital transformation to help solve problems in managing public affairs activities in departments (Department of Education and Training, Department of Health) and People’s Committees of districts, wards and communes in Ho Chi Minh City.
Gov.Star is designed for individuals, project groups, and businesses with innovative solutions that can be applied to the management and administration of public affairs activities at state management agencies. , schools, hospitals… Selected models and solutions will receive financial support and incubation to complete and introduce to departments and localities for practical pilot implementation.
District 1 People’s Committee piloted the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) for granting business household registration licenses, temporary sidewalk use registration… launched in March 2023. Image: Ha An
According to Ms. Dang Thi Luan, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City (Sihub), among the 6 evaluation criteria, the Organizing Committee will focus on projects with high applicability and practical implementation capacity of the project team, in addition to criteria on technology application, creativity, economic efficiency or social impact…Council Project selection is technology experts and investors; Representatives of departments, wards and communes are beneficiaries of the project team’s solutions.
The selection process includes four phases implemented this year. Projects participating in the preliminary round will introduce products and solutions to the selection committee. In this round, the project participated in training in presentation skills and persuading the council. 30 projects pass the preliminary round and continue to the competition round with 15 minutes of presentation to select 12 projects to enter the incubation round. When participating in incubating projects, you have the opportunity to receive a maximum support package of 400 million VND.
Project teams are trained and advised, and supported to connect with state management agencies to survey and interview to understand needs to help perfect technology solutions and business models.
At the Demo Day round, projects were further enhanced to connect with beneficiary units as a basis for actual implementation. Participating organizations and individuals can register through two focal points of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology: Sihub and the Intellectual Property – Innovation Management Department.
Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Viet Dung assessed that the focus of the program is not what technology to use but how to use technology to solve specific problems for departments and localities. This is considered an opportunity for some businesses that already have technology solutions, but have not found a specific market. When participating in the program, businesses continue to improve technology with the goal of solving problems the public sector needs.
He said the Department will “create all conditions for project teams to reach maximum customers such as departments and districts to put it into practical application”. The project, when successfully implemented in one ward or commune, will have great potential to be implemented in many other wards in Ho Chi Minh City.