Da Nang Newspaper: Learning How to Bring Ideas to Market

Universities are rethinking how they support student entrepreneurship, helping students turn knowledge and ideas into real-world value.

At the University of Economics (University of Da Nang), the startup story is being framed in a broader context. The university recently organized the Startup Runway 2026 competition, featuring six outstanding teams from both high school and university categories. Over more than two months of competition, a variety of training and capacity-building activities were held for participating teams.

Among these initiatives, the “Student Innovation Startup Week” at the University of Economics stood out, focusing on practical issues in the process of forming a startup, developing products, building business models, mobilizing resources, and fulfilling legal requirements. Additionally, a panel discussion titled “Innovation Startups in Universities - From the Classroom to the Marketplace” provided a forum for speakers, experts, investors, and students to exchange and share experiences on turning ideas and research products into real startups. The event also fostered connections between students and experts, entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, government agencies, and startup support organizations. It enabled the sharing of experiences in forming university-based science and technology spin-offs and highlighted the university’s role in enhancing the value and market access of OCOP products and local innovation initiatives.

Students participate in the Startup Runway 2026 at the University of Economics, University of Da Nang

According to Pham Ngoc Sinh, Vice Chairman of the National Startup Advisory Council (VINEN) and Chairman of the Startup Advisory Council at the University of Economics, entrepreneurship in academia is not limited to creating new products. The process also requires entrepreneurs to develop business thinking, management skills, and the ability to organize resources to bring products to market and grow their businesses sustainably. For student projects to move beyond competitions or prototypes, ongoing support is crucial.

Le Trong Tuan, CEO of OBACKER Da Nang Joint Stock Company, said that the company is working with banks to build investment-based financial support packages for students. The business intends to provide maximum free support in terms of knowledge and costs during the practical implementation, internships, and development of startup projects.

Students explore startup models on display during “Student Innovation Startup Week” at the University of Economics

These approaches also reflect the growing emphasis on commercializing knowledge and strengthening connections among universities, businesses, investors, and regulatory bodies. Such linkages are considered vital for research results and creative ideas to move beyond laboratories and classrooms and reach the market.

Associate Professor Dr. Doan Ngoc Phi Anh, Vice Rector of the University of Economics (University of Da Nang), believes that universities should enable students to develop innovative capacities and learn how to apply knowledge and research results in practice. According to him, the entrepreneurial university model aims not only to inspire entrepreneurial spirit and ambition but also to help students gradually turn those ambitions into real businesses and foster entrepreneurial thinking from their time on campus.

Source: Da Nang Newspaper