Dual Transformation

In response to the global urgency for sustainable development, the program IDAP – Inclusive Digital Acceleration Program in Lào Cai and Sơn La has evolved beyond its initial mission of promoting digital transformation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is now establishing itself as a testing ground for green transition powered by data and digital technologies. By pioneering the integration of digitalization and greening into one strategic framework – the Twin Transition – IDAP introduces a new pathway for rural development, community innovation, and ecological entrepreneurship.

Twin Transition: Not Just a Pairing, But a Synergistic Development Strategy

The initiative “Twin Transition: Digitalization & Greening” was launched as a strategic response to two rising imperatives: rural digitalization and ecological regeneration. In Phase 1 (2025–2026), KisStartup moved beyond awareness-raising to craft a structured journey: from community education and mindset shift, to the formation of voluntary green groups, from value chain experimentation to early-stage data infrastructure for ecological agriculture. Through mini learning kits, green field tours, and student-supported storytelling, IDAP cultivated a culture of learning, sharing, and doing among rural producers and young learners.

IDAP as an Open Incubator for Impact Technologies

One of IDAP’s distinctive contributions is its role as a community-based impact technology incubator, connecting scientists, SMEs, farmers, and students through a model of outsourced R&D for grassroots deployment. Rather than relying on in-house innovation, SMEs and cooperatives with limited resources were able to test low-cost, high-impact technologies—ranging from compact composting devices, soil sensors, to digital tools for ecological farm management.

Critically, these trials did not take place in labs but in real community settings, creating a virtuous loop of learning–adapting–scaling based on real production needs. The R&D outsourcing model operated by KisStartup provided a rare but vital mechanism to bridge innovation and local adoption, thus accelerating the commercialization of early-stage environmental technologies.

Data for Green Transition – The Foundation of a Digital Ecological Economy

As pilot models gained traction, IDAP entered a new phase focused on datafication and digital enhancement of green practices. By training producers to record inputs, processes, and yields—and digitizing these through open-source tools—IDAP enabled communities to manage resources more efficiently, understand cost-benefit patterns, and build data portfolios that could support market access, funding applications, or environmental certifications.

This effort marks the foundation of an open library of replicable twin transition models – grounded in both narrative and numbers – which can be adapted across provinces. Such data-driven practices also unlock access to green finance, transparency in supply chains, and alignment with global sustainability standards.

Digitalization for Greening – When Digital Becomes an Environmental Driver

Beyond being a promotional tool, digitalization in IDAP was positioned as an enabling infrastructure for sustainable production. By equipping participants with skills in content creation (e.g., Canva, TikTok), traceability (e.g., QR codes), and online marketing, the program supported green products to tell their stories and reach new markets.

More importantly, when green products are backed by transparent data, they are not just goods—they become evidence of responsible production, making them more attractive to buyers, partners, and investors in sustainability-conscious markets.

From Seeds to Ecosystems: Building a Replicable Green–Digital Model

By the end of Phase 2 (October 2026), IDAP aims to establish at least 30 data-documented green transition models, 20 branded ecological products available on digital platforms, and an interactive map and storytelling library that can be adapted across other provinces. The closing Green–Digital Fair will not just showcase results, but catalyze new partnerships and investments.

IDAP as a Platform for the Digital Ecological Economy

From a modest digital acceleration initiative, IDAP has become a catalyst for synergistic innovation, where digital and ecological solutions converge, where community voices shape innovation, and where data becomes a shared asset for learning and scaling. KisStartup plays a vital role as a commercialization enabler and strategic ecosystem connector, combining technology fluency with grassroots engagement.

With its multi-stakeholder, flexible approach, IDAP’s twin transition model is ready to be scaled and adapted, contributing to the emergence of a digital ecological economy, where innovation serves not just growth, but regeneration, resilience, and inclusion.

ABOUT THE IDAP PROJECT
The IDAP (Inclusive Digital Acceleration Program) – Strengthening the Inclusive Digital Transformation Ecosystem for MSMEs focusing on agriculture and tourism in Lao Cai and Son La provinces is a project funded by GREAT (Gender Equality through Enhancing Agricultural Production Efficiency and Tourism Development) and is being executed by KisStartup as the main partner from 2024 to 2027.

The project "Gender Equality through Enhancing Agricultural Production Efficiency and Tourism Development in Lao Cai and Son La Provinces" (GREAT) is an initiative funded by the Australian Government and managed by Cowater International. The first phase of GREAT was implemented from 2017-2022, and the second phase (GREAT 2) will be carried out from 2024-2027 with a total investment from the Australian Government of 67.4 million AUD.

For inquiries, please contact:

• Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/kisstartup
• Website: https://www.kisstartup.com/
• Email: hello@kisstartup.com
• Phone: (+84) 0396292442 (Ms. Xuan)

In the journey of implementing the IDAP project – Strengthening the Inclusive Digital Transformation Ecosystem for MSMEs in Lao Cai and Son La, KisStartup has taken the lead by piloting the outsourcing R&D model combined with dual transformation initiatives (digitalization and greening), laying the foundation for a new approach in commercializing research results for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a long-term vision, KisStartup has designed and operated a real-world testing space – a place where technologies that create positive impacts on the environment and society can find opportunities for realization and growth, through connections with local production units.

In the context where most small enterprises and cooperatives lack the resources to invest in internal research and development (R&D), the outsourcing R&D model facilitated by KisStartup has become a flexible and cost-effective solution while still ensuring quality innovation. Rather than having to independently seek out technologies, analyze markets, conduct production trials, and invest in equipment, businesses can directly access ready-to-transfer technologies from selected scientists, tech startups, and technical experts that KisStartup has vetted and partnered with. The trial process is not just a "trial" of technology; it is a genuine incubation activity – from identifying the problem, piloting the solution, adjusting the model, to the initial stages of commercialization.

Through a platform that connects scientists, businesses, and the market, KisStartup plays the role of a catalyst in driving the commercialization of research results, bridging the gap between the laboratory and practical production. The technologies selected for pilot implementation are not only innovative but, more importantly, they aim to create impactful value: processing agricultural by-products, creating environmentally friendly products, saving energy, or supporting circular production. From drying technologies that help preserve plums during price drops caused by poor harvests, to tea technology using bamboo leaves that were once discarded, and organic cleaning product production using leftover fruits from orchards – all these are vibrant demonstrations of the synergistic value between green transformation and digital transformation in a viable technology transfer model for local areas.

What is particularly special about IDAP is that it has become a trusted address for testing technology, where inventors and tech organizations can experiment with ideas, refine processes, and initially approach the market through a network of local businesses ready to engage in innovation. KisStartup’s design of training chains, technical consulting, and product testing support has helped build trust in the commercialization process – a step often considered a bottleneck in technology transfer in Vietnam.

This model also affirms KisStartup’s role as an effective commercialization platform capable of coordinating multiple stakeholders – from the scientific community, inventors, and local enterprises to domestic and international technology support organizations. In this process, KisStartup not only provides technical support but also acts as a strategic partner, helping impact-driven technologies move through the pre-commercialization stage and enter the real-world market. Dr. Tran Chi Thanh, from Sac Moc Tinh Ltd., a technology transfer partner, commented: "An important point is that the technology transfer model does not require advanced machinery, has low investment costs, and involves simple production processes – which are suitable for the infrastructure and labor resources available in local areas. This reduces barriers to accessing technology and speeds up the commercialization of research results. I believe this is an effective cooperation model that can be replicated in other technology transfer initiatives, especially in the context of building trust and promoting the ability of small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam to adopt innovative technologies. KisStartup’s role as a bridge and partner with businesses in the R&D and pre-commercialization phase is crucial and commendable."

The initial successes of dual transformation initiatives in Lao Cai and Son La, along with the outsourcing R&D model, have opened up a strategic direction for small and medium enterprises: they do not need to own the technology but can still innovate and develop sustainably through the technology incubation and commercialization ecosystem that KisStartup has built. This is the core value that the IDAP project leaves behind – not only local impact but a model that can be scaled and adapted to other regions on the journey of transformation for the community and the environment.

ABOUT THE IDAP PROJECT
The IDAP (Inclusive Digital Acceleration Program) – Strengthening the Inclusive Digital Transformation Ecosystem for MSMEs focusing on agriculture and tourism in Lao Cai and Son La provinces is a project funded by GREAT (Gender Equality through Enhancing Agricultural Production Efficiency and Tourism Development) and is being executed by KisStartup as the main partner from 2024 to 2027.

The project "Gender Equality through Enhancing Agricultural Production Efficiency and Tourism Development in Lao Cai and Son La Provinces" (GREAT) is an initiative funded by the Australian Government and managed by Cowater International. The first phase of GREAT was implemented from 2017-2022, and the second phase (GREAT 2) will be carried out from 2024-2027 with a total investment from the Australian Government of 67.4 million AUD.

For inquiries, please contact:
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/kisstartup
Website: https://www.kisstartup.com/
Email: hello@kisstartup.com
Phone: (+84) 0396292442 (Ms. Xuan)