The new headquarters of the National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment is scheduled to open on October 28 at Hanoi’s Hi-Tech Park, about 30 km from the city center, after nearly three years of construction.

With investment estimated at nearly VND1 trillion ($41 million), the new headquarters will create the necessary conditions for the NIC’s activities and attract foreign technology investors, thus boosting Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.

According to NIC Director Vu Quoc Huy, the main objective of the center is to help innovation startups with researching and developing technology and training human resources and in creating links in investment and technology. He emphasized that its goal is to promote economic growth on the basis of science, technology, and innovation.

With its new headquarters, the NIC will become Vietnam’s largest and most modern innovation center and attract innovation startups and big technology groups, both domestic and international, while providing facilities for R&D activities, workplaces, and experimental spaces of international standard.

When put into operation, the NIC will focus on eight prioritized research sectors: smart factories, smart cities, digital content, cyber security, environment technology, health technology, semiconductor technology, and hydrogen technology, according to Mr. Huy.

The Vietnam International Innovation Expo 2023 (VIIE 2023) is scheduled to be held at the new NIC headquarters from October 28 to November 1 to mark its launch.