Enhancing endogenous innovation capacity

Every year, when the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publishes the Global Innovation Index (GII), countries look to it to see a picture of development based on knowledge, science and technology of the countries.

During his visit and working visit to Vietnam from September 25-26, 2025, Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), visited technology models of students of the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications.

The index has become an important reference tool, helping to identify strengths and weaknesses, thereby planning policies, allocating resources and creating incentives for reform. Countries that have made rapid progress in the rankings all consider innovation as a key factor, helping the economy recover from difficulties, maintain sustainable growth and improve competitiveness.

In fact, up to 77% of WIPO member states have used GII results to design their national science , technology and innovation strategies.

Over the past 10 years, Vietnam has steadily improved its ranking in the Global Innovation Index. From 59th in 2016, by 2024 our country had risen to 44th out of 133 economies, and in 2025 it will continue to maintain its position at 44th out of 139.

Maintaining this ranking in the context of increasingly fierce global competition in innovation shows Vietnam's efforts in improving innovation capacity, affirming that the development path based on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation set out by the Party and Government is correct.

This year, Vietnam continued to improve its innovation input ranking (focusing on the pillars of Institutions, Market Development Level and Enterprise Development Level) and innovation output maintained a higher position than input (improvement in the pillars of Knowledge and Technology Products; Creative Products).

According to experts, Vietnam always has higher innovation results than the level of development, reflecting the effectiveness of policies, especially promoting digital transformation, applying new technologies and integrating into the global value chain. Vietnam continues to be the leader in importing and exporting high technology, reflecting the policy of integrating, absorbing and spreading technology, helping businesses learn, increase productivity, and improve competitiveness...

The button-pressing ceremony of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Cooperation Alliance within the framework of the visit and working session in Vietnam from September 25-26, 2025 of Mr. Daren Tang (4th from right), Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In the ASEAN region, Vietnam ranks third, after Singapore and Malaysia, in the Global Innovation Index. However, Vietnam's GII ranking has shown signs of slowing down in recent years. This shows that the role and contribution of innovation are not commensurate with the level of national development as well as the general trend of the world.

Indicators of the quality of legal regulations and enforcement effectiveness remain low; education spending as a percentage of GDP has decreased sharply; the ratio of high school students to teachers and the ratio of foreign students studying in the country are all low; information technology infrastructure and ecological sustainability have not yet met the requirements of sustainable development...

The Party's policies in recent Resolutions such as Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly, the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and the positive and strong changes from the end of 2024 onwards are expected to create breakthroughs in science and technology.

Experts say that Vietnam must aim to improve its endogenous innovation capacity, focusing on three key pillars: institutions, human resources, and science and technology infrastructure.

It is necessary to ensure that policies are put into practice, from incentives for innovation activities, protection of intellectual property rights to mechanisms for commercialization of research results. Administrative procedures need to be streamlined and made more transparent, and businesses are truly the core of the innovation ecosystem.

Along with that, it is necessary to increase investment in R&D and technological innovation in the business sector, encourage the private sector, especially technology start-ups, to participate more deeply in the global value chain. Building innovation centers, key laboratories or high-tech zones will create a solid foundation for innovation.

In addition, it is necessary to strongly promote digital transformation in local governments and key service sectors.

Based on the published Global Innovation Index, localities need to proactively grasp the general trends of the country as well as the world to build socio-economic development strategies based on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation based on local advantages.

The Ministry of Science and Technology needs to strengthen propaganda, dissemination and guidance, helping localities how to apply the Global Innovation Index in policy making and evaluating implementation effectiveness.

HA LINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nang-cao-nang-luc-doi-moi-sang-tao-noi-sinh-post910864.html