Breakthrough from innovation - the central driving force in creating a prosperous Vietnam

The first National Innovation Day with the theme “Innovation for all people - the driving force for national development”, affirms the determination of the Party, State and Government to consider science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the pillars of the new growth model. The event connects 34 points across the country, spreading the spirit of entrepreneurship, strengthening competitiveness, realizing the aspiration for rapid, sustainable, inclusive and autonomous development of Vietnam.

Innovation - a national strategic choice

In his opening speech, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized the special significance of the first National Innovation Day, held on October 1, 2025. This is an opportunity to gather the strength of the entire political system, the science and technology community, businesses and people to recognize, affirm and spread the key role of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in the country's development process in the new period.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the Party, State and Government have identified science , technology, innovation and digital transformation as key factors in creating a new growth model, aiming to realize the aspiration for rapid, sustainable, inclusive and autonomous development, towards completing the country's 100-year development goals. This is not only a strategic vision, but also an inevitable development choice in the digital age, when knowledge and technology become core resources that determine the country's position.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, science, technology and innovation not only promote economic growth but also open up the necessary path to improve labor productivity, increase national competitiveness, protect the environment, respond to climate change and improve people's quality of life.

General Secretary To Lam repeatedly emphasized the role of innovation, affirming that innovation breakthroughs are the "magic factor" that creates miracles, creates revolutionary steps, surpasses current limits to achieve outstanding results. That development mindset has been institutionalized by Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. Resolution 57 clearly defines the strategic role, establishes a system of comprehensive and long-term policies - orientations - goals - solutions, aiming to make innovation the central driving force of national development. Along with that, the establishment of the Central Steering Committee on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, headed by General Secretary To Lam, demonstrates the highest level of political determination, ensuring unified, consistent and effective leadership and direction.

Taking people, businesses and young generation as the center

In his administration, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: Innovation is an inevitable trend, a strategic choice and a top priority task to promote industrialization, modernization, economic restructuring, and bring the country to rapid and sustainable development.

Innovation must take people, businesses, especially the young generation as the center, the subject and the important resource; promote all creative potential in society; arouse and foster the strong aspiration of the nation to rise up.

Party and Government leaders and delegates visited the booths of JICA and Vietnam-Japan University (VJU) at the International Innovation Exhibition 2025.

In that spirit, from 2024, the Prime Minister has decided to make October 1st every year the National Innovation Day. This must be a festival for all people, of faith and aspiration, to spread the innovation movement across the country: from big cities to mountainous areas and islands; from schools, research institutes, hospitals to state agencies; from the business community to each citizen. Innovation does not depend on gender, age, ethnicity or religion, but on common values, common spirit and common responsibility.

In 2025, Vietnam will continue to maintain its position at 44/139 countries and territories on the Global Innovation Index (GII), and be among the 9 middle-income countries with the fastest improvement in rankings since 2013. Vietnam continues to improve its innovation input index, up 3 places compared to 2023 (from 53 to 50). In the ASEAN region, Vietnam surpassed Thailand, ranking 3rd after Singapore and Malaysia. These results reflect the persistent efforts of the entire political system and the joint efforts of the scientific and technological intellectuals, the business community and the whole society in creating a favorable environment for innovation.

With the theme "Innovation for all people - the driving force for national development", the National Innovation Festival 2025 takes place simultaneously at 34 locations across the country, connecting universities and research institutes and is broadcast live on digital platforms. The event aims to connect - spread - inspire startups and innovation, bring the spirit of innovation to all classes of people, increase the substantive participation of people and businesses in the process of creating new values.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated President Ho Chi Minh's advice: "With a creative spirit, seeking new things, learning new things, supporting new things, and implementing new things, anything can be done. Initiatives and experiences are like small streams flowing into big rivers, big rivers flowing into the ocean; not knowing how to appreciate initiatives and disseminate experiences means wasting the nation's resources." In that spirit, the Deputy Prime Minister called on the young generation of Vietnam to always be full of confidence, dare to think and dare to do, not be afraid of failure, persistently pursue the desire for innovation to create new values ​​for the Fatherland; at the same time, he requested ministries, branches, and localities to continue to perfect institutions, unleash resources, invest in science and technology, and build an innovation ecosystem associated with the requirements of sustainable and inclusive development.

In his concluding remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized: Innovation must become a movement of the entire people, nurtured by institutions, resources and a culture of innovation at all levels and in all sectors. When science, technology, innovation and digital transformation penetrate deeply into socio-economic life, every citizen and every business can become the subject of creating the future, contributing to building an innovative start-up nation, realizing the goal of a strong, prosperous and happy Vietnam.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/but-pha-tu-doi-moi-sang-tao-dong-luc-trung-tam-kien-tao-viet-nam-thinh-vuong-197251003112523316.htm