Ninh Binh (VNA) – The Vietnam Research and Development Forum 2025 opened in the northern province of Ninh Binh on July 30, aiming to support Vietnam in developing an effective national R&D strategy grounded in international collaboration and innovation-driven policies.
Co-organised by the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global) and the Ninh Binh People’s Committee, the two-day event brings together around 100 domestic and foreign scientists and experts, policymakers, and representatives from local and international agencies and businesses. Themed “Advancing Vietnam’s Future through Strategic R&D Investment”, it was also seen as a strategic step to promote the transition to a knowledge-based economy, and strengthen the country’s internal innovation capacity—a key driver for sustainable development and increasing Vietnam’s global standing.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong, Chairman of AVSE Global, said Vietnam R&D Forum 2025 focuses on actionable solutions towards transforming global knowledge into concrete initiatives tailored to Vietnam’s context.
Khuong underscored the vital role of science and technology in driving innovation to create motivation for national growth and development. He expressed his hope that with its wealth of intellectual and expert resources, the forum will serve as a platform for idea exchange and a space for action, where scientists and experts can identify a distinct path for R&D in Vietnam, ultimately proposing a policy framework that brings R&D into practical application to empower businesses to grow stronger and expand globally.
At the forum, Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that the forum takes place at a pivotal time as the country is conducting strong political system reforms, and science – technology, innovation, and digital transformation have been identified as a key pillar of a new economic development model in the country.
The goal of increasing R&D investment to 2% of GDP by 2030 reflects Vietnam's strategic direction towards building a knowledge- and innovation-based economy, he added, noting that without R&D, scientific advances cannot be effectively applied in practice or generate real value.
The forum offered a good chance for localities to engage in dialogue, share practical lessons, and identify suitable models to effectively connect research, development, and application in ways that align with Vietnam’s specific context and conditions, he said.
Participants focused their discussion on the Vietnam R&D roadmap 2025–2030, which emphasises financial incentives, expert networking, and strengthening industry–university collaboration; a national R&D policy framework, with proposals to establish a national R&D council, implement talent incentives, and offer tax breaks for businesses investing in R&D; and sector-specific investment action plans that aim to develop dedicated special economic zones for R&D, support professional training, and develop specialised investment funds.
Vietnam R&D Forum 2025 aims to achieve five core goals – establishing long-term connection mechanisms for R&D cooperation, promoting the transfer and commercialisation of research outcomes, developing a national R&D strategy grounded in practical initiatives, positioning Vietnam as an emerging R&D hub in ASEAN, and fostering a dynamic, integrated, and sustainable R&D ecosystem.
The event is also expected to serve as a strategic bridge connecting policymakers, businesses, research institutes, universities, investors, and experts, thus promoting dialogue, cooperation, and concrete actions.
Data from the World Bank showed that spending on R&D in Vietnam increased to 0.43% of GDP in 2021 from 0.3% in 2013, considered a positive improvement but still low compared to developed countries' average of 2–4% of GDP./.
