Can't cross the middle-income trap without relying on science and technology
On the afternoon of October 13, at the National Convention Center (Hanoi), the 1st Congress of the Government Party Committee, term 2025-2030, continued the working program.
At the Congress, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Government Party Executive Committee, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung presented a speech with the content: "The Party's leadership role in promoting the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation for a strong and prosperous Vietnam".
According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, agriculture has helped Vietnam escape poverty, industry has helped Vietnam become a middle-income country. To become a high-income developed country, Vietnam must rely on science and technology (STI)
"No country has ever broken through the middle-income trap without moving towards AI-based growth" - the Minister emphasized.
According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, Vietnam's science and technology go hand in hand with innovation and are placed in the context of digital transformation. This is a very unique approach of Vietnam.
In which, science and technology provide knowledge; innovation converts knowledge into service life; digital transformation of knowledge.
Regarding institutions for science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, Vietnam has been open, creative, modern like international, with a number of breakthrough and outstanding mechanisms and policies. In particular, Resolution 57 is a change in thinking, vision, "as a declaration" on shifting the development stage to relying on science and technology.
According to the Minister, to institutionalize Resolution 57, many laws in the field of science and technology have been and will be issued this year. science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must contribute at least 5% to GDP growth.
The State will spend 3-4 billion USD per year, activating a total of 10-15 billion USD for the whole society, so that science, technology, innovation and digital transformation contribute at least 5% to the country's GDP growth. Of which, science and technology is 1%, innovation is 2-3% and digital transformation is 1-2%.
A hundred million people who innovate have a whole future
Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung said that science and technology will focus on mastering 11 strategic technology groups, thereby forming strategic industries of Vietnam.
"Today, not mastering technology will mean not being able to maintain national sovereignty," the Minister emphasized.
Along with that, innovation will focus on technological innovation of enterprises, creativity of all people. Building a creative startup nation. Bring innovation to become a lifestyle and lifestyle of all people and all organizations. Building a culture of innovation, encouraging discovery and tolerating failure.
Digital transformation will focus on building a comprehensive digital nation, including digital government, digital economy, digital society, with digital citizens as the center.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that in the next 5 years, institutions, mechanisms, policies, and potential must be transformed into economic growth of over 10%, strategic autonomy.
The three ministries of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are the central driving force of development, the main driving force of growth, the key driving force to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness of the economy.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also said that science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are not just the work of a ministry, not just the cause of an industry, but the common cause of the whole country, of the entire nation.
"Real strength only comes when we bring everything together, go together for a long time. An innovator has an idea, a hundred million innovators have a future," Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized.
