The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and the Finnish Embassy in Vietnam jointly held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 12 to launch the second phase of the Vietnam-Finland Innovation Programme.

Speaking at the event, MoST Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Khanh said that the second phase will be implemented until February 2018 at a total investment of 11 million EUR, 90 percent of which come from official development assistance of the Finnish Government.

The programme works closely with leading national and international partners to seek appropriate solutions to improving the innovative system in Vietnam, with the purpose of boosting the country’s sustainable economic growth through increased production and export of innovative products and services.

According to the programme’s director Tran Quoc Thang, in addition to supporting businesses in terms of innovation in four major cities of Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, the second phase will also focus on intensifying innovation training in line with international standards in the country.

The first phase of the programme was carried out from 2009-2013. It helped Vietnam better its legal framework to encourage innovation, and provided support for businesses in this field.-VNA