
Part 1: Why science and technology determine a nation’s rise
Part 2: Why science and technology determine a nation’s rise
Over the previous 5 years, Vietnam has made vital enhancements within the Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings. Beyond state finances assets, what measures has the ministry adopted to draw capital from the non-public sector, enterprise capital funds, and worldwide assets, thereby realizing the purpose of turning Vietnam into a dynamic regional startup hub?
Innovation is simply sustainable when capital flows are unlocked. In this context, the function of the state is to create mechanisms and present preliminary catalytic momentum.
First, now we have centered on finishing the authorized framework so that non-public capital, enterprise capital, and worldwide capital can move into the progressive startup ecosystem in a clear and well-regulated method. The Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation has established the authorized foundation for forming nationwide enterprise capital funds and native enterprise capital funds financed by the state finances.
We view ecosystem connectivity as a decisive issue. MST has strengthened cooperation with main startup hubs within the area and globally, resembling Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and the US, whereas additionally organizing many actions resembling Techfest and funding and innovation boards. These efforts construct confidence amongst worldwide buyers that Vietnam is a severe market with steady insurance policies, a pipeline of initiatives, and robust capital absorption capability.
In addition, clearly figuring out precedence sectors is the best means for the state to information capital flows. Vietnam has recognized 11 teams of strategic applied sciences, specializing in areas that guarantee nationwide autonomy and resilience, have robust demand, sufficiently massive markets, and the potential to create long-term aggressive benefits. These embrace foundational and spearhead applied sciences resembling AI, semiconductors, digital applied sciences, inexperienced applied sciences, in addition to applied sciences serving vitality transition, healthcare, agriculture, and nationwide protection and safety.
When the state clearly defines main nationwide issues and long-term priorities, buyers can see the vacation spot and the roadmap, making them prepared to commit long-term capital moderately than search short-term earnings. Capital flows strongly solely when guided by a clear strategic imaginative and prescient and constant insurance policies.
I imagine that to turn into a dynamic regional startup hub, Vietnam doesn’t have to compete by means of short-term incentives, however by means of ecosystem high quality: clear institutional regime, a sufficiently massive market, high-quality human assets, and robust regional and world connectivity. When these circumstances converge, capital will naturally come.
The draft paperwork of the 14th National Party Congress emphasize a new progress mannequin, double-digit progress targets, and the requirement for sustainable growth. What do you assume are strategic options for science, technology, and innovation to translate into productiveness, progress high quality, and concrete competitiveness with a view to notice these targets?
The new progress mannequin emphasised by the 14th National Party Congress locations science, technology, and innovation on the heart of socio-economic progress, shifting them from a sectoral function to a cross-cutting driving drive for nationwide growth. To obtain double-digit and sustainable progress, science, technology, and innovation should remodel macro-level aims into productiveness, progress high quality, and competitiveness by means of strategic options.
First is institutional completion. Institutions should transfer forward to pave the best way for innovation. It is important to construct authorized frameworks for key precedence sectors whereas implementing managed pilot mechanisms. The legislative strategy should additionally change: science and technology evolve very quickly, so legal guidelines can’t wait 5 to 10 years to be revised. When vital, they should be adjusted yearly, with one or two key provisions amended every year.
Second is mastering strategic applied sciences and rising industries. Vietnam should stay steadfast on the trail of self-reliance and resilience, gaining management over core applied sciences. Priority assets must be focused on semiconductors, AI, UAVs, superior supplies, and new vitality, whereas step by step forming industries in area and quantum applied sciences. These are new progress poles that may determine the nation’s place and competitiveness within the subsequent growth part.
Third is a basic reform of the administration mannequin for nationwide science and technology packages and monetary mechanisms, utilizing outcomes because the benchmark, shifting decisively from “spending on research” to “commissioning and purchasing research results,” and from input-based administration to output-based funding. At the identical time, mental property and requirements should be handled as instruments to drive growth.
Fourth is the event of contemporary science and technology infrastructure and digital infrastructure. The focus is on nationwide shared knowledge platforms, knowledge facilities, high-performance computing and AI facilities, key laboratories, and fashionable, synchronized postal and telecommunications infrastructure.
Finally, it’s important to develop a science, technology, and innovation ecosystem based mostly on expertise. Without expertise, there is no such thing as a robust science; and with out robust science, there is no such thing as a robust nation.
Thai Khang