Putting science, technology, innovation and digital transformation at the heart of the new growth model

The draft documents of the 14th National Congress need to clearly affirm that breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation are not only a general orientation, but must be placed in direct connection with the ultimate goal of promoting economic growth, improving labor productivity and solving urgent national problems.

Establishing a new growth model

In the perspective of directing the construction and development of the country in the new period, the draft Political Report of the 13th Party Central Committee at the 14th National Congress of the Party shows the balance between growth and sustainability, between internal and external forces, between immediate goals and long-term interests when requiring close linkage of strategic tasks: Economic and social development and environmental protection are the center; Party building is the key; cultural and human development is the foundation; national defense, security and foreign affairs are essential and regular. Along with those traditional pillars, it is necessary to add new pillars to clearly see the comprehensive development framework, that is, considering science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main breakthrough.

Vietnam is facing the need to transform to a new growth model, based on knowledge, technology and innovation. The draft Political Report of the 13th Central Executive Committee states: “Establishing a new growth model with the goal of improving productivity, quality, efficiency, added value and competitiveness of the economy ; taking science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving force; creating new high-quality production capacity and production methods…”.

Development based on science , technology, innovation and digital transformation means that the main growth must be based on these factors. If Vietnam's GDP grows by 10%, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must contribute more than 5%. In particular, the leading and supporting role of the State is extremely important. When the State spends 3% of the budget on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, the whole society will spend up to 2.5-3% of GDP.

The State needs to shift from "trickle-down" spending on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to spending more, from controlling research costs to allocating spending, from returning research results to the State to leaving them to research institutions for commercialization, from researchers only receiving research remuneration to researchers enjoying a portion of commercial results and becoming rich legitimately.

In the orientation to establish a new growth model, the draft Political Report sets out the priority of developing and mastering technology in a number of fundamental industries such as energy, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, new materials, digital technology and biology. At the same time, focus on developing emerging industries with the potential to create a leap forward such as semiconductor chip industry, robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, environmental industry, renewable energy, new energy, space industry and quantum industry.

These are not only key economic sectors, but also tools for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the global value chain, enhancing the country's position in the international arena. In addition, it is necessary to emphasize the development of a dual-purpose defense industry, to both serve the people's livelihood and directly ensure national defense and security.

World practice shows that many of the most advanced technologies such as new materials, aerospace technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, etc. originate from research and application in the defense sector and then spread strongly to socio-economic life. Placing the defense industry in the innovation ecosystem, with appropriate investment mechanisms and policies, will create products and technologies with dual value, contributing to improving national production capacity, promoting civil economic development, and at the same time strengthening national defense and security. This is the strategic approach to ensure the connection between development and national defense in the new period. The State needs to focus 70% of resources on strategic technologies, ensuring that Vietnam's strategic technologies reach the level of developed countries by 2030-2035.

Another key point is the development of education and training of high-quality human resources. The draft Political Report needs to emphasize the central role of national universities, regional universities, and key higher education institutions to become national centers of science, technology, and innovation. When higher education is closely linked with scientific research and innovation, it will create high-quality human resources to meet development requirements in the new era. At the same time, it is necessary to clearly affirm the policy of shifting basic research to universities, considering them as centers of knowledge creation, while research institutes and enterprises focus on applied research, technology and product development. This division of labor will help optimize resources, create a balanced science and technology ecosystem, closely linking research, training, and production.

Need for outstanding and breakthrough mechanisms and policies

The draft Political Report submitted to the 14th National Congress should emphasize the need to strongly innovate the management, investment and autonomy mechanisms for science and technology public service units; perfect the mechanism for allocating research resources based on efficiency, aiming for the target of spending on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation reaching 3% of GDP; allocate 3-5% of the total annual budget expenditure for this field, in which social capital accounts for a large proportion. This is a strategic, long-term investment, creating a foundation for national development.

Along with that, it is necessary to build and deploy legal frameworks, mechanisms, and policies for testing and piloting in science, technology, and innovation; develop national science and technology infrastructure, especially key, modern laboratories on par with the world in strategic technologies; build a system of standards and regulations in line with international standards; develop the science and technology market, in order to accelerate the application of research results into practice, associated with the protection and effective exploitation of intellectual property and digital resources. Policies must strongly encourage enterprises to invest in science, technology, and innovation, considering enterprises as the center of the national innovation ecosystem.

Another requirement is to attach importance to innovation in the mechanism of scientific assessment and technology valuation. Scientific, technological, innovation and digital transformation activities must be measured and evaluated based on specific contributions to economic growth, productivity improvement and competitiveness. This is an objective measure that both creates motivation and ensures transparency and efficiency in investment.

In the new context, digital transformation needs to be promoted comprehensively. This is not only a management tool, but also a foundation for developing a modern, effective national governance model, creating development. Digital government, digital administration, digital economy, and digital society must be deployed synchronously, creating a transparent, effective, and closer-to-the-people environment, while at the same time unlocking resources and enhancing national competitiveness.

In the new context, digital transformation needs to be promoted comprehensively. This is not only a management tool, but also a foundation for developing a modern, effective national governance model, creating development. Digital government, digital administration, digital economy, and digital society must be deployed synchronously, creating a transparent, effective, and closer-to-the-people environment, while at the same time unlocking resources and enhancing national competitiveness.

Regarding national governance, the draft Political Report should add the solution of “comprehensive digital transformation to perfect the national governance model” in Section XIII. A socialist rule-of-law state in the digital age is not only based on a complete legal system, but also requires a modern, data-based, transparent, efficient, and development-creating administrative apparatus. At the same time, digital transformation within the Party also needs to be strongly promoted to innovate leadership and governance methods, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of leadership of Party committees at all levels.

In the new period, when science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are identified as key breakthroughs, it is necessary to pay attention to arranging an appropriate number of cadres with scientific and technical expertise in Party committees at all levels according to Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW in Section XIV of the draft Political Report. This is an important condition to ensure that Party committees have both political vision and the ability to grasp and direct the implementation of key areas of national development. The presence of cadres with knowledge of science and technology in the leadership apparatus will contribute to shortening the gap between policies and actions, creating a combined strength to put decisions into practice in the most effective way.

BUI THE DUY

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology

Source: https://nhandan.vn/dat-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-chuyen-doi-so-o-trung-tam-mo-hinh-tang-truong-moi-post918068.html