Science and technology accelerate the process of industrialization and modernization of the country, contributing to improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy .
On the morning of January 13th, in Hanoi, the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam held a national conference on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
At the conference, Mr. Thai Thanh Quy, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Deputy Head of the Central Economic Committee, presented a summary report on the situation and results of implementing the Party and State's policies on science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation in the past period; and disseminated the core spirit and content of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in national science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation.
Many great achievements
According to the Report, implementing the Party and State's guidelines and policies, the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation has achieved many great achievements, making important contributions to socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security, disaster prevention, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development of the country.
Science and technology accelerate the process of industrialization and modernization of the country, increasingly affirming their role as a driving force in socio-economic development, contributing to improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy.
Natural sciences, engineering, and technology have made significant progress; many research projects have made major contributions to socio-economic development, especially in the fields of agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, energy, oil and gas, mechanics, manufacturing, military, and security...
Social sciences and humanities have made positive contributions to providing arguments for the application and creative development of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and for protecting the Party's ideological foundation; formulating national development guidelines and policies; and perfecting the legal system. Scientific and technological potential has been strengthened.
Scientific and technological organizations and their staff have developed both in quantity and quality, becoming the leading force in research, application of science and technology, and innovation. State management, mechanisms, and policies on the development and management of science and technology continue to be reformed. A legal framework has been established to facilitate the development of the national innovation system; the innovation and startup ecosystem is beginning to develop.
The National Innovation Center has been established and is beginning to operate effectively. Vietnam is among the leading countries to have issued a National Digital Transformation Strategy.
The state management system and legal framework for information technology and digital transformation continue to be improved. The national digital infrastructure is being built in a synchronized and modern direction; telecommunications infrastructure is developing into a modern and widespread system on par with developed countries.
National and specialized databases are being gradually implemented. The digital technology industry is developing rapidly, contributing increasingly to GDP.
Specific statistics show that Vietnam has 423 research and development organizations of varying sizes, mainly concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; currently, nearly 900 enterprises have been granted Science and Technology Enterprise Certificates.
Vietnam has approximately 4,000 innovative startups, 208 investment funds, 84 incubators, and 20 innovation centers; Vietnam's innovation startup ecosystem ranks 56th out of 100 countries; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are among the top 200 global innovation startup cities. In 2024, Vietnam ranked 44th out of 133 countries in the Global Innovation Index and 71st out of 193 countries in the E-Government Development Index.
By the end of 2024, the digital economy's share of GDP is estimated at 18.3%. In 2024, the digital technology industry is expected to generate revenue of $152 billion; exports of hardware and electronics are estimated at $132 billion.
However, the Report also needs to frankly point out that there are still many limitations and weaknesses in the development of science, technology, and innovation in Vietnam, such as: The speed and breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation of the country are still slow; it has not truly become an important driving force for socio-economic development; the potential and level of national science, technology, and innovation still lag behind the group of developed countries; research and application of science, technology, and innovation have not made breakthroughs, and strategic technologies and core digital technologies have not been mastered....
Top-priority breakthrough
In implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, Mr. Thai Thanh Quy stated that the Resolution identifies several guiding principles. In particular, the Politburo affirms the exceptionally important role of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, clearly defining this as a top priority breakthrough and the main driving force for the rapid development of modern productive forces, the improvement of production relations, the renewal of national governance methods, socio-economic development, preventing the risk of backwardness, and enabling the country to achieve breakthrough development and prosperity in the new era.
The novelty here lies in clearly defining the role of "being the main driving force" while simultaneously linking the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation with the reform of national governance methods. Science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation are seen as important tools for implementing "reform" in a modern direction, contributing to improving the effectiveness of national governance.
The resolution clearly outlines the revolutionary, all-encompassing, and inclusive nature of the national science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation endeavor, requiring strengthened comprehensive leadership by the Party, leveraging the combined strength of the entire political system, and the active participation of entrepreneurs, businesses, and the people.
This is identified as a profound and comprehensive revolution across all fields; it will be implemented decisively, persistently, synchronously, consistently, and over the long term. The people and businesses are at the center, the main subjects, the resources, and the driving force; scientists are the key factor; and the State plays a leading role...
The resolution sets out several target groups from now until 2030 and a vision until 2045. Among them, by 2030, Vietnam aims to be among the top 3 countries in Southeast Asia and among the top 50 countries in the world in terms of digital competitiveness and e-government development index...
The vision for 2045 aligns with the overall national development goals outlined in the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Accordingly, the Resolution sets out a vision for 2045 that science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation will develop sustainably, contributing to Vietnam becoming a developed, high-income country.
Simultaneously, higher targets are set for the period up to 2045, aiming for Vietnam's digital economy to reach at least 50% of GDP; to become one of the digital technology industrial centers of the region and the world; and to be among the top 30 countries in the world in innovation and digital transformation.
The proportion of digital technology businesses should be comparable to that of developed countries; at least 10 digital technology businesses should be on par with those in advanced countries. At least 5 more leading global technology organizations and businesses should be attracted to establish headquarters and invest in research and production in Vietnam.
Essentially, the specific targets outlined in the vision for 2045 are approximately twice as ambitious as those for the period up to 2030. These targets are considered and proposed based on scientific and practical grounds, ensuring feasibility in implementation.
The resolution outlines groups of tasks and solutions. It emphasizes raising awareness, making breakthroughs in thinking, determining strong political determination, decisively leading and directing, creating new momentum and enthusiasm throughout society for the development of science, technology, and innovation; urgently and decisively perfecting institutions; eliminating all ideas, concepts, and barriers hindering development; and making institutions a competitive advantage in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
The resolution also calls for increased investment and improvement of infrastructure for science and technology; national innovation and digital transformation; development and utilization of high-quality human resources and talents to meet the requirements of national science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation; promotion of digital transformation and application of science, technology, and innovation in the activities of agencies within the political system; improvement of national governance efficiency and state management effectiveness in all fields, ensuring national defense and security; strong promotion of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation activities in enterprises; and strengthening international cooperation in the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Source
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presides over a meeting on private sector economic development.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvphoto.vietnam.vn%2Fthumb%2F1200x675%2Fvietnam%2Fresource%2FIMAGE%2F2025%2F12%2F20%2F1766237501876_thiet-ke-chua-co-ten-40-png.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Comment (0)