National Innovation Day 2025: Real value lies in connection

This event affirms the determination of the Party and State in promoting science , technology, innovation and digital transformation, considering this as a key driving force for rapid and sustainable development and enhancing national competitiveness. Vietnam News Agency reporter had an interview with Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) about this event.

Photo caption — A model on display at the Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition 2023. Illustration photo: Tuan Anh/VNA

Sir, what is the significance of the National Innovation Day and the Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition in concretizing Resolution 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo ?

The National Innovation Day and the Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition are one of the activities to implement Resolution 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo on scientific and technological breakthroughs, innovation and digital transformation. This is not only an occasion to honor products and achievements of innovation, but also an opportunity to exchange and connect elements in the innovation ecosystem.

The event continues to affirm the strong determination and commitment of the Party and State in promoting innovation; affirming the strategic and central role of innovation in promoting rapid and sustainable growth, improving national productivity and competitiveness, and socio-economic development in the new period; at the same time, this is also an opportunity to honor and encourage new ideas and breakthrough creativity in all fields, contributing to the development of the innovation ecosystem.

Sir, how is the role of the startup community, especially young people and overseas Vietnamese experts, being demonstrated in the national innovation ecosystem?

For many years, innovation in Vietnam has often been mentioned in association with large-scale projects: semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence, or cooperation with global technology corporations. However, I believe that simple ideas, seemingly serving only narrow needs, can also become seeds for change.

I believe that innovation is no longer the privilege of laboratories or billion-dollar corporations. It is the daily pulse of every corner of life, from students starting a business with a simple idea to overseas Vietnamese experts returning to contribute to the advancement of the country.

Sir, this message is both encouraging and contains a big problem: how can simple ideas not only stop at small scale, but also become part of the national ecosystem?

In fact, over the past six years, NIC has chosen to build an open ecosystem. From an "idea on paper" when it was established in 2019, the Center has become a connecting point between startups, businesses, institutes and management agencies.

The selection of 11 key areas to focus on, from smart manufacturing and smart cities to health technology and green energy, not only provides a framework, but also creates space for small innovations to find a place. A small solution to a community problem can find its place in the big picture if it is measured, supported and replicated.

Here, the value of "simple" lies in: not only being close to life but also being easily accessible to users and quickly demonstrating practical effectiveness. A simple management application for restaurants or a waste classification model in residential areas, if connected to a wider value chain, can completely become a commercial and social product.

However, if innovation stops at just celebrating small ideas, it can easily fall into the category of fads. The risk is that resources will be scattered: when everything is called innovation, the focus becomes blurred. In reality, not every idea is scalable, and not every initiative fits into the global value chain. Therefore, the role of NIC and policy-making agencies is to set screening criteria.

So, in your opinion, what are the core factors for an innovation initiative to develop sustainably and create real value for the country?

Innovation is not just about core technology or billion-dollar projects, but it cannot stop at small movements either. The real value lies in the connection: when a simple initiative is brought into the ecosystem, verified, replicated and integrated, it will become a real driving force for the country.

I believe that young Vietnamese people with their creativity and daring to think and act will be the ones to nurture those seeds that can grow into good results in the future. In the era of innovation, every citizen can be a creator, as long as their ideas have trust, a supportive community and an ecosystem to take off.

Can you tell us the highlights of the activities during the 3-day event?

First of all, the first activity of the 3-day event series is the National Innovation Day celebration taking place on the morning of October 1 with the participation of leaders of the Party, State, ministries, branches, localities, along with the business community, research institutes, universities, investment funds, international organizations and the media, expected to attract more than 800 delegates.

Along with that, the local innovation index (PII 2025) was announced at the event, along with many activities launched in response from businesses, international organizations, and experts.

Also within the framework of the National Innovation Day, the Ministry of Science and Technology hosted the innovation policy forum.

The Forum is an opportunity to announce outstanding mechanisms and policies on innovation that have been issued in recent times; introduce model models on innovation for agencies and units to refer to and apply. At the same time, this is an open dialogue space for management agencies, organizations, experts, businesses, domestic and foreign investors to exchange strategic visions, share experiences and discuss solutions to promote innovation in practice.

The Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition 2025 is expected to attract about 40,000 visitors with the presence of hundreds of typical technology enterprises, thousands of brands, science and technology products, and innovation from businesses, startups, institutes, and schools.

Alongside the exhibition, there will be many activities such as forums and seminars on innovation policy mechanisms, strategic technology sectors, high-quality human resource development, and promoting STEM education (a teaching method that integrates interdisciplinary subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Among them is the forum "Promoting innovation and developing strategic technology industries" which gathered the participation of many of the world's leading technology corporations such as World Bank, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Meta...

Forum Unleashing the potential of French-Vietnamese innovation: Lessons from Nobel Prize-winning scientist - Serge Haroche - an outstanding physicist, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics. The forum "Digital Asset Market: From Trend to Breakthrough" is a gathering place for policymakers, businesses, investors and the technology community to discuss the comprehensive legal picture at home and abroad, and clarify the role of blockchain and digital assets in promoting sustainable economic growth...

In addition, this year's exhibition brings together many booths from leading technology countries such as: USA, Germany, France, Japan...

Thank you!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/ngay-hoi-doi-moi-sang-tao-quoc-gia-2025-gia-tri-that-nam-o-su-ket-noi-20251001073826796.htm