Promoting innovation for sustainable development.

DNVN - In the context of the knowledge economy, global competition, and sustainable development, localities in Vietnam are undergoing a strong shift in governance thinking: from growth based on capital and labor to growth based on science, technology, and innovation.

Mr. Vo Hoang Khai, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Dong Nai Province.

The State - The Ecosystem Builder

Mr. Vo Hoang Khai, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology, emphasized that innovation requires large capital, high risks, and a long time, which the free market finds difficult to regulate on its own. Only the State has the authority and resources to enact and coordinate macroeconomic policies, focusing resources on priority areas, thereby demonstrating its leading and strategic role.

Therefore, the State must be the investor in digital infrastructure platforms, innovation centers, and support funds that the private sector finds difficult to build comprehensively. Similarly, Lam Dong province has identified the "State-led - Enterprise-led" model as the cornerstone of its innovation ecosystem development strategy until 2030.

Tailoring strategies to local characteristics.

Instead of blindly copying, each locality is leveraging its indigenous advantages to shape cutting-edge innovation sectors. Lam Dong, with its advantage of being a highland region, focuses on high-tech agriculture (applying IoT, AI, Blockchain for traceability), green and renewable industries, biotechnology, and smart tourism. The province's vision is to become Vietnam's green innovation hub by 2030.

Dong Nai, as a center for industry and logistics, recognizes that without innovation, it will not achieve its development goals. Innovation is identified as a key factor in helping the province's industrial parks and manufacturing and processing enterprises improve productivity and participate in global value chains. To promote innovation in the coming period, the province will continue to refine and amend mechanisms and policies to further decentralize power in the field of science and technology. It will also apply pilot mechanisms, especially to attract investment in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Ms. Vu Thi Kim Chi, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Science and Technology.

According to Ms. Vu Thi Kim Chi, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Science and Technology, the province closely links innovative startups with the development of the marine economy and the knowledge economy. In the coming time, the province will build a Northeast Regional Innovation Center in Quang Ninh. It will promote innovation sandbox models in smart tourism, smart cities, and the marine economy. In addition, the province will establish a local venture capital fund, a co-investment mechanism with the state, and develop innovative human resources. Quang Ninh will build a high-quality mentoring network, expand international cooperation to connect knowledge and markets, and promote digital transformation and the green economy, creating opportunities for startups to experiment.

Gradually completing the infrastructure and connectivity puzzle.

To realize these strategies, startup support infrastructure (coworking spaces, incubators, support centers) has been, is being, and will be built extensively.

Quang Ninh has established co-working spaces and an innovation center at Ha Long University and is preparing to host the national TECHFEST 2025. Lam Dong has gone through the "Startup" phase (2018-2020) and is in the "Acceleration" phase (2021-2025) with 3 startup support centers and the Techfest Online platform.

The "four-party" linkage model (State - Schools - Scientists - Businesses) is particularly emphasized by provinces like Dong Nai and Lam Dong to create a flow of technology and commercialize products.

The ecosystem is incomplete and lacks resources.

Alongside the highlights, the presentations also frankly pointed out the "dark areas" in the local innovation landscape.

In Khanh Hoa, the ecosystem is considered incomplete, lacking investment funds and training experts. Connections between components are weak and fragmented; support activities are mainly superficial, such as media and competitions, lacking in-depth support to create and develop technology and product value. The innovation index of businesses here is still very low (0.80 points).

According to Pham Thi Nham, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Science and Technology, Lam Dong, despite its rapid development, still faces challenges such as a shortage of high-quality human resources, a lack of venture capital funding, and weak linkages among the three stakeholders (farmers, businesses, scientists, and the government).

To overcome these challenges, localities are proposing groundbreaking mechanisms for the period up to 2030.

Quang Ninh and Lam Dong have both proposed promoting sandbox models for emerging sectors such as smart tourism and marine economy, creating a safe space for startups to experiment with new technologies. Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong also plan to establish local venture capital funds or co-investment mechanisms with the private sector to address the "capital shortage" faced by startups.

In addition, Lam Dong proposed an open inter-regional ecosystem model, sharing data and laboratories among the three dynamic regions.

It is evident that innovation in Vietnamese localities has moved beyond the stage of merely raising awareness and is now focusing on the in-depth development of infrastructure and policies.

Hien Thao

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/day-manh-doi-moi-sang-tao-de-phat-trien-ben-vung/20251212082014528