Hanoi (VNA) – The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) on December 24 held a workshop in Hanoi on the application and development of Vietnam’s newly launched portal for scientific, technological and innovation initiatives, aimed at promoting the commercialisation of new ideas.
In his opening remarks, Associate Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of NAFOSTED, stressed that digital transformation is now an essential requirement rather than a choice, and innovation has become a key driver of national growth. Initiatives generated by scientists, businesses or people all have the potential to deliver major socio-economic value if properly identified and supported, he said.
However, he noted that many promising initiatives in Vietnam remain fragmented across sectors and regions, and there is no an effective mechanism to evaluate, connect or turn them into practical solutions, commercial products or public policy tools. The new portal is therefore designed as an open digital platform linking idea creators, experts and organisations capable of adopting and developing initiatives.
The portal, which can be accessed at sangkien.gov.vn, was built to address the urgent need to mobilise collective intelligence and unlock the creativity of the entire population, in accordance with the directives of the steering committee for the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on creating breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.
The portal is expected to receive submissions from all segments of society, support objective and transparent evaluation, and match proposals with the real needs of enterprises, localities and regulatory bodies. It will also promote intellectual property protection and the application and commercialisation of high-value initiatives, thereby acting as an effective bridge between research, practice and the market, as well as between the public and private sectors and domestic and international partners.
Connecting Vietnamese experts worldwide
According to Vu Van Phan, Acting Head of NAFOSTED’s Digital Transformation Division, the portal is designed as an open system with the participation from ministries, local authorities, evaluation councils, receiving institutions, individuals and the wider online community.
It can process a wide range of submissions, including groundbreaking initiatives, proposals for strategic products and technologies, applications for recognition of initiatives and funding requests. It also provides advisory services on legal matters, intellectual property, technology search and international cooperation. All procedures, from submission and review to evaluation, are conducted online.
Notably, the portal will integrate a global network of Vietnamese AI experts to enhance evaluation quality and capacity. Hundreds of Vietnamese AI specialists currently working in leading research institutions and technology firms worldwide will be able to participate remotely in reviewing and advising, helping support research groups and businesses.
Delegates at the workshop agreed that the portal has strong potential to become a useful platform for universities, local authorities and companies alike. For academic institutions, it will help lecturers and students submit and develop research ideas. For provinces and cities, it can support policy-making, socio-economic development and digital transformation. Businesses, meanwhile, can use it to access innovation partners and problem-solving expertise.
NAFOSTED said the portal will continue to be upgraded with greater automation, data-analysis tools and connection features to support the application and commercialisation of initiatives. The foundation hopes the platform will not only provide a space for registering ideas but also help nurture, develop and enhance their value within Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem./.
