Mastering Strategic Technologies: The First Steps

For the first time, the concept of strategic technology was mentioned in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, identifying institutions, human resources, infrastructure, and data as core pillars to encourage innovation.

Technology products are displayed at the National Achievement Exhibition “80 years of journey of Independence-Freedom-Happiness”. (Photo: THE DAI)

Strategic technology is expected to create breakthrough developments with high added value, creating a foundation for other industries, helping to put Vietnam at the forefront of science and technology. To make that aspiration a reality, the key factor is to develop high-quality human resources.

Many domestic enterprises have started to deploy strategic technology products, affirming their internal capacity, creating a foundation for new competitiveness. What is necessary now is to set reasonable goals, in stages, and have the State accompany in investing in research infrastructure, providing financial support and perfecting mechanisms to ensure the goal of forming strategic industries of the country.

A turning point in policy thinking

Based on the orientation in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the Ministry of Science and Technology has advised the Government to submit to the National Assembly for approval the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation 2025, in which strategic technology becomes the key orientation for the State to concentrate resources, issue policies and implement long-term development programs.

Along with that, Decision No. 1131 of the Prime Minister promulgating a list of 11 strategic technology groups, along with 35 strategic technology products, are major problems of the country for businesses, research institutes, universities... to solve.

The institutionalization of strategic technology has marked an important shift for Vietnam from a country that mainly uses core technology to mastering strategic technologies that impact economic growth and national security.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Science and Technology, businesses, research institutes, and universities have been proactive in researching and developing strategic technologies and currently have a number of products on the right track, for example at Viettel Group, CMC Technology Group, Phenikaa Group, Hanoi National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, etc.

With the view that there must be clear products with high commercialization potential, based on the opinions of ministries, branches and localities, the Ministry of Science and Technology has recently proposed a list of strategic technology products to be deployed in 2025 and three strategic technology products prioritized for immediate deployment, including: Large language models and Vietnamese virtual assistants; 5G network systems and equipment; AI cameras for processing at the edge.

Selecting some products to do first is to test, gain experience and perfect policy models. These are “hot” fields globally, urgent for the modernization process of Vietnam; not only creating core technologies that determine national competitiveness but also opening up opportunities for Vietnam to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Technology experts say that to shorten the gap with technology powers in developing the above strategic technology products, serious, long-term and synchronous investment in human resources, finance, as well as research infrastructure is needed.

Technology experts say that to shorten the gap with technology powers in developing the above strategic technology products, serious, long-term and synchronous investment in human resources, finance, as well as research infrastructure is needed.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh, the Party and State's policy in the coming period is to focus on double-digit growth, high-quality growth, growth based on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Therefore, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation must focus on solving the country's major problems.

The Ministry of Science and Technology aims to master at least 20 strategic technology products by 2027 and more than 25 products by 2035, and more importantly, to move towards developing strategic industries, in which the contribution ratio of strategic industries to GDP is from 15-20%.

To achieve these goals, the State will shift the focus of technology development to enterprises, regardless of whether they are state or private. Large enterprises, along with capable and reputable research organizations, will be assigned to develop strategic products, industries and technologies. Because enterprises themselves understand what the market needs, and that is also the driving force and pressure to turn technology into valuable products.

Around the enterprise, an ecosystem will be formed connecting research institutes, universities, and management agencies to create a combined strength to master technology. Basic research also focuses on supporting the development of strategic technologies and strategic products.

Enterprises affirm their endogenous capacity

Currently, many domestic enterprises have started to deploy, initially affirming their pioneering role with strategic technology products.

In the state-owned enterprise sector, Viettel Group has proactively developed 10 out of 11 strategic technology groups. These results are just the beginning but have affirmed the internal capacity that is forming, creating confidence in solving the country's "big problems".

Viettel Group's leaders said that the Group identifies next-generation 5G/6G mobile network technology as one of the strategic technologies prioritized for investment to make important contributions to national infrastructure development.

5G network with superior speed, low latency and the ability to connect millions of terminal devices will be an important platform to promote digital transformation, contributing significantly to the implementation of national strategies on developing digital government, digital economy and digital society.

In the coming time, Viettel Group will continue to invest heavily in developing 5G-Advanced/6G network technology, ensuring to keep pace with the world with the roadmap: In 2027, commercialize 5G-Advanced equipment, deploy according to an open, virtualized model and have more superior features than current 5G; in 2028-2030, test production of 6G equipment on real networks.

The strategic project chain of CMC Technology Group, the Hyperscale Data Center and the recent CMC Open AI Company, is also the enterprise's contribution in providing computing capacity, training and operating large language models as well as creating an open environment for testing and commercializing artificial intelligence applications in the near future.

Policies, programs and projects have been initially formed, but the core problem lies in high-quality human resources. This is the biggest “bottleneck”, and also the key to narrowing the technology gap between Vietnam and the world.

Sticking to 11 strategic technology groups, Phenikaa Group and Phenikaa University are focusing on five priority areas: Semiconductors, autonomous driving, energy storage, biomedicine and advanced materials. In each area, the unit not only masters core technology but also deploys a research-training-commercialization ecosystem, forming spin-off companies such as S-Phenikaa, Phenikaa-X to bring research results to the market...

To turn strategic technology into a real competitive strength, many businesses believe that a long-term orientation is needed to form these products as an industry, thereby enhancing national competitiveness.

Accordingly, the expansion of the spending scope of the Strategic Technology and Industry Investment Fund does not only stop at supporting research and development or start-up activities, but also needs to include costs for product improvement, feature completion, quality and price. This is the decisive factor for strategic products to overcome the initial stage and have enough capacity to compete in the international market.

The government should soon issue a set of criteria to evaluate the localization rate, focusing on the value of product research and design, instead of calculating based on raw materials or components. This approach will help domestic technology enterprises master key stages, creating a solid foundation before expanding production and exports.

It is necessary to apply a mechanism of state investment and enterprises operating key laboratories, measurement and testing facilities to evaluate strategic technology products.

Another important recommendation is to form specialized industrial zones for strategic technologies such as semiconductors, aviation, space, etc., to be able to concentrate resources on research, development and production in a closed chain.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh, the state budget will be invested with focus and priority, allocating about 40-50% to carry out tasks of mastering strategic technology.

The State has policies to invest in building key laboratories, shared laboratories, and modern technical infrastructure to serve the development of strategic technology.

Currently, the Ministry of Science and Technology is completing the national program for strategic technology and industrial development.

Technology experts emphasize that the implementation of strategic technology products also needs a specific roadmap in the context of limited resources. What is necessary now is to set reasonable goals, in each stage, to both affirm mastery and avoid consequences for the long-term strategy of Vietnamese technology.

Policies, programs and projects have been initially formed, but the core problem lies in high-quality human resources. This is the biggest “bottleneck”, and also the key to narrowing the technology gap between Vietnam and the world.

(To be continued)

HA LINH - QUYNH TRANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lam-chu-cac-cong-nghe-chien-luoc-nhung-buoc-khoi-dau-post909423.html