"Accelerate Innovation Push": Vietnam Encouraged to Expedite Technological Advancement Efforts
In a strategic move, Vietnam has set its sights on accelerating national development by focusing on science, technology, and innovation, as outlined in Resolution 57 – a directive adopted by the Communist Party of Vietnam in December 2024. With intensifying global competition, experts believe this shift could transform Vietnam's growth strategy.
Highlighting the need for swift and coordinated action, policymakers and scientists gathered at a national seminar in Hanoi in March 2025. The discussion revolved around transforming Resolution 57 into reality, which aims to eliminate institutional obstacles and open up new avenues for creativity in science, technology, and digital transformation.
Vũ Văn Tích, director of the Academy of Science, Technology and Innovation, noted that while science and innovation have long been policy priorities, their contribution to growth and productivity has been modest. Comparing Resolution 57 to the historic 'Khoán 10' (Contract 10) of the 1980s, Tích predicted that the resolution would unleash a wave of economic advancement, similar to the agricultural productivity spurred by Contract 10.
Tích pointed to the success of countries like South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Israel as examples of nations that accomplished breakthroughs through investing in science, promoting elite education, and building robust innovation ecosystems. In contrast, Vietnam struggles with low R&D investment, weak research-to-market linkages, and a limited share of locally generated value in GDP – about 40 percent.
"We need a fundamental change in mindset, especially regarding innovation culture," Tích asserted. "Without accepting risk and failure, we cannot develop advanced technologies."
In general, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders hailed the new resolution as a decisive step towards building a modern, innovation-led economy. Phạm Thị Thanh Ngà, an expert at the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, highlighted the resolution's relevance, citing alarming trends in climate data, such as the average global temperature exceeding 1.58 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels by the end of April 2025. She emphasized that deepening scientific insight is essential for reducing disaster risks, protecting lives, and ensuring sustainable development.
Ngà also praised the resolution’s emphasis on expanding research infrastructure and promoting international cooperation. She noted that expanding the participation of women in science through supporting high-impact research, public-private partnerships, and international collaboration could provide an opportunity to unlock the full potential of women in science while promoting gender equality in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
The resolution marks a shift in innovation strategy by placing private enterprises, particularly domestic firms, at the center of the national innovation ecosystem. According to Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, the country must focus innovation efforts around businesses, with private companies serving as the pillars of the strategy.
Nguyễn Thị Mai Hương, chief operating officer of Hachi our website High Technology JSC, an enterprise that has deployed more than 250 smart greenhouse models across Vietnam, cited the resolution as providing strategic direction not only for sustainable agriculture but also for addressing climate change, labor shortages in rural areas, and global competition. Smartphone-controlled climate systems and low-cost greenhouses, as well as AI-based hydroponic systems, have helped farmers increase yields by 30 percent while reducing water usage by 40 percent.
Despite the progress, former Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Quân highlighted concerns over outdated regulations that stifle innovation, particularly around ownership of research outcomes. He urged the government to introduce mechanisms to provide policy tools for innovation, including lump-sum research contracts, public procurement, venture capital, and risk tolerance. At the same time, he expressed concern over delays in implementation.
Trần Đình Thiên, former director of the Institute of Economics, stressed the importance of repositioning science and technology from a supporting role to a guiding force in national development. This change, he argued, is necessary for Vietnam to become a tech-centric nation, revising its trajectory toward accelerated development.
Nguyễn Thanh Thủy, president of the Association for Information Processing, called for targeted investment in core technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital finance. He pointed to the structured investment in R&D by countries like South Korea, Singapore, and China, as well as related talent policies and innovation finance, as models for Vietnam to follow.
Thủy proposed a layered innovation startup ecosystem that includes incubators, tax incentives, venture funds, and national-level challenges similar to South Korea's K-Startup Grand Challenge. Furthermore, he urged the creation of a technology sandbox framework and stronger collaboration between universities, businesses, and government agencies in commercializing scientific research.
A student operates a ball-picking robot during a robotics contest in Hà Nội in 2024. - VNA/VNS Photo
In conclusion, Vietnam’s Resolution 57 represents a significant milestone in its strategic efforts to harness science, technology, and innovation as central drivers of socio-economic advancement. The resolution sets a clear roadmap for leveraging the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and positions Vietnam as a competitive player in the global innovation landscape.
- Policymakers and scientists gathered to discuss turning Resolution 57 into a reality, focusing on eliminating institutional barriers and boosting creativity in science, technology, and digital transformation.
- Vũ Văn Tích emphasized the need for a change in mindset, particularly regarding innovation culture, to develop advanced technologies.
- Researchers, policymakers, and business leaders praised Resolution 57 as a crucial step toward establishing a modern, innovation-led economy.
- Phạm Thị Thanh Ngà noted the resolution's relevance, citing the increasing global temperature trends, which pose significant risks and require deeper scientific understanding.
- The resolution emphasizes the expansion of research infrastructure and promotes international cooperation, especially in the area of supporting women in science and gender equality in STEM fields.
- Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng highlighted the central role of private enterprises, particularly domestic firms, in the national innovation ecosystem.
- Nguyễn Thị Mai Hương, a COO of an enterprise, praised the resolution for providing strategic direction for sustainable agriculture and addressing climate change, labor shortages, and global competition.
- Former Minister Nguyễn Quân pointed out concerns over outdated regulations that hinder innovation, calling for policy tools for innovation, including lump-sum research contracts, public procurement, and venture capital.
- Trần Đình Thièn argued for repositioning science and technology from a supporting role to a guiding force in national development, allowing Vietnam to become a tech-centric nation.
- Nguyễn Thanh Thủy called for targeted investments in core technologies like artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital finance, and suggested the creation of an innovation ecosystem with incubators, tax incentives, venture funds, and national-level challenges.
