Hanoi, 27 May 2026 – The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Viet Nam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Global Green Growth Institute convened the EU–Viet Nam Energy Efficiency Startup Day in Hanoi on 26 May, spotlighting energy efficiency as a practical innovation agenda for Viet Nam’s net-zero transition.
Organised on the occasion of the official visit to Viet Nam by H.E. Ms Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, the special networking event also marked the closing of the EU-funded Accelerating Innovative Start-ups for Energy Efficiency project, known as AIS4EE.
The event took place while Viet Nam and the European Union enter a new phase of cooperation, following the upgrading of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2026. The enhanced partnership provides a stronger framework for cooperation across trade and investment, green and digital transition, science and technology, energy, and sustainable development.
H.E. Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
Viet Nam’s journey to net zero will be driven not only by policy, but by innovation, Commissioner Zaharieva said. Energy efficiency is one of the most practical and immediate ways to reduce emissions while supporting growth, competitiveness and energy security. Today, Vietnamese startups are already showing what is possible. Through initiatives like the EU-supported Startup Accelerator, we are proud to help connect Vietnamese innovation with European networks and expertise, so that more solutions like VEEP can scale and contribute to a sustainable future for Viet Nam and beyond.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, Director General of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said: “We believe that today’s event is not only an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the AIS4EE project, but also to open up new avenues for cooperation among government agencies, enterprises, investors, start-up support organizations, and development partners from Viet Nam and the European Union.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, Director General of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade.
For Viet Nam, energy efficiency plays an important role not only in cost optimisation, but also in balancing and managing energy demand, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and contributing to the realisation of the country’s climate goals. It is also an area where new technologies, entrepreneurship, and investment can come together to develop solutions that respond to the practical needs of the economy, particularly across industry, buildings, and transport.
AIS4EE forms part of the EU–Viet Nam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme, funded by the European Union and hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. AIS4EE is co-funded and implemented by GGGI. Supporting the implementation of Viet Nam’s National Energy Efficiency Programme for 2019–2030, VNEEP3, the project has worked to strengthen innovation, investment readiness, and ecosystem conditions for energy efficiency solutions in three key sectors: industry, buildings, and transport.
Mr. Juhern Kim, Country Representative of GGGI to Viet Nam highlighted: “Net zero depends not only on new technologies, but also on faster adoption. Through AIS4EE, we have seen a glimpse of what is possible when energy efficiency innovation is tested in real business environments. The opportunity ahead is to connect these solutions with capital and market pathways — from Viet Nam to ASEAN, Europe, and beyond.”
Mr. Juhern Kim, Country Representative of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to Viet Nam.
A central pillar of AIS4EE was the accelerator for energy efficiency innovation, a first of its kind in Viet Nam. The programme supported selected start-ups and youth teams through technical guidance and mentoring, while participating start-ups received targeted investment-readiness support and engagement with domestic and regional investors. Following the programme, four cohort start-ups advanced their partnerships and investment opportunities, with more than EUR 2.5 million mobilised — pointing to market interest in energy efficiency solutions with commercial and climate relevance.
The Startup Day showcase featured AIS4EE-supported solutions, including energy management, cooling efficiency, chiller plant optimisation, digital monitoring, and industrial energy performance, among others. The programme also recognised emerging collaboration among the participating start-ups, including partnership between VEEP and VOXCool with a view to further develop and apply energy efficiency solutions in the market.
Delegates visit the exhibition booths showcasing energy efficiency start-up solutions.
Alongside the acceleration programme, AIS4EE provided support on the wider enabling environment for energy efficiency start-ups. This included policy advisory to strengthen the enabling framework for innovation, training-of-trainers activities for university lecturers from across Viet Nam, and practical knowledge resources for start-ups and ecosystem enablers.
Delegates at the event.
Viet Nam’s net-zero transition is opening new opportunities for technology, entrepreneurship, and investment to create economic value and contribute to green growth. Through AIS4EE, energy efficiency has served as a practical entry point for this wider agenda, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can connect innovation with market demand and real-economy impact.
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