1. Core Drivers for Productivity and Competitiveness
According to congress documents, mastering strategic technologies is essential for strengthening national autonomy, improving competitiveness, and elevating Việt Nam’s role in global value chains.
Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics, emphasised that only by firmly positioning science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as central pillars of the growth model can Việt Nam achieve breakthroughs in productivity, quality, and competitiveness.
He noted that future development must align with major global shifts, such as digitalisation, green growth, and the energy transition, with science and technology as the main engines of progress.
2. Innovation as the Engine of Economic Transformation
Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng stated that innovation is the core mechanism that transforms digital technologies and knowledge into productivity, added value, and sustainable growth. Speaking at the congress, he underlined that Việt Nam must rely on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to transition from a middle-income to a high-income economy.
The Party has expanded and redefined these drivers through a new development approach, creating broader space for growth and unlocking new resources.
“With these three pillars, Việt Nam has the potential to achieve double-digit growth,” the minister said.
He cited Politburo Resolution No. 57 (December 2024), which identifies science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation as top-priority breakthroughs. These forces are expected to modernise productive forces, reform production relations, enhance governance, and strengthen national self-reliance.
3. Prioritising Digital Transformation in the Near Term
According to Minister Hùng, measuring the contribution of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to GDP growth is a critical next step. From now to 2031, priority should be given first to digital transformation, followed by innovation, science, and technology.
In digital transformation alone, changes in operational models are estimated to account for 70% of the impact, while technology itself contributes 30%.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Phạm Đức Long added that the congress has set a target for the digital economy to contribute 30% of GDP by 2030, up from the current level of around 14%. Achieving this goal requires treating the digital economy as a new way to organise and operate economic activities in a digital environment.
4. Moving Beyond Traditional Growth Models
Nguyễn Xuân Thắng stressed that double-digit growth cannot depend solely on traditional advantages such as labour, land, and natural resources. Instead, these factors must be upgraded through science, technology, and innovation.
He highlighted the need to apply technology across emerging areas, including:
- The digital, green, and circular economies
- Semiconductor manufacturing
- Artificial intelligence and cloud computing
These sectors, he said, are essential for achieving growth aligned with Việt Nam’s long-term development goals.
5. Localities and Youth at the Centre of Transformation
Bùi Thanh Toàn, Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Đắk Lắk Provincial Party Committee, said that placing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation at the core of development strategies provides localities with a strong foundation to unlock their unique potential. He emphasised the need to prioritise investment in strategic technologies and digital infrastructure at the central and local levels.
Meanwhile, Bùi Đức Giang, Secretary of the Phú Thọ Provincial Youth Union, noted that Vietnamese youth are entering an era of unprecedented opportunity. Fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, green technology, and innovative startups are opening new pathways for young people to contribute to national development.
6. Eleven Strategic Technology Groups for the Future
The Government has issued a list of 11 strategic technology groups, aligned with global trends and national development goals. These include:
- Artificial intelligence, digital twins, VR, and AR
- Cloud computing, quantum computing, and big data
- Blockchain
- Next-generation mobile networks (5G, 6G)
- Robotics and automation
- Semiconductor chips
- Advanced biomedical technologies
- Energy technologies and advanced materials
- Rare earths, marine, and underground resources
- Cybersecurity
- Aviation and space technologies
Building on this framework, the Prime Minister has selected six strategic technology products for early implementation, such as large language models and Vietnamese virtual assistants, AI edge cameras, autonomous mobile robots, 5G systems, blockchain infrastructure, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
These technologies are viewed as breakthrough spearheads with wide application potential and the ability to form domestic high-tech industrial ecosystems.
7. Strengthening Funding for Strategic Technologies
The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) has been established to focus resources on priority technologies capable of generating concrete outcomes. According to NAFOSTED Director Đào Ngọc Chiến, the foundation plays a key role in funding both basic and applied research closely linked to national science, technology, and innovation priorities.
Together, these initiatives signal Việt Nam’s determination to harness science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the backbone of its next stage of rapid and sustainable development.
