HCM City to build sci-tech park in eastern innovation hub

HCM City should learn from other countries’ experiences in building a world-class science and technology park so that it can shift to a knowledge-based economy, speakers said at a recent conference in the city.
HCM City to build sci-tech park in eastern innovation hub ảnh 1A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - HCM City should learn from other countries’ experiences in building aworld-class science and technology park so that it can shift to a knowledge-based economy, speakerssaid at a recent conference in the city.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Thi, head of the board of management of Saigon Hi-tech Park(SHTP), said the city should place great emphasis on development of humanresources in the hi-tech sector so that it can move from an industrial-based toa knowledge-based economy.

SHTP has a vision to lay a foundation for development of high-tech industriesin HCM City. “We aim to create an environment to improve the quality of humanresource training as this is the most important factor in production,” he said.

Thi also noted that it was important to enhance links between educationalinstitutions, enterprises and SHTP.

The city should learn from successful models of science and technology parksfrom other countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Malaysia,Philippines, Thailand, India, Iran and Indonesia, and others.

In the past 20 years, different types of science and technology park modelshave been built around the world, such as innovation centres, incubationcentres, science and technology parks, innovation towns, and public science andAl technology urban areas.  

In 2011, the city started consulting experts to build the HCM City Science andTechnology Park. Construction on the project is expected to cost more than 4.3trillion VND (185 million USD).

It is expected to be asignificant part of the ecosystem of the proposed innovation hub in the easternpart of the city in districts 2, 9, and Thu Duc.

In 2015, the park, to be located on 197.2 hectares near the Saigon Hi-Tech Parkin District 9, was approved by the municipal People’s Committee. 

The new park will connect with educational and research institutes and centresin the area as part of the city’s programme to improve the quality of humanresources, especially in new technologies.

Working conditions for IT experts at the new park will be at a very high level,including robot application, 3D printing, Internet of Things and blockchain,contributing to the development of the innovation hub.

As the investor of the new park, the Saigon Hi-tech Park aims to become asmart, innovative technology park over the next five years. 

The park has implemented a programme to develop high-technology supportingindustries, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology inadministrative management, aiming toward a modern governance model.

Takashi Nakajima, an expert at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park Training Centre and theJapan International Cooperation Agency, said that successful promotion of ascience and technology park required academic research capabilities as well ascooperation between academics and public industries.

In addition, a well-established human resources supply base is needed tosupport the development of a science and technology park. 

“We need time, money and patience to establish a first-class academic society,”he said.

“In Japan, the government set a goal to create 1,000 university-based venturecompanies in 2001. It met the goal in 2004. And as of 2017, more than 2,000university-based companies were still active,” he added.

Nguyen Hoa Cuong, vice president of theCentral Institute for Economic Management, said the government should develop along-term strategy and specific policies to support the building of a scienceand technology park in HCM City.

Phan Thi Hong Xuan, president of theVietnam-ASEAN’s Friendship Association, and vice president of the Vietnam -Singapore Friendship Association, said that the science and technology parkwould contribute greatly to the development of a “highly interactive andinnovation district” in the eastern area of HCM City.

Lam Quang Vinh, director ofthe Department of Science and Technology – Vietnam National University, notedthat it was important to promote joint activities in scientific research andtechnology transfer with businesses at the National University of HCM City.

The university is a training centre for high-quality human resources and ascientific research centre for various fields. As one of the country’s largesteducational organisations, the university has 36 units for training, scientificresearch and technology transfer, including seven member universities. It hasdeveloped close relations between the State, scientists and enterprises.

Recently, the city People’s Council passed a resolution to merge the easterndistricts of 2, 9 and Thu Duc into one administrative unit to create an innovation hub tentatively called Thu Duc city.

The new hub will use advanced technologies and have the best and smartestinfrastructure in traffic, telecommunications, healthcare and other fields. Itwill also have a modern and quality living environment similar to developedcountries.

It is expected to contribute a third of the city’s GDP, accounting for 7percent of national GDP./.
VNA

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