Hanoi (VNA) – A national forum on the future of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation took place on August 29 at the Vietnam National Exposition Centre in Hanoi's Dong Anh commune, as part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945–2025).

Organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology within the “80-Year Journey of Independence – Freedom – Happiness” exhibition, the forum brought together policymakers, scholars and businesses from Vietnam and abroad. It aimed to shape a long-term vision for the country’s science and technology strategy, reaffirming their role alongside innovation and digital transformation as the key pillars for sustainable growth and national competitiveness.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said the forum was an opportunity to review past achievements, anticipate global trends and define a forward-looking strategy. He noted that science and technology had accompanied Vietnam through eight decades of struggle and development - from wartime resilience to post-war reconstruction and global integration - and were now entering a new era led by artificial intelligence, big data, green energy and the digital economy.

The Party and State have consistently identified science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as core drivers for rapid and sustainable development. Minister Hung recalled that Vietnam’s first “Doi Moi” (Renewal) in 1986 opened a socialist-oriented market economy, lifting the country out of poverty through agriculture, industry and manufacturing. The “second renewal,” he said, centres on innovation and digital transformation, creating an ecosystem where businesses, scientists, citizens and the State co-create value, to break free from the middle-income trap.

He emphasised that the forum was not only about recognising opportunities and challenges but also about committing to action. This includes treating the mastery of strategic technologies as a matter of sovereignty, building a national innovation system that responds to business and social needs, and fostering a start-up nation driven by digital and technological innovation. He also highlighted the importance of accelerating digital transformation to ensure inclusivity, with science, technology, and innovation positioned as the driving force behind Vietnam’s aspiration for a prosperous and happy future.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh presented the central report, titled “Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation – Core Drivers and Breakthroughs for Vietnam’s Sustainable and Resilient Growth.” The report, based on Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, emphasised three pillars - science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; two strategic goals, namely sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness; and one aspiration: transforming Vietnam into a high-income developed country.

The event featured four thematic sessions covering strategic technologies of the future, the development of a national start-up ecosystem, digital infrastructure and society, and policies for human resources, global integration and enterprise leadership in science, technology and innovation.

🐼 It reaffirmed Vietnam’s determination to place science, technology, innovation and digital transformation at the heart of its development strategy./.