Innovation Support / Voucher Program (Hỗ trợ Đổi mới Sáng tạo)

NATIF Innovation Support / Voucher Program

Funds small businesses in Vietnam to purchase expert services for innovation through a voucher support system.

The NATIF Innovation Support and Voucher Program is operated by Vietnam's National Technology Innovation Fund (Quỹ Đổi mới công nghệ quốc gia, NATIF) under Nghị định 268/2025/NĐ-CP and provides financial support to enterprises, research institutions, universities, and individuals commercializing technology innovations in Vietnam. The 2026 cycle runs on a rolling-intake basis with no fixed annual deadline. The program operates through two mechanisms: a voucher scheme (Hỗ trợ voucher) through which SMEs obtain financial coupons to procure innovation services from a NATIF-approved provider catalogue, and direct innovation support grants (Hỗ trợ đổi mới sáng tạo) applied for via Google Forms on an ongoing basis. Project durations range from 3 to 24 months, with disbursement tied to project milestones.

Eligible applicants include startups and SMEs with new technology solutions, universities and research institutes with technology-transfer proposals, startup support organizations such as incubators and accelerators, and individuals or research groups holding patents or proof-of-concept results. Tax obligations must be current and no serious legal violations can be outstanding. Applications are scored on a 100-point expert rubric; a minimum score of 60 is required to pass. Intellectual property (patent or proof-of-concept) is not a hard requirement but is scored favorably. At least 40 percent of the supported budget is expected to flow to AI-related solutions according to program guidance. Priority sectors include high technology, strategic technology, and items on the government's approved technology-transfer encouragement list.

Applications for direct innovation support are submitted via Google Forms (the same form covers both the voucher and the direct-support streams) and are reviewed on a rolling basis. English applications are accepted provided they are accompanied by a certified Vietnamese translation. Providers wishing to list services in the voucher catalogue must apply separately in a distinct enrollment window. Applicants maximize scores by documenting market readiness, demonstrating IP ownership or licensing agreements, and quantifying expected technology-transfer and economic impact.