The Lab2Market initiative, pioneered by InnoEx, aims to break the mold of traditional research, where inventions often take years to reach end-users. Instead, market insights are brought directly into labs, and research knowledge is fast-tracked for commercialization. This approach aligns with Vietnam’s push to foster an innovative ecosystem, closely linking research, training, and application.
According to the speakers, innovation is not just about economic profits but also carries a social mission: addressing community challenges, improving quality of life, and laying the foundation for future knowledge.
Prof. Duong Nguyen Vu, Vice President of VinUniversity, emphasized, “Not all inventions can or need to be commercialized immediately. The core value of research is to create new knowledge – the basis for future inventions. Innovation is not just about making money but about bringing positive change to society.”
Prof. Duong Nguyen Vu, Vice President of VinUniversity.
Experience from advanced countries shows that only through strong collaboration between universities, businesses, and the government can research truly step out of the lab. This “triangle cooperation” model shortens the distance from research to application and creates an environment for scientific achievements to become economically and socially valuable products. Thus, within the InnoEx framework, the organizers announced strategic cooperation agreements with many large universities and research institutes nationwide.
Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Head of the InnoEx Organizing Committee, affirmed, “Lab2Market is a new mechanism that brings effective co-creation between research, training, and practical application, bringing Vietnam closer to the era of sustainable innovation.”
Intellectual Property – The Foundation for Commercialization and Integration
Alongside the Lab2Market story, intellectual property (IP) emerges as an indispensable foundation for protecting and exploiting research value.
In the knowledge economy, IP is the “fuel” for innovation, a tool that helps businesses gain a competitive edge and assert their position in the international market. Mr. Sudeepto Roy, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm, stated, “All economies go through four stages of development – consumption, production, design, and innovation. Only by mastering and protecting intellectual property can a nation break through.”
Mr. Sudeepto Roy, Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm.
The reality in Vietnam has provided clear evidence. Dr. Nguyen Thanh My, Chairman of RYNAN Technology Vietnam, shared that with just two patents licensed to a Chinese company, he earned nearly $300 million. From this experience, he emphasized, “The best way to monopolize a product is through IP. Without IP, it is difficult for businesses to enter the international market.”
However, many creative technologies in the country have not been effectively exploited, leading to a waste of resources and missed global competitive opportunities.
To support the startup ecosystem, Qualcomm has announced the “Learn to Protect Vietnam” program – a free online course on the four types of intellectual property: patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Expected to launch in October 2025 in both Vietnamese and English, the program aims to provide basic knowledge to businesses and creators, thereby enhancing integration capabilities.
As Vietnam sets its sights on becoming a regional innovation hub, linking research and the market through the Lab2Market initiative and strengthening the intellectual property foundation are seen as key factors.
This marks not just a shift in thinking but also an affirmation that innovation in Vietnam is striving for a balance between economic interests and social impact, making science and technology a driving force for sustainable development.
Dr. Nguyen Thanh My: “Just 2 Patents, the Chinese Offered Me Nearly $300 Million”
Intellectual property protection is not just about safeguarding your inventions but also about adding value to your company. This was the consensus among experts at the From Lab to Market – A Story from the Lab to the Market discussion.
The Future of Aviation: Experiencing Smart Technology at the Country’s Achievements Exhibition.
On the morning of August 28th, the National Exhibition Center in Dong Anh, Hanoi, played host to a remarkable event – the opening ceremony of the exhibition titled “80 Years of Independence, Freedom and Happiness.”
“Mrs. Truong Ly Hoang Phi: For Vietnamese Businesses, Innovation is a Mountainous Trek; Stagnation Means Watching Others’ Success from Afar.”
“At InnoEx 2025, Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Chairman and CEO of IBP, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association, and Head of the InnoEx 2025 Organizing Committee, asserted that Vietnamese businesses are facing a new strategic choice: digital integration.”
The Quest for Protection: A Wake-Up Call for Binh Minh Plastic After Nearly 50 Years
On August 26th, the Forum on “Refining Intellectual Property Policies – A Driving Force for Innovative Enterprises” witnessed an impressive speech by a representative of Binh Minh Plastic Joint Stock Company (HoSE: BMP).
“Digital Integration Will Reposition Vietnam’s Strength: CEO Truong Ly Hoang Phi”
“Trương Lý Hoàng Phi, the esteemed Chairwoman and CEO of IBP, and Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Young Entrepreneurs Association, envisions digital integration in 2025 as a pivotal moment akin to ASEAN in 1995. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Vietnamese economy.”
