Fostering a culture of innovation for all in the digital age

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the ceremony to respond to the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2025 - Photo: VGP/TG

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized the above message at the ceremony to respond to the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2025, which took place on the afternoon of April 21.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed: "Creativity and innovation are not only for scientists and researchers, but for all people, all fields, all countries".

For Vietnam, April 21st is not only a day for scientists or technology businesses, but also a day to honor the creative thinking of everyone in all industries and fields (farmers improve agricultural machinery, students create learning products), encourage the spirit of "dare to think, dare to do, dare to innovate" in the whole society, connect creativity and innovation with sustainable development.

According to the Minister, latecomers are forced to leapfrog technology. They absorb existing technology, then improve, reproduce, and apply it creatively according to the local context. Innovation allows creativity under limited conditions, which is very suitable for the context of developing countries.

Developing countries' spending on science and technology is low, so innovation needs to be leveraged. If they only rely on academic science and technology, developing countries will not be able to catch up with developed countries. Innovation allows them to take advantage of research and development achievements from elsewhere, then combine them with innovation in models, organizations, and product localization.

"Innovation does not require investment in labs, but requires innovative thinking and a culture of innovation. This is a more feasible path for countries that do not have enough potential for in-depth research but have the capacity to organize, adapt and innovate society," said Minister Nguyen Manh Hung.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung visits the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2025 exhibition area at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology - Photo: VGP/TG

According to the Minister, the Politburo has assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to write a National Startup Project, the main content of which is to form a spirit of innovation among the entire population, making innovation a way of life for all people and organizations. Building a culture of innovation, encouraging discovery, and tolerating failure.

If we want creativity and innovation to become universal, we must undergo comprehensive digital transformation, digitize the entire real world, and bring all activities to the digital environment. The digital environment is the ideal environment for all ideas to materialize the fastest, because it is non-physical, non-distance, and non-contact. Vietnamese innovation must be placed in the context of national digital transformation.

"Vietnam not only develops science and technology, but also nurtures a culture of innovation for all people. Arousing the spirit of innovation for all people in the digital age, expanding innovation beyond the laboratory to businesses, schools, offices, communities and localities. Every year on this occasion, we will organize Innovation Week, launching the movement "Each citizen has an idea for improvement, each civil servant innovates from the smallest things" said Minister Nguyen Manh Hung.

At the same time, he emphasized that building a culture of innovation for all people will be the core to creating success for the breakthrough in developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam that the Party Central Committee and General Secretary To Lam have launched.

Making recommendations for Vietnam, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that with Resolution 57, digital transformation and innovation have been considered as Vietnam's top strategic priorities on the path to achieving high income by 2045. This is a strong signal - supported by the commitment to spend 3% of the national budget on science, technology and innovation.

Vietnam’s digital economy now accounts for 18.3% of GDP, growing faster than any other country in Southeast Asia. Nearly all citizens have broadband coverage, and 5G is expanding rapidly.

The UN representative also stressed the importance of bold but responsible innovation, calling for connecting people, not just devices; ensuring that the digital future is not only fast and smart, but also fair and inclusive.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, speaks at the response ceremony - Photo: VGP/TG

“Let’s embrace a culture where innovation and creativity become a way of life for individuals and organizations,” Pauline Tamesis called for. “This means creating an environment where new ideas are encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and innovative thinking is integrated into everyday practices.”

April 21 of each year is chosen by the United Nations as the World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in socio-economic development, building a sustainable society and promoting all aspects of human development.

2025 is the fourth year that the Ministry of Science and Technology has organized the Ceremony in response to the World Creativity and Innovation Day. The event aims to spread the spirit of innovation among the people, in the context of Vietnam promoting the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

Thu Giang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nuoi-duong-nen-van-hoa-doi-moi-sang-tao-toan-dan-trong-ky-nguyen-so-102250421181008322.htm