Ho Chi Minh City plans to support up to 7 billion VND for semiconductor support projects
(Dan Tri) - Ho Chi Minh City serves as the country's largest center for semiconductor chip industry and electronic equipment manufacturing.
However, currently only a few businesses have enough potential to invest in science, technology, innovation and green transformation. Current support policies mainly focus on credit, taxes and markets.
Meanwhile, support resources for science, technology and innovation are limited, not creating enough motivation for businesses.
The promulgation of the Resolution is expected to help remove bottlenecks in R&D investment costs (Photo: SCMP).
Recently, the Department of Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with relevant departments and branches to develop a draft Resolution stipulating the criteria, conditions, order, procedures, content and level of support from the City budget for direct ancillary product manufacturing projects in the semiconductor industry and electronic equipment manufacturing projects.
The promulgation of the Resolution is expected to help remove bottlenecks in initial R&D (research and development) investment costs, minimize financial risks, improve digital technology autonomy and strongly promote the process of localization of high-tech supply chains.
According to the draft Resolution, the City's non-business funding source will focus on supporting two main groups of content: production of prototypes, purchase of technology, and technological innovation.
Specifically, for sample production activities, the maximum support level is not more than 50% of the cost and the total cost is not more than 2 billion VND for a project.
The maximum support level for technology purchase and technology innovation according to technology transfer regulations is no more than 50% of the cost, with a maximum limit of 5 billion VND for a project.
In particular, in cases where the project meets both of the above requirements simultaneously, the maximum total integrated support level cannot exceed 50% of the cost and can be up to 7 billion VND for each project.
Policy beneficiaries are Vietnamese enterprises implementing projects within the prescribed scope and declaring and paying actual taxes in Ho Chi Minh City.
To receive support, semiconductor support projects must produce products on the List of raw materials, supplies, and components directly supplied to semiconductor chip production, packaging, and testing lines issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Circular No. 32/2025/TT-BKHCN.
Registered enterprises must have a dedicated R&D department and have total R&D costs of at least 2% of average net revenue in the 3 consecutive financial years.
For electronic equipment manufacturing projects, products belonging to the electronics, computers, optical and communication equipment groups according to regulations of the Prime Minister will be within the scope of support consideration.
Through this policy, Ho Chi Minh City hopes to establish a public funding framework, share research risks and serve as a foundation for high-tech products with Vietnamese brands.