Mr Kim Wimbush, Director, Vietnam and Aus4Innovation Program and CSIRO Counsellor in Vietnam gives the opening remarks at the event.
The Vietnam Hub is part of the Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network (IPPIN) and is funded by the Australian Government through the Mekong Plastics Innovation Alliance.
The Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam Demo Day marks the culmination of eight weeks of intensive training through the IPPIN Accelerator program. During the training, teams of entrepreneurs and researchers have been mentored to hone their ideas and build market readiness.
Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Sarah Hooper, said the IPPIN is an important regional program fostering innovation to curb plastic waste and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
"This year is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia. The IPPIN partnership with Vietnam is an example of what the modern partnership is about - collaboration to address difficult challenges we share both at home and in our region.Vietnam and Australia both face significant climate change and environmental challenges with stark implications for food security and economic prosperity. Collaborations between our scientific agencies and the private sector are critical to our ability to successfully bring about change and I look forward to seeing practical, scalable solutions at this year's Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam Demo Day,” she said.
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, is a delivery partner for the IPPIN program. CSIRO Counsellor in Vietnam, Dr Kim Wimbush, said in addition to showcasing innovations being developed in the region, the Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam Demo Day is a chance to deepen connections across the innovation ecosystem and celebrate the entrepreneurial skills of local innovators.
“CSIRO is committed to building resilient and sustainable environments. Through programs like IPPIN, we’re lifting the capability of local innovation ecosystems by bringing together innovators, researchers, government, and industry to act collectively on plastic pollution. I am optimistic that the innovations showcased at the Demo Day can help contribute to Vietnam’s effort of banning single-use plastics nationwide by 2031,” Dr Wimbush said.