Attending the conference, from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology were Deputy Director Tran Trong Tuyen; Head of the Science and Technology Development Division Nguyen Thi Thu Suong; Acting Head of the Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Division Tran Ninh Dong. Also present were representatives from the Southern National Startup Advisory Council, partner enterprises, and the university’s own leadership — Associate Professor Dr. Le Tuan Anh, Secretary of the Party Committee; Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan, Rector; along with faculty, staff, and more than 500 students.
 
The year 2025 and the early months of 2026 marked many outstanding achievements of the University in innovation and student startups activities. The Ministry of Education and Training recognized Thu Dau Mot University as one of the most effective institutions in supporting student startups. University teams earned national accolades, including second prize at the SV_STARTUP 2026 National Startup Day for Students and second prize at the National Architecture Student Festival 2026. Building on these successes, the university has made innovation and student entrepreneurship a cornerstone of its development strategy, refining support mechanisms, expanding creative spaces, and strengthening ties with external resources in line with the national startup ecosystem.
 
In his remarks, Rector Doan Ngoc Xuan stated that on February 25, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 336/QD-TTg approving the "Supporting Students Startups for the 2026–2035 Period” programme. The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in turn, issued an implementation plan focused on linking universities, businesses, and investors while promoting the commercialization of scientific research. Adhering to the national innovative startup ecosystem development, Thu Dau Mot University will concentrate on fostering an entrepreneurial culture, modernizing training through digital transformation, building an open and multi-stakeholder innovation ecosystem, pushing applied research toward market-ready products, and digitizing its startup support activities. “With the continued partnership of government agencies, enterprises, experts, investors, and the wider community, our innovation and startup efforts will grow even stronger. This will help us develop high-quality, dynamic, and creative graduates ready for a rapidly changing world.” emphasized Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan.
 
Truong Thi Thuy Tien, Deputy Director of the university’s Center for Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship, then outlined the 2026 Student Startup Support Program under the theme “Innovative University – Building a Sustainable Startup Ecosystem.” The program’s pillars include startup skills training, support for innovation projects, mentorship and investor connections, intellectual property advice, commercialization of research, and the creation of interdisciplinary creative spaces that respond to real societal needs.
 
A series of in-depth expert presentations delivered by representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology provided many practical perspectives on developing the innovative startup ecosystem in higher education institutions, and updating policies supporting innovative startup activities oriented towards university-business-market linkages. Tran Ninh Dong delivered “Innovation and Startup Support Policies of Ho Chi Minh City,” reviewing resolutions, IP development initiatives, the network of innovation centers, and mechanisms available to startups as the city pushes toward a knowledge-based, digitally transformed economy. Nguyen Thi Thu Suong followed with “Promoting Commercialization of Scientific Research and Forming University Startups,” emphasizing the need to align applied research with market demand, facilitate technology transfer, and build spin-off enterprises. She highlighted R&D support instruments, innovation investment funds, and value-chain linkages that can turn faculty and student ideas into viable products.
 
Showing great interest in startup support policies for students, attendees and students raised many questions related to the mechanisms for supporting startup campus-based projects; eligibility for government and municipal innovation programs, IP registration procedures, pathways to business partnerships, investment, and commercialization of research products. Officials from the department responded directly, offering practical insights into the policies shaping the startup ecosystem for students in this new phase.
 
On this occasion, the university's leadership also commended and rewarded faculties, staff, and students with outstanding achievements in innovation, scientific research, and startup activities in 2025.

Rector Doan Ngoc Xuan spoke at the conference.
 
Deputy Director of the Center for Enterprise Cooperation and Entrepreneurship Truong Thi Thuy Tien outlined the pillars of the 2026 Student Startup Support Program under the theme “Innovative University – Building a Sustainable Startup Ecosystem.”
 
Acting Head of the Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Division Tran Ninh Dong delivered "Innovation and Startup Support Policies of Ho Chi Minh City."
 
Head of the Science and Technology Development Division Nguyen Thi Thu Suong presented " Promoting Commercialization of Scientific Research and Forming University Startups."
 
Students press for details on support mechanisms for campus-based startup projects and eligibility for government and municipal innovation programs.
 
Representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology responded directly, offering practical insights into the mechanisms and policies shaping the startup ecosystem for students.
 
Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan presented flowers to thank the experts and speakers who contributed their practical insights during the programme.
 
Associate Professor Dr. Le Tuan Anh and Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan awarded commendations to outstanding groups in student startup and innovation support work in 2025.
 
Mr. Tran Trong Tuyen and Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan awarded commendations to individuals with outstanding achievements at the final round of SV_Startup 2026.
 
Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan awarded commendations to individuals with outstanding achievements in the TDMU Mentoring Season I.
 
The University awarded commendations to individuals with outstanding achievements in the TDMU Mentoring Season I.
 
Mr. Tran Trong Tuyen and Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan awarded commendations to individuals with outstanding achievements at the National Architecture Student Festival 2026.