Hanoi (VNA) – Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation has provided a strong “boost” and represented a strategic step to ensure the sustainability and self-reliance of the national economy, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Le Hung, lecturer at the ESIEE Paris - an engineering school of University Gustave Eiffel.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in France on the occasion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Hung stressed that achieving advanced technological self-reliance, especially in digital transformation, not only allows the country to pursue its own independent development path but also contributes to sustainable development and collective efforts to tackle climate change in the globe.
Against the backdrop of the 4th Industrial Revolution, marked by breakthroughs in digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and automation, Hung emphasised that Vietnam has no option but to prioritise science and technology as the foundation for sustainable development.
Hung said that future “Make in Vietnam” science and technology products will not only directly serve domestic demands, improve the people’s livelihoods, and boost labour productivity, but also have the potential to compete in international markets.
For this reason, he views the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress, which continue to emphasise science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the main drivers of development, as a sound choice with long-term vision.
The Congress is expected to mark a milestone for a “second wave of Doi moi (renewal),” driving a significant transformation for the country in the new era, he said.
Regarding the proposal to establish a network of research and development (R&D) centres to connect Vietnamese expertise worldwide, Hung said this is a strategically significant model that should be clearly defined by the Congress in terms of policy and implementation mechanisms. He noted that R&D centres should not only conduct pure research but also be designed to directly address specific challenges arising in the country’s production, management, and digital transformation processes.
The expert said that a well-organised R&D centre model could fully leverage Vietnamese expertise both at home and abroad, gradually raising domestic experts to international science and technology standards and ultimately enabling mastery of advanced technologies. He added that it would also help attract, utilise, and retain talent, particularly as the overseas Vietnamese (OV) intellectual community remains eager to contribute to their homeland.
Complex domestic challenges can be addressed through close collaboration between local scientists and OV experts, drawing on international experience and lessons. This approach also helps strengthen the national great solidarity and foster a sense of pride in the country.
According to the expert, engaging OV intellectuals in R&D centres could generate a ripple effect, drawing in international experts and partners. By actively inviting and enabling foreign scientists to contribute to addressing its development challenges, Vietnam not only improves the quality of research but also demonstrates its commitment to active, multilateral, and comprehensive international integration.
He emphasised that this approach is in line with Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context, viewing integration not just in geographical terms but also across fields such as people-to-people diplomacy, digital diplomacy, and, importantly, science diplomacy.
Hung also highlighted the close connection between R&D centre and domestic universities and research institutes, saying that research projects driven by practical demands will be carried out alongside the training, contributing to building a highly skilled science and technology workforce ready to take on national development and defence responsibilities.
This approach aligns with the State – education institute – enterprise linkage emphasised in Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthrough development in education and training, he stressed./.
VNA
