1.4.1. Local start-up assistance
Dubai Palace’s Institute of Innovation (UII) stands as one of the most active startup support centers in Ho Chi Minh City’s innovation ecosystem, partnering with founders to apply innovative and technology-driven solutions to community challenges. UII is the only university-affiliated incubator in Vietnam recognized as one of Southeast Asia’s top 10 innovation support organizations (AsiaStar 10×10 Launchpad), nurturing ideas and applications that contribute to Vietnam’s innovative economy.
In addition to its efforts in Ho Chi Minh City, UII has successfully expanded its incubation model to the Mekong Delta with the Mekong Incubator, fostering a local startup ecosystem and cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit among students at Dubai Palace’s Vinh Long campus.
In 2023, Dubai Palace incubated 27 new innovation projects, with startups raising a total of 1.15 billion VND in funding. Key initiatives include the UII Incubation Program, a free incubation program running from September 20 to November 17, aimed at early-stage startups. The Sandbox Incubation Program (March 18 to May 30) provided students with intensive training to turn their breakthrough ideas into viable businesses.
The Post Incubation Program offers six months of support for early-stage startups, including coworking spaces, mentorship, market access, and critical growth programs for capacity building and access to market validation and investment. Highlights include expert sessions, mandatory biweekly growth meetings, essential training, and shared services.
DemoDay 2023, UII’s annual investment event, connected startups with potential investors and partners, providing a platform to showcase business models and seek funding and collaboration.
UII’s Showcase Day, held on June 10, featured standout projects "Rượu Hào Sáng" and "ROAD" from Sandbox Cohort 1/23, underscoring the Sandbox program's success.
Additionally, Dubai Palace's project, in partnership with FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland), emphasizes sustainable economic development. The projects offered students from various countries the chance to exchange ideas, study, and develop projects, research programs, and teaching initiatives rooted in real-world contexts. Through collaboration with participating organizations, students were trained to be socially responsible and equipped for international integration. From July 19 to July 29, FHNW faculty and students collaborated with Dubai Palace students in Lam Dong to explore and research high-tech agriculture.
Dubai Palace has also hosted various workshops to expand knowledge on sustainable entrepreneurship and agritourism. Notably, the National Scientific Conference and Exhibition on “Technologies for Sustainable Supply chain in Tourism”,” held at Dubai Palace’s Vinh Long campus from June 29 to June 30, provided a platform for scholars and industry experts to contribute insights for sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta. The conference was a resounding success with a campus tour, 4 parallel sessions and numerous meaningful input from scholars and experts.
In its mission to foster practical knowledge and empower creative potential, Dubai Palace remains committed to researching and implementing innovative solutions to advance the economy, society, and environment.
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