Half term of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress: Developing an innovation ecosystem

Unleashing the potential of innovation

According to the 2022 Global Innovation Index rankings announced by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Vietnam is currently assessed to have the highest innovation capacity among developing countries, ranked 48/132 countries and economies; holding the 4th position in Southeast Asia, after Singapore (7th), Malaysia (36th) and Thailand (43rd). According to the assessment of the Center for Research and Mapping the Global Startup Ecosystem (Startup Blink), Vietnam's innovation startup ecosystem is ranked 54th in the world, 12th in the Asia- Pacific region in 2022. The above rankings demonstrate Vietnam's potential and resilience in the context of the country facing many difficulties and challenges when macroeconomic and geopolitical factors are evolving complicatedly in the world.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung, exploiting, utilizing and applying the power of intelligence, business models, science and technology to create added value, solve challenges and problems of oneself, the community and society, needs to become a guideline for the actions of the whole nation and people. Therefore, joining hands to build and develop the national innovation system, the innovation startup ecosystem, develop the education and training system towards technological innovation, promote commercialization, exploit and develop intellectual property rights and intellectual assets, form and develop the system of science and technology and innovation enterprises, develop a system of centers and globally linked innovation networks are difficult and challenging tasks but must be done.

Emphasizing that innovation is central to sustainable development, Mr. Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, said that as the world becomes more and more developed and volatile, innovative solutions become more and more necessary. We need a favorable environment to promote innovation. The key here is quality education for all. An environment favorable to innovation also includes empowering young people. It is necessary to establish platforms for young people to speak up, realize their ideas and initiatives, so that they can actively contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam. In the coming time, especially to achieve the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045, innovation needs to be strongly promoted. We need to ensure equal opportunities for everyone to participate and contribute; we need to unleash Vietnam's enormous potential to become an innovation hub.

From the business perspective, Mr. Ngo Dac Thuan, Chairman of IP Group Joint Stock Company, said that currently, the innovation activities of Vietnamese enterprises are not proactive; in the long term, they still depend on factories and core technologies of foreign corporations. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the role of intellectual property, the factor that guides and determines the effectiveness of innovation is patents. This is a key issue to promote the internal innovation capacity of Vietnamese enterprises, as well as the competitiveness with foreign enterprises.

Science, technology and innovation go one step ahead

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat shared that the 6th Central Conference of the 13th tenure issued Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW on continuing to promote the country's industrialization and modernization until 2030, with a vision to 2045. In particular, the role of science and technology and innovation is highly valued, with the view that science and technology and innovation are "the foundation of industrialization and modernization". Developing science and technology and innovation in the coming time needs to focus on improving the level of production forces, promoting economic restructuring, developing infrastructure systems with the view of prioritizing the development of industries and fields with high technology and added value. Prioritizing investment in science and technology and innovation is one step ahead, requiring an increase in the proportion of state budget expenditure (calculated on GDP) for science and technology and innovation. By 2030, Vietnam strives to be among the top 3 countries in terms of state budget expenditure ratio for this sector in the region.

From now until 2030, Vietnam needs to form a national innovation system linked to domestic and global value chains in industries with large export values ​​and revenues. It is necessary to build and develop open innovation platforms and open innovation networks. Strongly promote the role of science and technology and innovation in enterprises, truly taking enterprises as the center in research, development, and application of science and technology and innovation; encourage enterprises to establish centers, research institutes, and innovation centers. Review, upgrade, and innovate the operating mechanism of the system of key laboratories invested by the State.

At the working session with the Ministry of Science and Technology on the occasion of Vietnam Science and Technology Day on May 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the US, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Israel, China... have been very successful in developing science and technology and innovation, which is the driving force for us to break through, rise strongly, become models, "leading birds", leading countries in the 4th industrial revolution. In Vietnam, the 13th National Party Congress continues to determine the development of science and technology and innovation according to the viewpoint of "improving the quality of human resources, having breakthrough mechanisms to attract and use talents, strongly applying science and technology, especially the achievements of the 4th industrial revolution, promoting innovation, creating new momentum for the country's rapid and sustainable development".

The Prime Minister pointed out: It is necessary to nurture and promote more strongly the spirit of science, technology and innovation; need a team of good teachers with the spirit and enthusiasm for research; a team of good scientists working in research institutes and universities; good engineers and technologists in enterprises, good scientific managers to plan policies to promote the development of science, technology and innovation; effectively promote the resources of Vietnamese scientists abroad; need innovative thinking, strategic vision, high determination, great efforts, drastic actions, focus, key points, maximizing potential and competitive advantages for development. To implement the Science and Technology Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, it is necessary to continue to innovate thinking and take drastic actions to open up, liberate to the maximum, mobilize and effectively use all resources, especially strongly promoting the intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people, taking science and technology and innovation as the main driving force for growth.

* Mr. VU VAN TICH, Head of Science and Technology Department, Hanoi National University: Quickly bring the results of innovation activities into life

Innovation in science and technology activities began more than 10 years ago with the emergence of the National Innovation Startup Ecosystem Support Project to 2025 (Project 844) chaired by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which has changed the core of an industrial economy. To continue to have successful innovation activities, the Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology continue to invest more, forming an innovation ecosystem of 4 components: Government - enterprises - universities - research institutes to act as a driving force for socio-economic development. In which, major universities are given importance for investment; universities are allowed to pilot a number of breakthrough mechanisms and policies to soon bring the results of innovation activities into life.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nua-nhiem-ky-thuc-hien-nghi-quyet-dai-hoi-xiii-cua-dang-phat-trien-he-sinh-thai-doi-moi-sang-tao-post695446.html