The most vital achievement in current years has not been a single technological success, however a basic shift in consciousness, mindset and methods of doing. Vietnam has established a new framework in which science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are judged by outcomes, with socio-financial effectiveness because the core benchmark.
Science, technology and innovation are anticipated to be outlined by the 14th National Party Congress because the central pillars of a new progress mannequin, underpinning Vietnam’s drive in the direction of double-digit, sustainable progress whereas lifting productiveness, progress high quality and total financial competitiveness, based on member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung.
Talking with the press, Hung mentioned essentially the most important achievement in current years has not been a single technological success, however a basic shift in consciousness, mindset and methods of doing. Vietnam has established a new framework in which science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are judged by outcomes, with socio-financial effectiveness because the core benchmark. Research, software and commercialisation at the moment are aligned inside a single logic of addressing actual improvement challenges, fairly than working as separate or fragmented processes.
This shift has delivered tangible outcomes throughout three main fronts. Institutionally, reforms have targeted on eradicating bottlenecks to assist science and technology transfer extra swiftly into on a regular basis life and manufacturing and enterprise actions. At the identical time, digital infrastructure and digital governance capability have improved markedly, incomes rising worldwide recognition. Innovation capability and the beginning-up ecosystem have additionally strengthened, contributing to a extra aggressive nationwide profile.
According to the minister, essentially the most precious achieve of the 2021–2025 interval lies not in headline figures however in the momentum created, as innovation has taken root inside enterprises, digital transformation has grow to be embedded in the financial system’s operations, and outcomes-primarily based governance is regularly taking form as a new norm.
Highlighting a defining characteristic of the Politburo’s Resolution 57, Hung underscored the transfer from course of-primarily based administration in the direction of governance centred on goals and last outcomes. The Resolution additionally stresses the significance of pilot mechanisms and the acceptance of managed dangers, recognising that innovation can’t happen with out a willingness to experiment.
The Resolution additionally units a goal of allocating at the very least 3% of annual state finances expenditure to science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, with a gradual improve over time, alongside a shift from detailed spending controls to outcomes-primarily based funding. It additional goals to lift analysis and improvement spending to 2% of GDP, with greater than 60% coming from social sources, reflecting the view that science can solely thrive when nurtured by market demand and disciplined by actual-world outcomes.
In 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology took the lead in drafting, revising and submitting ten legal guidelines on science, technology and innovation to the National Assembly, a transfer seen as essential to eradicating long-standing institutional constraints. These legal guidelines do greater than increase the authorized framework, as they open up new improvement area for science and innovation, with Vietnam even taking the lead globally in areas such because the legal guidelines on synthetic intelligence and digital transformation.
Enterprises have been firmly positioned on the coronary heart of the innovation ecosystem, with clearer rights and incentives encouraging better funding in analysis and improvement and lengthy-time period dedication to innovation. At the identical time, procedures for technology commercialisation have been streamlined, shortening the trail from laboratories to the market and turning information into merchandise, companies and added worth.
Another main breakthrough has been the institution of authorized corridors for new applied sciences and enterprise fashions via managed sandbox mechanisms, permitting enterprises and begin-ups to check improvements legally, inside outlined limits and below threat supervision, earlier than scaling up.
Hung emphasised that innovation can solely be sustained when capital flows are successfully unlocked, with the State taking part in a catalytic function in creating mechanisms and preliminary momentum. Vietnam has due to this fact targeted on bettering its authorized framework to facilitate clear and effectively-regulated inflows of personal, enterprise and worldwide capital into the innovation begin-up ecosystem, together with via the institution of nationwide and native enterprise capital funds backed by State sources.
By clearly figuring out precedence areas, the State can be guiding capital extra successfully. Vietnam has outlined 11 teams of strategic applied sciences that assist nationwide self-reliance, meet massive market demand and provide lengthy-time period aggressive benefits. With a transparent strategic path and constant insurance policies, traders are extra inclined to commit lengthy-time period capital fairly than pursue brief-time period returns.
Looking forward, he mentioned that reaching double-digit progress whereas guaranteeing sustainability would require continued institutional reforms, the event of authorized frameworks for key sectors and the enlargement of managed pilot mechanisms. Vietnam should stay steadfast in pursuing self-reliance by mastering core applied sciences, prioritising areas comparable to semiconductors, synthetic intelligence, unmanned aerial autos, superior supplies and new power, whereas regularly growing area and quantum industries as new progress poles shaping future competitiveness.
Further priorities embody a basic overhaul of the administration and financing of nationwide science and technology programmes, with outcomes as the first yardstick, stronger use of mental property and requirements as improvement instruments, and accelerated funding in trendy science, technology and digital infrastructure, starting from nationwide shared knowledge platforms and excessive-efficiency computing centres to superior laboratories and trendy postal and telecommunications networks.
Ultimately, the minister pressured {that a} vibrant science, technology and innovation ecosystem have to be constructed round skills. Strong mechanisms are wanted to draw and retain prime specialists, successfully implement the “triple helix” mannequin in which enterprises are central, analysis establishments kind the spine and the State acts because the enabler, and additional unlock capital for innovation, notably via public–non-public enterprise funds./.