Taking science, technology and innovation as a key growth driver

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ceremony to celebrate Vietnam Science and Technology Day on May 18 with the theme "Science, technology and innovation - driving force for sustainable development" - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology to celebrate the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's meeting with intellectuals; 10 years of Vietnam Science and Technology Day (May 18, 2013 - May 18, 2023).

Attending the welcoming ceremony were Party Central Committee members: Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy; Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat; Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien; President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Chau Van Minh; Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai; Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University Vu Hai Quan; President of the Vietnam Women's Union Ha Thi Nga; leaders of central and local ministries, departments and branches; representatives of research institutes, universities, enterprises, scientists and reporters from news agencies.

Exactly 60 years ago, on May 18, 1963, at the First National Congress of the Vietnam Association for the Dissemination of Science and Technology, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Science must come from production and must return to serve production, serve the masses, in order to increase labor productivity and constantly improve people's lives, ensuring the victory of socialism... You must strive to widely disseminate your scientific and technical knowledge among the working people, so that people can compete to produce more, faster, better, and cheaper...". The Law on Science and Technology 2013 stipulates that May 18 every year is "Vietnam Science and Technology Day".

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat speaks at the ceremony - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Inspire, inspire and foster creativity in the community

In his welcome speech, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat stated that after 10 years of being organized, Science and Technology Day has truly become a festival for the science, technology and innovation forces of the whole country. Many ministries, branches and localities have chosen Vietnam Science and Technology Day to honor and award scientists, science managers and a large number of people who love science and are passionate about research.

Many institutes, schools and enterprises have organized exhibitions of scientific research results and useful initiatives of students and workers; opened laboratories and research facilities for students and people to visit and learn about scientific research and technology development activities.

In addition, many emulation movements, scientific research, promoting technical innovation initiatives of researchers, students and people of all walks of life; movements to improve productivity and quality in enterprises were widely organized, attracting the attention and response of the majority of people.

The diverse and practical activities to celebrate Vietnam Science and Technology Day over the past 10 years have aroused, inspired and fostered the desire for creativity in the community; gradually forming a culture of innovation and nurturing the love of science among young people, contributing to building a society that respects science and creative thinking. Vietnam Science and Technology Day is also an opportunity to reaffirm the important role of science and technology, which is a key driving force in sustainable socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security.

Many delegates also shared their successful experiences in research and application of science and technology to serve production and business activities in localities and enterprises. Scientists and entrepreneurs also expressed their passion, overcoming difficulties and challenges to create many practical achievements, bringing benefits to the country, people and society. At the same time, they hoped that the State would have mechanisms and policies to create a better environment and conditions for scientific research, development and application of technology in sync with innovation and creativity.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the Party and State always consider the development and application of science and technology as a top national policy and the most important driving force for socio-economic development and national defense - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Important and outstanding contributions in each historical period of the country

Opening his speech at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recalled the saying of Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel: "Society develops thanks to science". The Prime Minister emphasized that in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, which is bringing many opportunities as well as many new challenges, the important role of science and technology is even more evident.

Reviewing the development and application of science and technology in the two resistance wars for national liberation and reunification; the period of national renovation..., the Prime Minister affirmed that the Party and State always identify the development and application of science and technology as the top national policy, the most important driving force for socio-economic development and national defense. Science and technology have made important and outstanding contributions in each historical period of the country in all fields.

Management science combined smoothly with science and technology has helped Vietnam gain many achievements, for example, the creativity in using SAM-2 missiles to defeat B52 aircraft, creating a historical turning point, fundamentally changing the situation of the resistance war against the US to save the country, forcing the US Government to sign the Paris Agreement to end the war, restore peace in Vietnam, move towards the complete liberation of the South, unify the country; or from a country lacking food, becoming a leading food exporter...

The Prime Minister said that in recent years, in serving the cause of national construction and defense, the fields of science and technology have continued to achieve important achievements. Social sciences and humanities have contributed to the development of guidelines, policies, viewpoints, and the protection of the Party's ideological foundation. Basic sciences have achieved many achievements, and some fields of natural sciences continue to hold high rankings in the ASEAN region.

Vietnam is a progressive country with great potential and increasing value in innovation, especially for the younger generation. Many large Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly interested in and focusing on investing in science and technology development through funds, research institutes, universities, centers and other forms of cooperation... The innovation index is among the top 50 countries in the world.

Along with that, the team of scientific and technological intellectuals is growing stronger and stronger, developing both in quantity and quality. Many Vietnamese scientists, including female scientists and young scientists, have conducted research with regional and international influence. The science and technology market has been formed, initially showing its effectiveness and achieving some positive results.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister commended and warmly congratulated Vietnamese scientists at home and abroad who have silently devoted themselves and worked selflessly for the country over the past years; commended sectors and levels that have supported and assisted the scientific and technological forces in successfully completing assigned tasks, actively and effectively contributing to the cause of national construction and defense.

Pointing out the limitations that need to be overcome, the Prime Minister said that science, technology and innovation have not developed commensurate with their potential and leading national policy position; they have not really become a driving force to promote development.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in a rapidly changing, complex and unpredictable world, it is necessary to nurture and promote more strongly the spirit of science, technology and innovation - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Strongly promote the intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people

According to the Prime Minister, in the world, many countries such as the US, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Israel, China, etc. have been very successful in developing science, technology and innovation, using that as a driving force to break through, rise strongly, become models, "leading birds", leading countries in the fourth industrial revolution.

In Vietnam, the development of science and technology is identified as a top national policy. The 13th National Party Congress continued to identify the development of science, technology, and innovation from the perspective of "... improving the quality of human resources, having breakthrough mechanisms to attract and promote talents, strongly applying science and technology, especially the achievements of the fourth industrial revolution, promoting innovation, creating new momentum for the country's rapid and sustainable development...".

"In a rapidly changing, complex and unpredictable world, it is necessary to nurture and promote more strongly the spirit of science, technology and innovation; need a team of good teachers with the spirit and enthusiasm for research; a team of good scientists working in research institutes and universities; good engineers and technologists in enterprises, good scientific managers to plan policies to promote the development of science, technology and innovation; effectively promote the resources of Vietnamese scientists abroad; need to have innovative thinking, strategic vision, high determination, great efforts, drastic actions, focus, key points, exploiting the maximum potential and competitive advantages for development", the Prime Minister pointed out.

The Prime Minister said that in order to implement the 10-year Science and Technology Development Strategy 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, it is necessary to continue to innovate thinking and act decisively to open up, maximize liberation, mobilize and effectively use all resources, especially strongly promote the intelligence and creativity of Vietnamese people, taking science, technology and innovation as a main growth driver.

Focus on some specific areas with strengths of Vietnam

To carry out the above tasks, the Prime Minister clearly stated a number of viewpoints on science and technology development. Accordingly, science and technology development must serve to promote socio-economic development, improve the material and spiritual life of the people, ensure national defense and security, maintain independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; build an independent and self-reliant economy associated with proactive and active international integration, deeply, practically and effectively.

Science, technology and innovation must be closely linked to practice, focusing on solving practical problems, taking practice as the measure of success. Scientific research must focus on both basic, fundamental and theoretical issues and fields, and must also solve practical bottlenecks; at the same time, it must provide direction and guidance for the development of production and business.

Closely following world trends, developing science and technology in both breadth and depth, while focusing on a number of specific areas with Vietnam's strengths to make breakthroughs, create differences, and pioneer in the region and the world.

Human resources are the center, subject, goal, and driving force for the development of science and technology and innovation. Investing in human resources for science and technology is investing in sustainable development, directly enhancing the intelligence and strength of the nation.

Encourage scientific research and innovation movements among all ages, genders, and occupations, regardless of lowland or mountainous areas, border or island areas, regardless of whether Vietnamese people are at home or abroad.

In science, one must have dreams and ambitions; must have enthusiasm and passion; must have aspirations and beliefs; must have goals and ideals; must have efforts and perseverance; must have self-respect and national pride; must have the spirit of self-sacrifice for science, dare to face failure to succeed.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in science, one must have dreams and ambitions; must have enthusiasm and passion; must have aspirations and beliefs; must have goals and ideals; must have efforts and perseverance; must have self-respect and national pride; must have the spirit of self-sacrifice for science, dare to face failure to succeed - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Have a specific mechanism, accept risks, failure in science

Regarding the key tasks in the coming time, the Prime Minister requested to raise awareness and actions of all levels and sectors in directing the development of science and technology and innovation. Continue to perfect synchronous and appropriate mechanisms and policies, create breakthroughs in technology application, improve research capacity, and develop science and technology in the context of fierce competition as today. Have specific mechanisms, accept risks and failures in science; remove administrative barriers in the management of scientific research activities. Create a legal framework to implement pilot, experimental and specific mechanisms for new types and economic models based on science, technology and innovation.

Second, maximize state and social resources for science and technology development and innovation; identify investment in science and technology and innovation as investment for development; take public investment as the leading factor, strongly promote private investment in science and technology. Create breakthroughs in the application of science and technology, innovation in the business sector and public services.

Third, create an academic environment and favorable working conditions to use, promote and attract scientific and technological talents; develop a network connecting Vietnamese talents at home and abroad. Increase the active participation of scientists to solve the bottlenecks and bottlenecks in the country's socio-economic development. Create favorable conditions for research and transfer of scientific and technological results in accordance with the market mechanism; ensure an environment of academic freedom and autonomy in research.

Fourth, ministries, branches and localities should research, boldly propose and implement preferential policies and regimes for science and technology staff; arouse passion, aspiration for contribution, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, encourage commitment, and dare to face risks in carrying out science and technology tasks. Research and apply mechanisms for using State capital to invest in venture capital for science and technology and innovation.

Fifth, enterprises need to consider science, technology and innovation as one of the important factors to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness. Pay attention and encourage workers to constantly improve and be creative in their work. Improve the capacity to research, apply and absorb advanced technology into production and business.

Sixth, management agencies, science and technology research agencies, and media agencies should increase the time spent promoting successful science and technology models and good initiatives that have been effectively applied in production and business to encourage, motivate, and inspire ideas and initiatives for science and technology development. Strongly promote the spirit of a learning nation, a start-up nation, an innovative nation, and continuous innovation.

The Prime Minister listened to the introduction of some scientific and technological products applied in agriculture and industry - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

On this occasion, the Prime Minister hopes that experts and scientists will always keep the flame of enthusiasm, passion and dedication for science, so that this passion will continue to be passed on and spread to today's and future generations. The Prime Minister called on businesses to pay more attention and promote comprehensive investment in science and technology development, especially in new areas serving green, sustainable and environmentally friendly development.

The Prime Minister recalled that during his lifetime, beloved President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: "The socialist revolution is closely linked to the development of science and technology, and the cultural development of the people". The Prime Minister believes that with its will, determination and efforts, the science and technology sector will overcome difficulties and challenges, promote good traditions and achievements in recent years to make increasingly important, practical and effective contributions, contributing to realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam, bringing prosperity and happiness to the people./.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thu-tuong-lay-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-lam-mot-dong-luc-tang-truong-chu-yeu-357401.html