Vietnam rises in the digital age: Prioritizing core technology

Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation sets the goal that by 2030, Vietnam will have advanced scientific, technological and innovation potential and level in many important fields, and be among the leading countries among upper-middle-income countries; the level, capacity and innovation of enterprises will be above the world average; some fields of science and technology will reach international standards... In the next 5 years, Vietnam will be among the top 3 countries in Southeast Asia, the top 50 countries in the world in digital competitiveness and e-Government development index; the top 3 countries in Southeast Asia in research and development of artificial intelligence, the center for developing some digital technology industries and fields in which Vietnam has advantages; at least 5 digital technology enterprises will be on par with advanced countries...

In the current context, Vietnam needs to prioritize focusing on a number of core and interdisciplinary technologies that can serve as a foundation to promote many other fields (Illustration: CV)

Resolution 57 has outlined tasks and synchronous solutions to achieve the goals as well as the organization of implementation and assignment of tasks to agencies in the political system. In the previous article , from the perspective of a technology strategy consultant, I proposed groups of solutions to contribute to the implementation of the resolution on the basis of "choosing what to do, choosing what not to do and determining what is the biggest priority". This is a modern strategic management model, where efficiency and practicality are given top priority, while still ensuring the major orientation of the Party and State throughout the process of creating Vietnam's digital future. Having the opportunity to visit a number of innovation centers in developed countries, what impressed me was not only the sophistication of the machinery or the scale of investment, but more importantly, the "deliberate choice" mindset in project implementation. The success of those countries made me realize that if Vietnam knows how to focus on areas with truly outstanding potential or essential needs, and is flexible in management and coordination, we will definitely be able to take advantage of the opportunities from the global technology wave. From my personal observation, I think that in the current context, Vietnam needs to prioritize focusing on a number of core and interdisciplinary technologies that can serve as a foundation to promote many other fields. First, artificial intelligence and big data not only serve public administration but also open up breakthrough opportunities in healthcare, agriculture, education and manufacturing. Second, semiconductor and microchip technology is the "heart" of the digital era, associated with all electronic products and automation systems. Third, clean energy and the environment are also fields that require high-tech solutions, from new materials to IoT applications to solve problems related to electricity, water and waste. I believe that with this approach, Vietnam can build a strong mark in the global technology value chain, instead of embracing many development directions without reaching a specific turning point. Experience from developed countries also shows that Vietnam needs to design an "open" and flexible policy system. Not every new business model or product can be successful from the first implementation, but the "open" mechanism will help promising initiatives to be tested in practice, quickly adjusted and can be scaled up when bringing positive results. This spirit also requires managers to accept certain risks, allowing businesses and organizations to innovate within a clear but not too restrictive management framework. The "open" policy is also a way for the state to lead and create momentum for new technology models to initially affirm their value. Widely disseminating the effectiveness of new applications, along with building a serious legal framework to protect privacy, are two inseparable factors. I also want to emphasize the importance of connecting the startup ecosystem with incubators and venture capital funds, because this is the source of "lifeblood" for startup ideas to have space to develop, spread and contribute to Vietnam's digital economy . Another solution that is also extremely important is to promote the strength of international cooperation. Vietnam needs to proactively take advantage of trade agreements, expand links with leading technology corporations to import core technologies, and send personnel abroad to learn and train. Thereby, we can accelerate the process of "learning fast, doing fast", promptly grasping the world's advanced achievements, avoiding missing the beat before the industrial revolutions taking place at a dizzying speed.

Finally, the "change management" factor always plays a decisive role in every strategy. The nature of innovation is to accept risks, because there will always be pilot projects that do not bring the expected results. The important thing is that we need a mechanism to closely monitor and evaluate, learn lessons in a timely manner, and maintain continuous adjustments to adapt to the actual situation. On the other hand, the command work from the Central to the local level must be tightly organized, ensuring that every link clearly understands the goals, content, and implementation methods, avoiding the situation of "drums beating in one direction, trumpets blowing in the other". When this process is operated synchronously, "from top to bottom" and "from bottom to top", the combined strength will be promoted, bringing us closer to specific successes on the journey of digital transformation and technology development. In every national-scale strategy, building an implementation and monitoring mechanism plays an equally important role as the initial planning process. For digital transformation, innovation and science and technology development, this task is even more vital, requiring a streamlined, unified operating system with strong participation from the central to local levels. According to Resolution 57, the Politburo decided to establish a Central Steering Committee on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation development, headed by the General Secretary. Vietnam will also establish a National Advisory Council on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation development with the participation of domestic and foreign experts. It can be said that the above decisions are the foundation and strong driving force for the successful implementation of Resolution 57. Along with centralized command from the central level, we need to promote a decentralization mechanism for localities. Obviously, each province and city has its own socio-economic characteristics, so it needs to be given certain creative and flexible rights to propose and implement projects suitable to the practical situation. However, the decentralization process must ensure compliance with a set of technical standards and a unified data platform. This not only helps localities proactively test new initiatives, but also promotes healthy competition between regions, encourages the sharing of experiences, successful lessons, and replication of effective models. Then, the results achieved will have an "oil spill" effect, spreading from local to national levels, creating a common driving force for the entire system. When the State guides, businesses actively participate, people accompany, and the whole society "strives" together in the spirit of Resolution 57, we have every reason to believe in a future where Vietnam not only keeps up with global trends, but also proactively masters technology, becoming a developed and prosperous country in the digital age.

Author: Mr. Dao Trung Thanh studied Master's degree in Cyber ​​Security at the National Institute of Telecommunications, France; has held many technical and management positions such as Deputy Director of Customer Support Center and Fee Management - VNPT Ho Chi Minh City; Deputy Director of Postal Information Technology Company (Netsoft); Director of Information Technology (CIO) of Vinschool System... Mr. Thanh is currently Deputy Director of the Blockchain and AI Institute.

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