Hanoi (VNA) - Innovation resembles a river flowing from the mountains to the sea, and at the source of that river lies research and development (R&D), an area in which Vietnam is increasingly investing, opined Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Daren Tang.
Vietnam has transformed dramatically in society, economy, and culture and is now poised to enter a new phase of growth. Science, technology, and innovation are the catalysts for Vietnam’s future success, he told reporters during his working trip to the country at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
He highlighted Vietnam’s steady climb in the Global Innovation Index (GII), moving from 76th place in 2013 to 44th in 2024, a rare achievement in the history of the ranking. This, he said, demonstrates Vietnam’s solid foundation for the next stage of development.
The WIPO leader laid stress on the need to consolidate investment in R&D activities, improve human resources quality to translate innovative initiatives into tangible results, and shift to a knowledge economy.
When asked about Vietnam's ongoing efforts to amend its IP law, he argued that intellectual property protection has historically focused on registration and rights protection, an approach he considers insufficient for modern needs.
The WIPO chief said that both WIPO and Vietnam are working toward turning intellectual assets into economic value. Once ideas are registered, the key is to ensure they can reach the market and generate returns.
With this approach, IP right will become an ecosystem connecting universities, research institutes, and enterprises, from startups to large corporations. He emphasised the importance of raising public awareness and building skills in intellectual property across all sectors. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding on IP cooperation between the WIPO and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, he added, will serve as a catalyst to advance the country’ next chapter of development.
Addressing Vietnam's goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth in coming years, Tang returned to his river metaphor. The more investment flows into research and development, the stronger the river flows toward the sea. Yet to ensure this flow remains smooth and well-coordinated, supporting mechanisms are essential to translate ideas into regional and global exemplars, he explained.
WIPO is committed to helping Vietnamese partners connect with businesses through initiatives like "Lab to Market," which assists technology students to bring their innovations to market. This facilitates the creation of university spin-off companies, enabling students to connect their academic work with enterprises.
In this way, intellectual property becomes a bridge as well as an integral part of the development ecosystem, he said, stressing WIPO will stand side by side with Vietnam to implement the Politburo’s Resolution No.57 on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, for a knowledge-driven future./.
