Strategy for developing intellectuals: Repositioning special productive forces in the new era

On the afternoon of June 23, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) held a workshop to provide comments on the draft National Strategy for Developing Intellectuals in the period of promoting industrialization and modernization of the country.

This is an important step towards completing a document of national strategic significance, laying the foundation for repositioning the role of intellectuals - a special production force in the cause of rapid and sustainable development of the country.

Overview of the Workshop.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Director of the Department of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences Tran Quoc Cuong said that the development of the National Strategy on the development of intellectuals is a task assigned by the Government to the Ministry of Science and Technology according to Resolution No. 107/NQ-CP dated July 9, 2024 promulgating the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW dated November 24, 2023 of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to build and promote the role of intellectuals to meet the requirements of rapid and sustainable national development in the new period. Based on the components of the Intellectual Development Strategy of ministries, branches and localities, the Ministry of Science and Technology has drafted the National Strategy on the development of intellectuals in the period of accelerating industrialization and modernization of the country. "This is not only a professional task but also a political mission, because developing a team of intellectuals is investing in the future of independent, self-reliant, and creative development of the country," Mr. Tran Quoc Cuong emphasized.

According to Mr. Tran Quoc Cuong, the Draft Strategy was initiated by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2020, with a meticulous and serious preparation process, with the participation of leading experts, research agencies, representatives of ministries, branches and localities. Up to now, the Draft has been updated with the latest content according to the resolutions of the Party and the State issued in the period of 2023-2025 such as: Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW; Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW; Resolution No. 107/NQ-CP and new orientations in the draft Law on Science , Technology and Innovation.

The Ministry has also synthesized the components of the Strategy developed by the Ministries to ensure consistency and unity, while addressing unclear points regarding scope, classification of knowledge, inter-sectoral coordination mechanism, and responsibilities for implementation. The draft also adds specific solutions in the context of digital economy, digital society, and transformation of the country's development model based on innovation.

Director of the Department of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences Tran Quoc Cuong delivered the opening speech at the Workshop .

The Draft Strategy identifies four consistent development perspectives: (1) Intellectuals are a particularly important force in national development; (2) Developing the intellectual team is a regular, long-term, strategic task; (3) Developing the strategic intellectual team is key; (4) Ensuring academic freedom and democracy in research and creation.

One of the important innovations of this Draft is the thinking of developing intellectuals not only in the aspect of administrative management, but also shifting to the model of "development governance" based on capacity, efficiency and national strategic orientation. The intellectual team is positioned as a "special production force", present in all fields - from science, education, culture, public policy, digital economy, innovation to national security and defense and plays a key role in building a developed nation. The Draft also clearly states the new concept of intellectuals; comprehensive intellectual development in terms of quantity - quality - structure - effective contribution; linking intellectual development with the country's practice and strategic goals; establishing a comprehensive intellectual development ecosystem; Integrating and linking policies between fields; Developing a global intellectual network.

In addition to general solutions such as: Innovation in leadership and management of intellectual development; Perfecting institutions and policies for attracting, using and rewarding; Improving training quality and capacity development; Increasing financial investment and facilities; Building a national database on intellectuals; Raising social awareness and honoring intellectuals, the Strategy also proposes specialized solutions for each industry group. In the field of science and technology, the focus is on building strong research groups, developing an innovation ecosystem, linking institutes - schools - enterprises. In the field of health and education, it is developing research universities, key hospitals, expanding STEM training. In the field of culture and arts, it is the policy of protecting copyright, investing in creation, and supporting ethnic minority artisans. Other groups of intellectuals such as intellectuals in enterprises, military intellectuals, intellectuals in public policy, intellectuals in professional associations and Vietnamese intellectuals abroad all have their own policies designed in a specific, practical, feasible and integrated direction...

Sharing at the Workshop, Prof. Dr. Dang Vu Minh, former Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, former President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) expressed his agreement with the Draft Strategy. However, it is necessary to exploit training experience, use scientific staff trained abroad, use staff with the right expertise to maximize capacity; at the same time, propose to increase autonomy for institutes and schools; create conditions for senior scientists to continue to contribute.

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Minh Thong, former Assistant to the Chairman of the National Assembly, proposed clarifying the concept of "intellectuals", separate from "elite intellectuals", thereby designing corresponding policies, while paying attention to the digital working environment and the ability of intellectuals to operate in the digital environment.

Representatives of VUSTA and the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) agreed that the Strategy needs to be upgraded, closely following Resolution 57-NQ/TW to create a synchronous and interconnected policy ecosystem among sectors.

Former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung suggested that it is necessary to continue reviewing and clarifying the concept of "intellectuals" in the Strategy to ensure consistency and have a basis for developing appropriate policies; at the same time, clearly defining the requirements for the capacity to integrate and work in the international environment of intellectuals in each industry and field, thereby building specific and feasible targets. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to strengthening the autonomy mechanism for science and technology organizations, both public and non-public, to maximize creativity and proactively adapt to new requirements.

At the Workshop, delegates focused on exchanging, discussing and giving opinions on the role, mission and position of the intellectual community in the new development period; Policy orientation and breakthrough solutions for the development of the intellectual community; Assignment of implementation organization and inter-sectoral coordination mechanism; Mechanism for mobilizing and using resources for intellectual development... in order to complete the draft National Strategy for the development of the intellectual community in the period of promoting industrialization and modernization of the country.

Delegates exchanged and discussed at the Workshop.

In his concluding remarks at the workshop, Mr. Tran Quoc Cuong acknowledged and highly appreciated the enthusiastic and accurate contributions of the delegates; at the same time, he affirmed that the Ministry will fully absorb to complete the Strategy in a comprehensive and feasible direction, closely linked with the major policies of the Party and State, especially the goal of rapid and sustainable development in the new period. This is not only a Strategy for developing the intellectual team, but also an investment strategy for the future of the country - ensuring Vietnam's position in the era of knowledge, innovation and global integration.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/chien-luoc-phat-trien-doi-ngu-tri-thuc-dinh-vi-lai-luc-luong-san-xuat-dac-biet-trong-thoi-ky-moi-197250623214654578.htm