“Science and technology are the soul of the national modernization strategy”

(Dan Tri) - According to Dr. To Van Truong, "breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation" are essential conditions for Vietnam to realize rapid, sustainable and prosperous development.

As planned, the 14th National Congress of the Party will take place over 7 days from January 19, 2026 to January 25, 2026.

Regarding the draft documents of the 14th National Congress, the Party Central Committee assessed that the draft documents had been carefully and meticulously prepared, updated, revised, and supplemented many times, especially the contents that were unanimously approved at the 11th Central Conference and the 12th Central Conference.

The structure and content of the draft documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress have many innovations, demonstrating the spirit of looking straight at the truth, objectively assessing the situation, on that basis proposing a system of guiding viewpoints, national development goals, orientations, key tasks and breakthrough solutions for rapid and sustainable development of the country, demonstrating the strong aspiration of the whole nation in the new era of development,...

The draft document to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress is being widely consulted throughout society.

The Party's public consultation of the people's opinions on the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th Party Congress is an important step forward in practicing democracy and promoting the intelligence of all people.

Importance and Urgency

According to Dr. To Van Truong (former Director of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning), Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation is a new orientation of special importance.

This is not only a strategic policy, but also a necessary condition for Vietnam to realize its aspiration for rapid, sustainable and prosperous development in the 21st century.

Dr. To Van Truong commented that the world is entering the era of digital economy and artificial intelligence - where knowledge, data and creativity become core resources.

In that context, the Party's identification of science and technology (S&T), innovation (I&C) and digital transformation as a strategic development breakthrough demonstrates long-term vision, meeting the country's development requirements in the new period.

General Secretary To Lam and other Party and State leaders and former leaders visited the exhibition area of ​​science and technology products at the National Conference on Breakthroughs in Science, Technology Development, Innovation and National Digital Transformation (Photo: VNA).

The growth model based on exploiting resources, capital and cheap labor has reached its limit. New momentum can only come from "transforming the development model", taking knowledge, technology and innovation as the foundation.

The advantage of this model is the ability to create unlimited added value, when scientific progress and innovation are spread throughout the economy from production, services to state administration and social life.

Although Vietnam is behind, it has the opportunity to “take shortcuts and get ahead”. Resolution No. 52-NQ/TW of the Politburo on proactively participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution has opened a clear direction; initial results in building digital infrastructure, e-government and the national innovation center show great potential.

However, Dr. To Van Truong believes that to turn potential into real development strength, we need a more synchronous shift from institutions, human resources to the creative ecosystem.

It is important to emphasize that the human factor is at the heart of all innovation. Without digital citizens - people with technological capabilities, creative skills and a spirit of learning - there cannot be a digital economy and digital society. Therefore, developing high-quality human resources must go hand in hand with building digital infrastructure and digital institutions.

Key solutions in the draft document

According to Dr. To Van Truong, the draft documents of the 14th National Congress have identified a comprehensive roadmap, demonstrating high political determination, through three main groups of solutions.

Firstly, institutional and policy breakthroughs, according to Mr. Truong, the draft emphasizes: "Urgently and resolutely innovate and perfect mechanisms and policies for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation". This is a fundamental solution, because institutions are the "resource of all resources".

To promote intelligence, it is necessary to unleash creativity from the research, investment, bidding to financial mechanisms and to have outstanding policies to encourage and protect those who dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate; at the same time, apply a controlled testing mechanism for new creative models. The State must truly play a role in creating development - not only managing but also leading, facilitating and energizing innovation.

Second, promoting and enhancing national science and technology capacity, according to Mr. Truong, in the draft, the phrase "enhancing science and technology potential" needs to be rephrased to be accurate in content.

“Potential” is latent, inherent capacity; what is necessary is not only to improve, but also to exploit, develop and transform that potential into actual capacity. A modern country must have strong capacity for research and application of technology, not just stop at potential.

The operation of the elevated railway has contributed significantly to reducing traffic congestion in Hanoi (Photo: Nguyen Hai).

Therefore, we need to focus on key investments in strategic areas such as clean energy, biotechnology, new materials, automation, artificial intelligence and big data, according to Dr. To Van Truong.

At the same time, he said it is necessary to build a network of regional research centers, connecting institutes - schools - enterprises - the state, forming innovation clusters by industry and region.

Enterprises should be encouraged to invest in R&D, and enjoy tax incentives, credits and intellectual property rights commensurate with the results of their innovation. In addition, promoting the creative capacity of young intellectuals, technology startups and the overseas Vietnamese community should be considered a strategic investment direction for the future.

Third, regarding the building of a national innovation ecosystem, Dr. To Van Truong assessed that this is a decisive condition for policies to become actions.

In this ecosystem, enterprises are the center, research institutes and universities are the knowledge creators, and the State is the institutional architect and infrastructure investor. The “three-way” connection - the State, scientists, and enterprises - needs to be strengthened with a substantive cooperation mechanism.

Along with that, it is necessary to foster a culture of innovation, encourage acceptance of new things, dare to try, dare to make mistakes and dare to correct. This culture must not only be in the research community but must permeate deeply into state management, education and social life.

In addition, Mr. Truong said it is necessary to expand international cooperation, connecting the Vietnamese creative ecosystem with the global innovation network. The community of Vietnamese intellectuals and entrepreneurs abroad is a valuable resource that needs to be attracted, creating favorable mechanisms for them to effectively contribute to the country's development.

From policy to practical development motivation

According to Dr. To Van Truong, the solutions in the draft are all of great significance, but there are two decisive steps.

First , there must be real institutional breakthroughs, not just the spirit of encouragement. Institutions must be dynamic enough to accept new things, flexible enough not to stifle innovation, and transparent enough to protect those who do the right thing. When policies to encourage innovation are materialized in action and belief, the energy of innovation will spread strongly.

Second , develop an innovation ecosystem with enterprises at the center. Enterprises must be considered "laboratories of the economy".

Only when enterprises proactively invest in R&D, absorb technology and commercialize products, will science and technology become a direct driving force for growth. The State and institutes and schools need to revolve around that central axis, providing knowledge, data and human resources suitable to practical development needs.

The Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station metro train is one of the outstanding projects of Hanoi (Photo: Nguyen Hai).

Mr. Truong stated that turning science and technology, innovation and digital transformation into growth drivers is a heavy task but cannot be delayed. We have political determination, direction and solutions. The remaining issue is to organize implementation resolutely, synchronously and effectively - because only when actions are strong enough, aspirations will become reality.

"Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are not only a pillar of development, but also the soul of the national modernization strategy. This is the path for Vietnam to make a breakthrough, shorten the development gap, escape the middle-income trap and create a knowledge-based economy with Vietnamese identity.

If this strategic breakthrough is successfully implemented, by 2045, when the country celebrates its 100th anniversary, Vietnam can enter the ranks of developed countries with high-tech industries, creative societies, and Vietnamese people can truly become the center of human progress and civilization," Mr. Truong emphasized.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/thoi-su/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-la-linh-hon-cua-chien-luoc-hien-dai-hoa-quoc-gia-20251102050735648.htm