High-tech park wants to focus on R&D

FDI enterprises invest in high-tech zones mainly to take advantage of incentives, so representatives of high-tech zones want to shift to research and development (R&D) activities.

The viewpoint was stated by leaders of Hoa Lac High-Tech Park ( Hanoi ), Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City at the conference on improving the operation of high-tech parks until 2030 held on the morning of May 16 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Tran Dac Trung, Deputy Director of Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, said that in attracting FDI enterprises to the high-tech park, they essentially do not bring core technology to Vietnam but invest to make the most of incentives. In addition to the positive aspects, according to Mr. Trung, this will cause major social and environmental consequences. Based on this reality, Hoa Lac High-Tech Park has a strategy to shift from focusing on attracting FDI to improving endogenous capacity by developing domestic technology enterprises. "A high-tech park that still relies on foreign enterprises cannot last long and must promote domestic research activities," Mr. Trung said.

Mr. Tran Dac Trung, Deputy Manager of Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, spoke on the morning of May 16. Photo: Ha An — Mr. Tran Dac Trung, Deputy Manager of Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, spoke on the morning of May 16. Photo: *Ha An*

According to the leader of Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, promoting domestic enterprises, organizations and individuals in R&D activities, business incubation, and human resource training is not easy to organize and implement. Research activities are time-consuming, costly and potentially risky. Therefore, there needs to be units with sufficient financial resources and a strong enough network to support research output.

According to Mr. Trung, R&D, incubation, and human resource training activities need to be implemented according to the model of a science and technology park because this is where inventions, technical improvements, and a community of technology businesses are created. These businesses can return to invest when they develop strongly.

Hoa Lac High-Tech Park is convenient because it is close to universities, the transportation system has been improved... initially forming a chain of links between the training and research sectors and manufacturing enterprises, according to Mr. Trung. Here, enterprises place orders with institutes to help them innovate technology in production. The institutes also study the needs of enterprises to research and create products. Training activities are focused on universities with high-quality human resources, vocational schools in addition to teaching also establish research institutes to cooperate with enterprises. "Hoa Lac High-Tech Park will focus on two fields in the coming time: biotechnology and electronics," said Mr. Trung.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Tran Van Ty, Deputy Manager of the Da Nang High-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, said that the unit currently has only 5 R&D projects out of a total of 29 projects (accounting for 17%), which is a modest number. He said that instead of focusing on production, the technology park's activities in the coming time should focus on business incubation and R&D activities to develop high technology. Slow-moving projects will be revoked to focus on the priorities of the High-Tech Park in the coming time. "If only 50% of the investment projects have research and incubation activities, it is very good for developing high technology," said Mr. Ty.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Thi, Head of the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP), acknowledged that in fact, the unit has only focused on attracting manufacturing enterprises. Investment and support for connecting R&D activities, incubation, and human resource training of these functional subdivisions have not received due attention. Therefore, SHTP advocates the formation of a Science and Technology Park with the goal of enhancing domestic capacity for research and commercialization of high-tech products in basic industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, information technology, etc. "This is to form new technology enterprises and a highly qualified workforce to meet the requirements of socio-economic development," said Mr. Thi, adding that this year, it will focus on promoting investment in the electronics and microchip industries.

Mr. Nguyen Le Hung, Deputy Director of High Technology Department, shared at the conference. Photo: Ha An — Mr. Nguyen Le Hung, Deputy Director of High Technology Department, shared at the conference. Photo: *Ha An*

Mr. Nguyen Le Hung, Deputy Director of the High Technology Department (Ministry of Science and Technology), said that the draft regulations on high-tech park operations are being finalized by the drafting agency and will be submitted to the Government in June.

According to Mr. Hung, the new Decree will clarify the legal corridor of the high-tech industry, promote the operation of high-tech zones, focusing on improving the capacity of domestic enterprises and developing human resources.

Regarding investment attraction, Mr. Hung said the draft will create conditions for private and foreign investors to participate in infrastructure construction and promote research activities in high-tech zones.

Ha An

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