The Vietnam–Japan Innovation Nexus Day—co-organized by NIC, the Embassy of Japan, UNDP, JICA, and JETRO—showcased the momentum of Vietnam and Japan’s combined innovation ecosystem and its transition toward large-scale acceleration. Over the past year, both countries have achieved progress in financing, cross-border collaboration, infrastructure, and capacity building, building their upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. By 2025, key institutional and technical foundations for future ecosystem expansion had been established.

Under the Japan-funded Vitalizing the VietNam National Innovation Center project, the Vietnam–Japan Innovation Challenge attracted nearly 100 applicants. Thirty-two teams were incubated, and twelve startups advanced into collaboration with Japanese partners. In parallel, the Viet Leap AI Accelerator—run by NIC with JICA, BCG, and the Embassy of Japan—received over sixty applications and selected nine startups to present at Demo Day. Together, these programs generated more than fifty business‑matching engagements, accelerating proof‑of‑concept development and early commercialization.