June 06, 2026 | 14:00

Vietnam needs to advance science and technology in a new economic development model

Phuong Nhi

Economic experts believe that for Vietnam to achieve double-digit growth in the coming years and attain high-income status by 2045, promoting the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation is an urgent imperative.

Vietnam needs to advance science and technology in a new economic development model
The seminar to launch the Annual Policy Advisory Report 2026 with the theme: “Promoting Vietnam’s Double-Digit Economic Growth through Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation” is held on June 5. (Photo: UEB)

The University of Economics and Business (UEB) under Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), on June 5 organized a seminar to launch the Annual Policy Advisory Report 2026 with the theme: “Promoting Vietnam’s Double-Digit Economic Growth through Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation”.

Accordingly, UEB officially launched three Policy Advisory reports including: Vietnam’s Growth Outlook and Economic Structure; Innovation, Digital Transformation and National Governance Capacity; and Sustainable Development and New Economic Models. These reports focus on key strategic issues, including growth model transformation, private sector development, institutional reform, digital transformation, green growth, and improving the efficiency of resource allocation.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Central Commission for Policy and Strategy, emphasized that the goal of achieving double-digit economic growth in 2026 and throughout the 2026–2030 period presents significant challenges for Vietnam. In this context, transforming the growth model based on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation has become an urgent requirement.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo also identifies science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the foremost strategic breakthrough and the primary driver for improving labor productivity, enhancing national competitiveness, and laying a foundation for rapid and sustainable growth in the country’s new development phase.

“Science, technology, and innovation cannot be promoted in isolation but must be approached within a synchronized ecosystem. The government, businesses, research institutes, and universities need to strengthen meaningful cooperation and linkages to jointly create and disseminate value,” Dr. Hien said.

Similarly, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truc Le, UEB President,  stressed that Vietnam needs to make science and technology a direct productive force, innovation a core national competitive advantage, and digital transformation a key driver of productivity growth across the economy. This would enable research outcomes, new technologies, and innovative ideas to be translated into economic growth, job creation, higher incomes, and improved living standards.

Moreover, experts at the seminar also noted that to sustain double-digit growth in the long term, Vietnam must shift away from a growth model driven primarily by capital accumulation and labor expansion toward one based on productivity, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and an innovative business community.

In particular, Vietnam should promote national technology missions in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy, and digital logistics.

At the same time, the country needs to establish institutional “green lanes” by accelerating the approval of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation projects; expanding regulatory sandbox mechanisms; and adopting risk-based management approaches.

Alongside the government’s enabling role, the business community must strengthen its capacity to absorb new technologies, accelerate innovation, and proactively engage in digital transformation in order to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and resilience amid rapidly changing market conditions.

Attention
The original article is written and published on VnEconomy in Vietnamese, then translated into English by Askonomy – an AI platform developed by Vietnam Economic Times/VnEconomy – and published on En-VnEconomy. To read the full article, please use the Google Translate tool below to translate the content into your preferred language.
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