Hanoi (VNA) – Science and technology has accompanied Vietnam throughout the past eight decades – from wartime to post-war reconstruction and integration into the world, said Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung.
He made the statement while addressing a forum themed “The Future of Science, Technology, Innovation and National Digital Transformation” held in Hanoi on August 29, as part of activities marking the 80th National Day anniversary (September 2, 1945–2025).
The official said the forum was an opportunity to review past achievements and predict new trends of science – technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
As science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are identified as drivers for fast and sustainable development, he suggested that the forum not only discuss challenges and opportunities but also promote shared commitments to action in terms of mastering strategic technologies and building a national innovation system aligned with businesses and society’s needs.
He also highlighted the importance of accelerating inclusive digital transformation to ensure all people engage in and benefit from it. Digital transformation also needs to be conducted across all areas and all levels, covering digital infrastructure, digital data, digital skills, and cyber security and safety.
In particular, science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation must be turned into power for Vietnam to rise up, helping realise the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation, he added.
Participants in the forum noted that throughout Vietnam’s history of national construction and defence, the science, technology, postal and telecommunications sector has made quiet but significant contributions.
From researches and innovations during wartime to provide supplies for the frontline and ensure uninterrupted communication to the development of modern telecoms infrastructure, they have helped shorten the development gap and are closely tied to every stage of the nation’s growth. They have also laid the cornerstone for Vietnam to confidently advance to the era of global integration and competition.
Today, Vietnam has transformed from a poor country into an upper-middle-income nation, with per capita GDP rising fiftyfold—from under 100 USD in 1986 to 5,000 USD in 2024. This new stage calls to transform the growth model, in which science – technology, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as the three central pillars for Vietnam’s breakthrough.
Science and technology provide the knowledge base, innovation generates new values, and digital transformation affects every citizen, business, organisation, and community. The combination of these three factors will determine the nation’s competitiveness and serve as the driving force to propel Vietnam to a high-income and developed status.
Discussions at the forum focused on several topics, including strategic technology, an internationally integrated innovation ecosystem, digital infrastructure, and solutions for Vietnamese enterprises to further engage in global value chains.
The forum was an occasion for the science, technology and innovation community not only to share visions and connect resources but also to make these areas the central driving force for Vietnam’s fast and sustainable development in the new period./.
