Da Nang enters global top 1,000 startup ecosystems for the first time
DNO - Da Nang has made its debut in the world’s Top 1,000 startup ecosystems, marking a milestone in the city’s accelerating innovation agenda, according to StartupBlink’s 2024 global ranking.
The city ranked 766th, climbing 130 places from last year, a notable indicator of its growing ecosystem maturity.
The achievement was highlighted at a conference reviewing the 2022 - 2025 implementation of the national startup ecosystem support scheme held by Da Nang’s Department of Science and Technology on November 26.
Da Nang’s rising presence on regional and global startup maps reflects both technological progress and an expanding capacity for innovation.
This year, the city was also named “Vietnam’s fastest-growing startup ecosystem,” underscoring the ambition and commitment of its local startup community.
Effective coordination between relevant agencies, universities, research institutes, and support organizations has strengthened in recent years.
Outstandingly, the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology serves as a focal point connecting stakeholders, while universities and research centres have expanded creative spaces, incubation programmes, and technology-transfer activities.
Startup support organisations and incubators guide early-stage firms through ideation, product development, and market access.
As it moves into a new phase of development, Da Nang is implementing the ‘Da Nang - Innovation City’ project, aiming to become an internationally recognized innovation and startup hub in line with national guidelines.
Between 2022 and 2025, the city’s ecosystem expanded strongly under municipal leadership and cross-sector coordination. Today, Da Nang hosts three startup support centers, 12 incubators, eight co-working spaces, three makerspaces, and dozens of university startup clubs.
Around 200 innovative startups are active, while roughly 50 innovation events are held annually, fostering networking and community engagement.
Targeted policies, ranging from tax incentives for innovative firms to controlled sandbox testing for emerging technologies and infrastructure support for AI and semiconductor companies, have attracted deep-tech enterprises.
Direct support has also delivered results as 32 startups received assistance totaling over VND6.1 billion (about US$230,000), and incubation programs helped develop 189 projects, resulting in 83 new businesses.
Da Nang’s rise reflects a deliberate strategy to create a dynamic, sustainable ecosystem capable of integrating with global innovation trends and attracting investment, positioning the city as a new hub for creative and technology-driven enterprises.