Overcoming the 'research and then put in the drawer' situation

With Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, and many related legal policies, many localities have had creative directions in bringing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation into life, becoming a key driving force in the process of socio-economic development. Along with that, the completion of legal policies in this field has also been vigorously implemented.

Local initiatives

Thai Binh Seed Group Joint Stock Company applies science and technology, researches and produces many high-yield, high-quality plant varieties. Photo: The Duyet/VNA

At the 1st Congress of the Hung Yen Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030, delegates identified one of the three strategic breakthroughs as developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; considering this the main driving force to complete the goal of making Hung Yen a modern industrial province by 2035. Not only is it a goal to strive for, in fact, Hung Yen has taken specific steps. On the fields of the ThaiBinh Seed Crop Research Institute, rice varieties such as TBR97, TBR125, TBH456... still grow well even though the 2025 Summer-Autumn crop was affected by three consecutive storms. Behind that result are more than two decades of investment in science and technology, building from a research room to the first enterprise-affiliated research institute in the Vietnamese seed industry. Currently, ThaiBinh Seed owns 30 copyrighted plant varieties, 3 factories meeting international standards, and a production and processing system with a scale of tens of thousands of tons per year, becoming a vivid proof of the innovation capacity of the private sector.

According to Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Hung Yen province Thai Thi Thu Huong, in the period of 2021-2025, the investment budget for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation of the province reached nearly 1,700 billion VND, 6.2 times higher than the previous period. The contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) reached over 50% of GRDP, while the digital economy accounted for 9.26%. The local innovation index (PII) of the province reached 41.29 points, ranking 14/63 nationwide. These are numbers that clearly show the qualitative change of the locality in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

According to Ms. Thai Thi Thu Huong, by 2030, Hung Yen aims for the digital economy to account for 30% of GRDP, focusing on building a mechanism to attract talent, encourage businesses to invest in high technology, and train digital skills for officials and people. This is a strategic step to transform from “resource-based production” to “knowledge- and technology-based growth”.

Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Hoang Minh Cuong said that Resolution 57 is a new source of energy to help Hai Phong develop rapidly and sustainably. In the field of digital transformation, Hai Phong City Party Committee has identified 5 strategic breakthroughs, in which comprehensive digital transformation is the focus. The city also aims to build an innovation center for the Northern Coast region, promote international cooperation and invest in open data infrastructure.

According to Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong City Business Association, Resolution 57 is the "power switch" for innovation, creating opportunities for localities to proactively pilot new models and accept controlled risks. Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam proposed 6 key groups of solutions in implementing Resolution 57. These are: Institutionalization with specific action programs; piloting e-logistics and digital energy; public procurement from domestic research results; building shared data infrastructure; forming a city-level science and technology fund; and developing human resources in the fields of AI, semiconductors, and big data.

Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Le Van Luong, said that innovation and digital transformation are objective requirements in development, especially for the province with a strategic position in national defense and border. Lai Chau has issued Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU (February 25, 2025) on the digital transformation program for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030; established community digital technology teams in communes, villages, and hamlets, supported people in accessing online public services, trained in digital skills and e-commerce for tens of thousands of people. Nearly 2,000 agricultural products have been put on e-commerce platforms, contributing to expanding the market for highland agricultural products. Lai Chau province is aiming for the goal of "every citizen is a digital citizen, every agency is a digital entity", building a civilized, modern and humane digital society - a direction for sustainable, inclusive development and leaving no one behind.

Technology is the deciding factor

Modern nanotechnology research lab of Ho Chi Minh City National University. Photo: VNA

In the context that technology is a decisive factor in many areas of socio-economic development, legal policies on technology are also being vigorously implemented. The National Assembly Standing Committee has just commented on the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Technology Transfer.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said that the law amendment aims to institutionalize important resolutions of the Politburo, especially Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation. The draft emphasizes strengthening decentralization, simplifying administrative procedures, promoting endogenous technology transfer and developing a transparent and professional science and technology market.

According to Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee Hoang Thanh Tung, it is necessary to ensure consistency between relevant laws such as the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Law on High Technology, the Law on Corporate Income Tax, etc.; at the same time, consider adding new incentive mechanisms on tax and capital, creating motivation for businesses to strongly participate in research and technology commercialization activities.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that the law amendment must aim at “promoting endogenous and commercialization”, overcoming the situation of “research then leaving it in the drawer”. He proposed integrating tax incentives, capital support through innovation funds, requiring commitments to transfer technology from foreign investors, while at the same time making the market transparent, forming a central technology exchange to connect supply and demand, reducing risks for businesses.

Experts also believe that when the revised Law on Technology Transfer is completed, the legal corridor for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation will become increasingly synchronized, expanding opportunities for businesses, institutes, and people.

From local initiatives, the Central Government's accompaniment in the process of perfecting related legal policies, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation have been creating a comprehensive innovation flow, where knowledge, technology and people become the center of development, bringing Vietnam firmly into the digital economy.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-sach-va-cuoc-song/khac-phuc-tinh-trang-nghien-cuu-roi-de-trong-ngan-tu-20251012122121517.htm