On April 1, 2026, the Hai Phong City People's Committee officially issued Decision No. 1282/QD-UBND approving the Project "Building and developing startup, innovation, and artificial intelligence zones and centers in Hai Phong". This is regarded as a strategic move and a powerful "push" to realize the goal of turning Hai Phong into a leading center for industry, logistics services, and innovation in the Northern Coastal region and the entire country.
Strategic Vision in the Digital and Artificial Intelligence Era
The approval of this Project takes place as the Fourth Industrial Revolution fundamentally transforms global socio-economic foundations. Artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor circuits are currently evaluated as the "heart" of this change. According to national strategies, Vietnam aims to become a center for innovation and the development of AI solutions within the ASEAN region and the world by 2030. For Hai Phong, this is not only a modern requirement but also a concretization of important Politburo resolutions, particularly Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW on building and developing Hai Phong city until 2030, with a vision to 2045. The city identifies innovation and AI as core drivers to shift the growth model from width to depth, improving labor productivity and competitiveness.
Context and Reality: Ambition from a Solid Foundation
Hai Phong enters this journey from an impressive economic position. In 2025, the city reaffirmed its leading position by maintaining double-digit GRDP growth for 11 consecutive years, reaching 11.81%. Following the merger of administrative boundaries, the city's economic scale reached approximately 29.4 billion USD, accompanied by record FDI attraction of nearly 2.88 billion USD. Although there have been long strides in building a startup ecosystem (ranking in the top 5 nationwide), the reality in Hai Phong still reveals bottlenecks. The system of facilities and supporting resources remains limited, and there is a lack of specialized concentrated zones for core technologies like AI and semiconductors. Specialized human resources in these fields are also very thin in both quantity and quality. Therefore, building nuclear zones and centers is an urgent requirement to gather resources and lead the development of the entire region.
The "1 Center - 1 Nuclear Zone - 1 Satellite Network" Model
The core of the Project is a primary innovation infrastructure structure following an integrated model to ensure consistency and professionalism:
- The Nucleus Center: This is built by upgrading the capacity of the City Center for Innovation and Scientific and Technological Application. It will serve as the "brain" for policy coordination, startup incubation, connecting ecosystem components, and piloting new mechanisms (sandboxes). For the 2026-2035 period, the city plans to invest approximately 210 billion VND to modernize this center.
- The Nuclear Zone - Science and Innovation Park: This is a physical space concentrated on R&D, testing, and modern technology demonstrations. The park will include specialized sub-zones for AI, digital technology, maritime technology, and semiconductors. With an expected total investment of up to 1,000 billion VND, this area is oriented to link closely with industrial parks and economic zones to promote the value chain from research to production and commercialization.
- Satellite Center Network: These will be formed at local universities and colleges, such as the centers already established at Hai Phong University and Hai Phong University of Management and Technology (HPU). These satellites serve to incubate ideas from students and lecturers and train high-quality human resources on-site.
Focus Areas: Leveraging "Gateway" and "Maritime" Advantages
Hai Phong is not investing broadly but focusing on fields with superior comparative advantages. The Project identifies five main pillars:
- AI and Data Science: Applications in logistics, smart seaports, manufacturing, and urban management.
- Logistics and Smart Marine Economy: Utilizing digital technology, IoT, and blockchain for green ports and global supply chains.
- Manufacturing and Smart Production: Focusing on automation, robotics, and AI-based predictive maintenance.
- Enterprise Digital Transformation: Developing big data platforms and cybersecurity.
- Environmental Technology and Green Energy: Aiming toward a circular economy and sustainable development.
Lessons from Global and Domestic "Silicon Valleys"
Hai Phong's Project was built by absorbing the quintessence of successful models. From Silicon Valley (USA), Hai Phong learned the lesson of building a culture of risk acceptance and the connection between leading universities (such as Stanford) and businesses. From Singapore, the city inherited the model of operating concentrated technology "Blocks" specialized by field. Domestically, experiences from the National Innovation Center (NIC) and Hoa Lac High-Tech Park in Hanoi provided lessons on "green lane" administrative privileges and superior tax incentives to attract large corporations. Meanwhile, the "SIHUB" model in Ho Chi Minh City is evidence of the effectiveness of building a "common house" for the startup community linked to universities.
Breakthrough Mechanisms and Talent Attraction Policies
To ensure the centers are more than just infrastructure "shells," Hai Phong proposes groups of institutional and specific mechanism solutions:
- "Sandbox" Mechanism: Allowing controlled testing of new technologies and business models in AI and digital technology.
- Financial Incentives: Corporate income tax exemptions or reductions and funding support for infrastructure rental for startups headquartered in the city.
- "Digital Talent Attraction" Strategy: Applying special housing and visa policies for international experts working at the Science Park.
- Venture Capital Fund: Establishing a city-level fund to provide capital for breakthrough ideas, shifting the mindset from management to creation and sharing the risks of startups.
Implementation Roadmap and Future Expectations
The Project is divided into distinct stages from now until 2035. The 2026-2027 phase will focus on completing investment procedures and land planning for the Science Park. From 2027-2030, priority technical infrastructure items will be built to soon form the physical space for innovation activities. With the determined involvement of the entire political system, from the Department of Science and Technology (the focal point) to related departments like Finance, Construction, and Foreign Affairs, Hai Phong expects to create a synchronized ecosystem. This will be the foundation for the city to not only maintain economic growth but also transform into a "nucleus" leading the scientific and technological development of the Red River Delta, affirming its position as an international city and an international center for maritime research.
The Project to build and develop startup, innovation, and AI zones and centers is a "manifesto" for Hai Phong's future. Once the walls separating schools, the state, and businesses are removed, and modern creative spaces are filled with experts and scientists, Hai Phong will surely shine as a symbol of creativity and prosperity in the era of artificial intelligence.