The target is to master 3 products by the end of 2025, 20 products by 2027, and an additional 25 products by 2035.

MOST on August 29 organized the forum "Future of Science and Technology, Innovation, and National Digital Transformation" at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Dong Anh, Hanoi), one of the key events leading up to the 80th Anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung reiterated the pivotal role of science and technology in the country’s 80-year development journey. Vietnam is entering a new era, marked by AI, big data, green energy, and the digital economy, where knowledge, creativity, and technology are the most critical production forces.

“Our first reform in 1986 opened an era of integration and market economy development with a socialist orientation. The second reform is about innovation and digital transformation, building a new ecosystem where enterprises, scientists, citizens, and the state collaborate to create value,” he said.

According to the minister, if the first reform was driven by agriculture, industry, processing, and assembly, the second reform will be driven by science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Participants at the event also emphasized the need for Vietnam to master strategic technologies. Failing to master technology today equates to lacking national sovereignty.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh stated that no developed nation has succeeded without mastering strategic technologies and industries. This process involves mastering products, designs, and ultimately core technologies. In the current phase, creatively applying core technologies to address Vietnam’s challenges is considered feasible and a priority.

“To achieve this, the state will task large enterprises, regardless of whether they are state-owned or private, with developing strategic products, industries, and technologies,” Minh stated.

According to the roadmap published by MOST, Vietnam will master 3 strategic technology products by 2025, at least 20 products by 2027, an additional 25 products and by 2035. It is expected that strategic technologies will make up 15-20 percent of GDP.

"Strategic technology development must begin with products, which are tied to enterprises. Enterprises understand market needs, while the state will create the institutional framework, research infrastructure, and experimental markets," said Nguyen Phu Hung, Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

He added that an ecosystem consisting of institutes and universities will be established to research and master technologies around enterprises. The state will facilitate this through institutionalization, supporting platforms, laboratories, research facilities with shared-use mechanisms, and especially by creating markets.

Thai Khang