The main driving force for rapid development of modern production forces
Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology (S&T) development, innovation (I innovation) and national digital transformation (NST) has established an important milestone in the country's development thinking.
Resolution 57 defines the guiding viewpoint that the development of S&T, innovation and national digital transformation is the top important breakthrough, the main driving force for rapidly developing modern production forces, perfecting production relations, innovating national governance methods, developing socio-economy, preventing the risk of lagging behind, and bringing the country to breakthrough development and become rich and strong in the new era.
Not only stopping at issuing a thematic resolution, in the past time, General Secretary and President To Lam has repeatedly emphasized and deepened the core contents of Resolution 57, and at the same time clearly defined a new development mindset based on S&T, Innovation and Digital Economy.
At the National Conference on Breakthroughs in S&T, Innovation and Digital Economy Development, January 13, 2025, the head of our Party emphasized: With the goal of becoming a modern industrial country by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045, we must consider S&T, Innovation and Digital Economy as the key driving force. This is the "golden key", the vital factor to overcome the middle-income trap and the risk of lagging behind, and at the same time realize the aspiration of our nation to be strong and prosperous.
At the conclusion of the working session with agencies on assessing the country's development resources on May 20, 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam stated clearly: To bring the country into a period of rapid and sustainable development with the goal of "double-digit" growth, it is necessary to thoroughly grasp the view that it cannot only rely on extending the old growth model, with traditional drivers; it is necessary to innovate thinking about resources: Switching from considering resources as readily available, finite, and static, to considering resources as having to be created, enriched, renewed, connected and spread; establishing a new growth model based on S&T, innovation and DD.
Previously, at the first meeting of 2026 of the Standing Committee of the Central Steering Committee for S&T, Innovation and Digital Economy Development on March 12, 2026, the head of our Party emphasized, promote development, promote the application of S&T, Innovation and Digital Economy achievements to directly serve the production and business activities of enterprises and the economy.
S&T development must strongly focus on solving practical problems of the economy, improving labor productivity, product quality and enterprise competitiveness.
Transformed into material strength, measurable results
The Politburo's issuance of Resolution 57, as well as the messages of General Secretary and President To Lam in the past time, shows the highest-level political determination to "take shortcuts to catch up" with global trends, creating new momentum to bring the country to break through and rise up.
These messages show an important shift in development thinking. In the context of increasingly fierce global competition, the advantage of natural resources or cheap labor is gradually decreasing, productivity, quality of human resources, innovation capacity and technological level are factors that determine each country's position.
According to Dr. Tran Van Khai - Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, breakthroughs in S&T and innovation are not just one option, but the path for Vietnam to achieve rapid and sustainable economic growth in the long term. International organizations and experts all agree that the most important driving force determining a country's growth prospects is productivity, and S&T is the number one factor promoting productivity.
To achieve double-digit GDP growth in the coming years - which is necessary to realize the aspiration to be powerful, we have no other way but to maximize the driving force of S&T, innovation, and RD. This requires a strong change in thinking, considering investment in R&D (research and development), for RD not as cost but as strategic investment for the future" - Dr. Tran Van Khai shared.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quoc Ly - former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics - said that Resolution 57 of the Politburo as well as the statements of General Secretary and President To Lam have shown very important messages, paving the way for breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation to develop the country.
Now, the responsibility of the whole society is to jointly realize the goals that Resolution 57 as well as the directions of Party and State leaders into material strength, into measurable results, so that KHCN, ĐMST, CĐS truly become the driving force to bring Vietnam to break through.
