Thai Nguyen: Science and Technology - Leverage to reduce information poverty in mountainous areas

Proactively build the foundation - science and technology reaches every village

In the process of local development, Thai Nguyen is known as a major industrial and educational center of the country. However, besides the bustling urban areas, the province still has many mountainous communes and ethnic minority areas with difficult living conditions, especially limited access to information, public services and development resources.

Therefore, information poverty reduction is identified as one of the important tasks, aiming to improve people's knowledge, expand opportunities and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction. In this journey, the Department of Science and Technology of Thai Nguyen province plays a core role in advising, organizing, deploying and connecting technology resources to the people.

The Department of Science and Technology of Thai Nguyen province issued Plan No. 40/KH-SKHCN to deploy an online number collection system in 2025, putting into operation the Commune-level Public Administration Service Center to improve service quality, reduce waiting time, and increase people's satisfaction in handling administrative procedures.

Implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on science, technology development and national digital transformation, the Department of Science and Technology of Thai Nguyen has proactively advised on many specific programs and plans to bring technology closer to people's lives. In particular, in the first 9 months of 2025, the whole sector has seriously implemented the directives and instructions of the Central and the province, and at the same time managed 131 provincial and national science and technology tasks. Many of these topics directly focus on solving the problem of grassroots digital transformation, developing high-tech agriculture and applying technology in local management.

The completion of the Thai Nguyen Province History Book Series not only has scientific significance, but also opens up an approach to cultural knowledge through the digital environment, helping people - especially the young generation in the highlands - better understand their homeland's traditions and community identity.

At the same time, innovation activities are widely deployed by the Department of Science and Technology. The contest "Innovation - For beloved Thai Nguyen" in 2025 has become a highlight, creating a knowledge playground for students, businesses and people. Ideas such as "digital cooperatives", "digital craft villages", "digital tourism villages" have begun to take shape from the community itself, and are no longer strange goals.

In the field of digital transformation, the province has made remarkable progress. 68/92 communes and wards have achieved green status in digital transformation, with only 3 communes remaining at the red level - showing that the technology platform has truly spread to the highlands. The electronic document system with 18,130 staff accounts helps process 100% of documents online, contributing to increasing transparency, reducing time and costs for people.

The C-ThaiNguyen platform, with more than 460,000 downloads and nearly 5,000 complaints processed, is a clear demonstration that technology has become a practical bridge between the government and the people. Previously, people had to travel dozens of kilometers through the forest to send their complaints, but now they can access the government with just a mobile device.

In particular, the Department of Science and Technology's coordination with businesses to cover 40/55 more villages, bringing the total number of villages with mobile waves to more than 97%, is not just a technical number - it is a step to open the way for knowledge, markets and opportunities to reach people in mountainous areas.

From information access to sustainable poverty reduction - digital transformation linked to livelihoods

Reducing information poverty does not stop at people having phone or internet signals, more importantly, they know how to take advantage of that information source to develop their livelihoods. This is the focus that the Department of Science and Technology is aiming at in the current period.

The Provincial Information and Communications Technology Center, a unit under the Department, plays a central role in building and operating the Provincial Data Center with more than 12.5 million visits. Not only is it a data warehouse, the system also supports the management of social security programs such as eliminating dilapidated houses and supporting people with meritorious services through a digital dashboard. Thanks to that, the process of monitoring, evaluating and transparency of information is ensured, helping people trust and participate more in support policies.

At the same time, the Department of Science and Technology continues to promote basic digital skills training for commune officials and people. Classes on how to use smartphones, register for online public services, access agricultural information and identify fake news create daily changes in community awareness and behavior. On the other hand, the Department of Science and Technology also focuses on developing local product brands. The protection of the geographical indication "Tan Cuong" in the European Union (EVFTA) has helped Thai Nguyen tea increase its value in the international market. When information about quality and origin is made transparent, highland farmers not only sell products, but also sell the value of local knowledge and culture.

In 2025, the provincial science and technology sector sets the following goals: 100% of communes have online access points and fiber optic internet; Cover all 15 villages and hamlets without signal; Build a model of "digital countryside - digital citizens - digital cooperatives"; Complete 100% of provincial-level digital transformation tasks. These goals not only serve management, but also aim at multidimensional poverty reduction, in which information poverty reduction is the core foundation.

Reducing information poverty is not only about coverage and equipment, but more importantly, about people's ability to use technology. That is why Thai Nguyen continues to deploy basic digital skills training courses in highland communes, instructing people on how to use smartphones, register for electronic identification, submit online public service applications and search for official agricultural information.

Intellectual property and product quality standardization also play an important role. Brands such as Tan Cuong tea, protected by geographical indications both domestically and in the European Union, have helped raise the value of local products. When information is standardized, farmers can sell not only their products, but also their brands and cultural stories.

In particular, the province will coordinate with telecommunications enterprises and the Public Telecommunications Service Fund to support electricity, fiber optic cables and broadcasting stations to the remaining 15 villages. This is not only about network coverage, but also about bringing learning opportunities, market connections and knowledge acquisition to each household.

It can be affirmed that: Science and technology are not only the driving force for economic growth, but are also becoming a tool to pave the way for sustainable development for ethnic minority areas. Reducing information poverty helps people know how to access policies, access markets, access knowledge and create the future with their own capacity.

With its role, Thai Nguyen Department of Science and Technology is gradually bringing technology closer to life; Each wave depression is covered; Each village is connected; Each person has access to equal development opportunities.

That is the path to sustainable poverty reduction in the digital age.

Bao Nam

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/thai-nguyen-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-don-bay-giam-ngheo-thong-tin-cho-vung-cao.html