Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, Ho Quang Buu, made the affirmation while addressing the opening ceremony of the Da Nang Venture and Angel Summit 2026 (DAVAS 2026) on May 26.
He emphasised that DAVAS 2026 is not merely a meeting place for start-ups and investment funds but also conveys the city’s strong commitment to a new development mindset: to be more open, more innovative, better integrated and ready to support business models based on technology and innovation.
DAVAS 2026 is also a robust affirmation to the international investment community that the city is prepared for a new phase of development. That readiness encompasses digital infrastructure; the preparedness of the tech workforce; readiness for experimental policy mechanisms; and, most importantly, readiness in development governance thinking.
He expressed the hope that each start-up attending DAVAS will not only secure investment opportunities but will also grow in mindset, governance capacity and global competitiveness; and that international investment funds will not only come to Da Nang to seek opportunities but will regard the city as a place to co-create new value for Southeast Asia.
In his speech, Professor Pham Hong Quat, Director of the National Academy for Advanced Technology and Innovation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighted that Da Nang is emerging as a dynamic locality with an innovative mindset and strong determination to develop a vibrant start-up ecosystem.
Stressing that DAVAS 2026 should not be confined to networking sessions or memoranda of understanding, Professor Pham Hong Quat expects the summit to provide a space for dialogue between policy, market, technology and the start-up community; to be the starting point for substantive investment deals, where start-ups find “partners” and investors find “long-term growth value” in Viet Nam; and where new policy initiatives can be piloted in Da Nang after DAVAS.
The opening ceremony featured four presentations and two investment innovation discussion panels; an exhibition with live booths and technology demonstrations; the signing of memoranda of understanding on innovation cooperation; and the presentation of a certificate recognising ThinkZone Ventures’ support activities for innovative start-ups.
Taking place until May 27 with the theme “Innovation meets global investment”, DAVAS 2026 will host a range of highlight activities including pitching opportunities for 62 projects and innovative start-ups before domestic and foreign investment funds; and free one-to-one connection sessions between investment funds and start-up projects or enterprises.
