Hanoi (VNA) – Director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Vu Quoc Huy has reiterated the crucial role of innovation in the tertiary education system and its broader impact on national development.
Addressing a workshop held in Hanoi on October 2, Huy expressed his confidence in the effective cooperation between domestic and foreign universities and the NIC in training a quality workforce.
Hub Langstaff, Country Director of the Swiss Entrepreneurship Programme (SwissEP) in Vietnam, part of Switzerland's initiative to build innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in seven developing countries, including Vietnam, highlighted the enormous potential of innovation in Vietnam today. He also provided several recommendations to address challenges and ensure the innovation ecosystem can truly reach its full potential.
Dr. Sarah Mamiese, Head of the AFD Campus, noted that the circular economy can harmonise economic development with environmental and human protection.
Conducting practical research activities with an innovative approach to find truly effective solutions, avoid the innovation trap, and master innovation for a better future is absolutely necessary, she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Trung Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Higher Education Network of Entrepreneurship & Innovation (VNEI) and CEO of BK Holdings at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, proposed that leaders of Vietnamese universities should undertake study tours to observe and learn from innovative models launched by universities worldwide.
Dr. Tran Nam Tu, who is in charge of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment at the Ministry of Education and Training, revealed that the ministry will soon introduce two schemes. The first focuses on training a workforce for high-tech development from 2025 to 2035, with a vision until 2045, while the second aims to develop a quality workforce to meet the demands of the fourth Industrial Revolution.
Both schemes aim to cultivate a robust supply of hi-tech human resources, a large pool of experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology. This would position Vietnam as a competitive force in attracting investment from global tech giants, helping to restructure the economy and propel national development through sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation and green transition, he said.
At the event, the organising board announced the addition of 15 new members to the VNEI, bringing the total to 71.
The event was also part of celebrations for the NIC’s 5th anniversary and the Vietnam Innovation Day 2024, co-hosted by NIC and VNEI./.