On the event of the 14th National Party Congress, an vital milestone opening a new improvement part for the nation, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung shared views on the position of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation because the central drivers of Vietnam’s quick and sustainable improvement.
Shifting from “digitization” to “data-driven operations”
Minister, trying again on the 2021–2025 time period, which adjustments do you suppose have change into substantive and laid the inspiration for bettering the competitiveness of the economic system?
I imagine probably the most excellent results of science, technology, and innovation not too long ago lies not in remoted achievements, however in a shift in consciousness, considering, and methodology. We have laid the groundwork for a new improvement framework by which science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are oriented towards outputs, with socio-economic effectiveness because the central criterion. The total chain of analysis – software – commercialization is positioned inside the logic of fixing improvement challenges, somewhat than working in a fragmented method.
These shifts have change into substantive, most clearly demonstrated in three features.
First is the enabling institutional framework, targeted on eradicating bottlenecks in order that science and technology can rapidly enter every day life and manufacturing and enterprise actions. In the ultimate 12 months of the time period (2025) alone, the workload of law-making was very massive and left a clear imprint.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) presided over and coordinated the drafting, revision, and submission to the National Assembly for the promulgation of 10 legal guidelines and 1 decision; on the Government and Prime Minister stage, 23 decrees, 1 decision, and 5 choices drafted by the Ministry had been signed and issued. This coverage system demonstrates the willpower to “unlock” institutional bottlenecks, one of many largest boundaries to the event of science, technology, and innovation for a few years.
Second is that digital infrastructure and digital governance capability have improved markedly and been internationally acknowledged. According to United Nations assessments, Vietnam rose 15 locations within the 2024 E-Government Development Index, rating 71st out of 193 nations.
Regarding telecommunications, Vietnam’s web velocity has climbed strongly, belonging to the main group within the area and the highest 10-15 globally; 4G protection reached over 99.8 p.c, 5G over 91 p.c of the inhabitants; 100% of communes and wards have fiber-optic broadband infrastructure, with fiber-optic protection to every family reaching 87.6 p.c; and the smartphone consumer price is estimated at over 85 p.c.
These figures present that Vietnam has moved from “digitization” to “data-driven operations,” with digital infrastructure changing into the platform to reinforce governance effectivity and cut back prices for residents and companies.
Third is the innovation capability and startup ecosystem, contributing to elevating nationwide aggressive positioning. Vietnam’s Global Innovation Index ranked forty fourth globally, whereas additionally being acknowledged as certainly one of 9 middle-income nations with the quickest rating enchancment over the previous decade.
In my opinion, probably the most beneficial factor in regards to the 2021-2025 interval isn’t just the numbers however the transformation momentum that has been shaped: innovation has entered enterprise operations, digital transformation has entered financial operations, and result-based administration is progressively changing into the norm.
Science and technology achievements are sometimes troublesome to see instantly in every day life. Which particular adjustments over the previous 5 years have residents and companies benefited probably the most, from administrative procedures and public companies to manufacturing capability and product high quality?
I believe there are three particular adjustments. First is the change in how the State serves residents and companies. Administrative procedures and public companies are extra handy and clear because of digital transformation.
Paperwork has been lowered, journey lowered, and ready instances shortened. By 2025, the proportion of public companies producing on-line functions reached practically 84 p.c. Administrative dealing with is quickly shifting from “lining up and waiting” to the digital atmosphere.
Enterprise capability and productiveness have additionally improved markedly and in higher depth via the appliance of technology and course of innovation. Automation, digital governance, and knowledge exploitation assist companies optimize operations, shorten manufacturing time, cut back errors, save supplies and vitality, and enhance supply-chain administration effectivity.
From the residents’ perspective, as digital transformation turns into complete, the digital area turns into a new residing area, the place important companies in schooling, healthcare, finance, commerce and extra are supplied rapidly and in a personalised method, guaranteeing that everybody can take part in and profit from the digital atmosphere.
Citizens profit from comfort, companies profit from productiveness and high quality, and the State advantages from governance capability. These are probably the most substantive measures of science, technology, and innovation in actual life.
Thai Khang