Promoting science and technology and innovation is the development imperative of the times.

VTV.vn - On the afternoon of October 2, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung attended and spoke at the Forum "Promoting innovation and developing strategic technology industries" (Forum).

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung and delegates perform the ceremony to announce initiatives to implement Resolution 57 of innovation networks and experts of strategic technology sectors - Photo: VGP

6 trends and "golden keys"

On the threshold of the country entering a new era, an era of national growth, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed that Vietnam consistently holds the view that "promoting science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and developing strategic technology industries are the golden keys for the new period". This is not just a simple choice, but the development imperative of the times.

On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged and commended the Ministry of Finance and the National Innovation Center (NIC) for coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to continuously develop the innovation ecosystem and strategic technology industries of great significance in Vietnam.

At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed with and highly appreciated the enthusiastic and practical contributions of leaders of ministries, branches, enterprises, international organizations, and experts at the Forum.

Assessing that the regional and world situation continues to evolve rapidly, complexly, and unpredictably, the Deputy Prime Minister analyzed six major trends that are having a strong and profound impact on the fields of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation (DT).

Specifically: Geostrategic competition is increasing, especially US-China competition in shaping trends, standards, and norms for the technology "game" in the new period; investment capital for science and technology and innovation is increasing from both the public and private sectors; AI is developing faster and faster and has a strong impact on the entire economy.

"In the 2026 - 2030 period, AI is forecast to create more than 170 million new jobs and contribute about 5,000 billion USD to the world economy, equivalent to about 13-14% of the total GDP added value of the whole period," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam consistently holds the view that "promoting science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and developing strategic technology industries is the golden key for the new period". This is not just a simple choice, but the development imperative of the times - Photo: VGP

Three more trends are: Science and technology activities and innovation are increasingly developing based on the foundation of ecosystems, with close cooperation between the Government, institutes, schools, large corporations, startups...; fierce competition for resources for science and technology development between countries, especially in human resources, data and computing capacity; governments are quickly adjusting policies and promoting public-private cooperation with the ambition to lead the fields of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, especially in strategic industries such as semiconductors, AI...

"Vietnam is not out of that 'game'. General Secretary To Lam affirmed that science and technology, innovation and digital transformation must be considered the 'golden key', the vital factor to overcome the middle-income trap and aim to become a developed country by 2045," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

Along with that, the Draft Document of the 14th Party Congress also identified science, technology and innovation as "top important breakthroughs", "main driving forces" for the new development stage, and an important foundational factor to re-establish the growth model.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Vietnam needs to go faster, more decisively, and more boldly to shorten the gap with the world, gradually "catch up, go together, and surpass". With the motto "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together", Vietnam also realizes that to develop a comprehensive innovation ecosystem, it requires deep integration, especially strategic cooperation with leading economies, prestigious international organizations, and technology corporations. Only by taking advantage of intelligence, resources, technology, and global cooperation networks can our country accelerate its development and gradually affirm its position on the world technology map.

Assessing that the regional and world situation continues to evolve rapidly, complexly, and unpredictably, the Deputy Prime Minister analyzed six major trends that are having a strong and profound impact on the fields of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation - Photo: VGP

Expectations transformed into concrete actions

More than a month ago, the announcement ceremony of 3 innovation networks in the fields of quantum, cybersecurity and aerospace took place at NIC Hoa Lac.

At that time, the expectation was that these three networks, along with the two established networks on semiconductors and AI, would not only be academic forums, but also "intellectual complexes", gathering the elite of Vietnamese people around the world, working together to solve "big problems" of the country, region and the world.

And at today's Forum, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his joy and pride that those expectations have quickly been transformed into concrete actions, demonstrated through some initial results.

First, five strategic technology networks have announced a series of initiatives to solve national problems.

Second, the WB has published an updated report on semiconductor human resources in Vietnam, which consults many practical solutions to develop Vietnam's semiconductor training ecosystem in a comprehensive direction.

Third, Japanese partners led by Mitsubishi Research Institute have committed to cooperate in incubating startups and developing technology human resources in Vietnam.

Fourth, Qualcomm and Meta committed to expanding cooperation to promote R&D activities and develop supply chains in Vietnam.

Fifth, Vietnam's chip design startup Hyphen Deux, incubated by NIC with the support of the Semiconductor Innovation Network, has reached the international market with control chips manufactured at TSMC's factory.

"These steps are fundamental and also a clear demonstration of the engagement and drastic actions of the entire Vietnamese innovation ecosystem in recent times," the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.

Ms. Mariam J. Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, presented Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung with a World Bank report on the topic of talent and innovation in Vietnam's semiconductor industry - Photo: VGP

Turn pressure into motivation to solve "difficult problems"

To continue promoting the above achievements, gradually helping Vietnam realize its aspiration to become a leading center of science, technology and innovation in the region and the world, the Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, branches, localities, experts and domestic and foreign partners to join hands and accompany Vietnam in implementing a number of specific tasks.

Firstly, NIC continues to promote its core role in the Vietnamese innovation ecosystem. This includes developing innovation networks and Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin experts in new technology industries; connecting with technology corporations and international organizations; promptly forming strong research groups with leadership capabilities in a number of strategic technology industries...

Second, ministries, branches and localities should focus on removing institutional, infrastructure and human resource bottlenecks. In the immediate future, it is necessary to complete and soon put into practice the laws in the field of science, technology and innovation submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the upcoming 10th session (Law on Intellectual Property, Law on Technology Transfer, Law on High Technology, and especially the Law on AI).

Third, innovation networks and strategic technology experts continue to play the role of "extended arms", accompanying the Government, ministries, sectors and domestic enterprises.

The Deputy Prime Minister called on experts to proactively participate in the process of strategic planning, policy making, promoting research, development and application of new technologies, thereby contributing to solving major challenges, from pressure to create motivation, turning the country's "difficult problem" into "new opportunities" for the future.

Fourth, technology corporations and international organizations continue to accompany Vietnam, expand investment cooperation, link research with application and technology transfer.

Innovation networks and strategic technology experts continue to play the role of "extended arms", accompanying the Government, ministries, branches and domestic enterprises - Photo: VGP

In particular, jointly develop "Made by Vietnam" products, researched, designed and produced by Vietnamese people, for Vietnamese people and consumers around the world.

Thereby, bringing Vietnam to a "higher step" of the global value chain and affirming its position on the world technology map.

Fifth, the subjects of the domestic innovation ecosystem (institutes, schools, businesses, startups, scientists...) must rise up, proactively grasp "new trends", and become pioneers in the development of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes that with the high political determination of the entire political system, the aspirations of the domestic innovation community and the support and companionship of international partners and friends, we will turn aspirations into reality, making Vietnam a developed, independent, self-reliant and prosperous country in the 21st century.

Source: https://vtv.vn/thuc-day-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-la-menh-lenh-phat-trien-cua-thoi-dai-100251002182306014.htm