Putting science, technology and innovation at the center of the country's development process

In the cause of industrialization and modernization, our Party has always consistently identified science and technology as the top national policy and an important driving force to promote the country's rapid and sustainable development.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW was issued as a strategic step to affirm the key role of science, technology and innovation in the socio-economic development of our country.

Urgent need to make the most of opportunities and overcome challenges

Developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are decisive factors for the development of countries; they are the prerequisites and the best opportunities for our country to develop richly and powerfully in the new era - the era of national development.

In recent times, our Party and State have had many policies and guidelines to promote the application and development of science and technology, promote innovation and digital transformation, proactively and actively participate in the fourth industrial revolution, and achieve many important results...

However, the speed and breakthrough in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation are still slow; the scale, potential, level of science, technology and national innovation are still far behind that of developed countries; the awareness of many levels, sectors, cadres, civil servants and people about digital transformation is not complete and profound...

Faced with that reality, on December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

The Resolution clearly stated 5 guiding viewpoints with specific goals until 2030, with a vision to 2045. At the same time, it proposed 7 groups of solutions and stages in implementation organization.

Notably, given the importance of the Resolution, General Secretary To Lam is the Head of the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation. And in just a short period of time, from late January to early March 2025, the head of our Party chaired two meetings of the Steering Committee.

That has affirmed the importance of science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation as top priorities, an urgent requirement for Vietnam to make the most of opportunities and overcome challenges to develop richly and powerfully in the new era.

Always innovate and create in production, pursuing sustainable development.

At the second meeting on March 4, 2025, based on the report of the Standing Office of the Steering Committee and the opinions of the members of the Steering Committee, General Secretary To Lam acknowledged, commended and highly appreciated the efforts of the Government Party Committee, the National Assembly Party Committee, the Fatherland Front Party Committee, the Central mass organizations, the Party Committees of the Central Party agencies and the members of the Steering Committee, the Central Party Office - the Standing Office for actively implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and achieving some positive results after more than 1 month of implementation since the first meeting.

That is, basically completing the group of issues on the operational foundation of the Steering Committee, establishing the Working Group and the National Advisory Council; promptly issuing Resolution No. 193/2025/NQ-QH15 of the National Assembly with 12 pilot mechanisms and policies to institutionalize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW into practice, creating a basis for early implementation, immediately solving a number of pressing issues, without waiting for the National Assembly to amend the laws; the utilities of Project 06 have brought many practical benefits in management and service for people and businesses, which is a premise for building a National Data Center; the reduction, simplification and settlement of administrative procedures, provision of public services for people and businesses have had positive changes; attracting the attention and feedback of people, businesses, intellectuals, scientists, experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

General Secretary To Lam also noted the shortcomings and limitations that need to be promptly overcome to avoid the risk of becoming bottlenecks, such as slow leadership, direction, awareness, innovation in thinking, and political determination, especially leaders at all levels have not paid attention to directing and directly using electronic devices and software applications. Institutions, mechanisms, and policies are not yet complete and consistent. Although the National Assembly has issued Resolution No. 193/2025/NQ-QH15, there are still a number of unresolved issues.

Experience the Anbi robot at the Festival 'Bac Giang Youth - Innovation in the digital age.' (Photo: Dong Thuy/VNA)

Notably, the shortage of human resources, especially high-quality human resources, will be a bottleneck. Investment and improvement of infrastructure (transmission lines, 5G internet, satellite internet, databases, etc.) and development of new technologies (artificial intelligence, big data, etc.) have not received due attention. Digital transformation in the operations of agencies and the quality of online public service provision are still limited...

Strengthening the application of science and technology associated with organizational arrangement

General Secretary To Lam stated that 2025 is the starting year, shaping the direction and roadmap for implementing policies and initiatives to concretize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, creating a foundation for sustainable and effective development in the following years.

Therefore, in the second quarter of 2025 and the coming time, General Secretary To Lam requested to combine the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW with the process of restructuring the apparatus, especially the restructuring of government levels in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW and the direction of the Central Committee and the Politburo on the basis of enhancing the application of science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, ensuring streamlining, efficient, effective and efficient operations.

"Urgently complete institutions, mechanisms, policies and ensure resources to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW in the second quarter of 2025 to ensure consistency and effectiveness. This will not only create a solid legal corridor, but also remove barriers to promote tasks and solutions to be put into practice strongly," General Secretary To Lam emphasized.

The leader of our Party also requested to build and complete digital infrastructure and digital platforms, especially the National Data Center, the National Enterprise Database, the National Land Database; develop high-tech zones and strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, semiconductor technology; establish a technology exchange; boldly select and expand the application of scientific and technological products and solutions, digital transformation into practice, especially products and solutions that have shown effectiveness.

For some new issues, it is possible to pilot the implementation, perfect it while doing it, and evaluate its effectiveness before expanding it.

Along with that, the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee focuses on directing the removal of difficulties, obstacles and recommendations and proposals of the Steering Committee members and the Standing Agency, especially issues that are at risk of becoming bottlenecks and barriers.

Mekong Delta Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. (Photo: Pham Minh Tuan/VNA)

Deputy Heads of the Steering Committee need to participate in directing the implementation of the Steering Committee's activities and promote strongly, substantially and effectively the roles of the Standing Agency, the National Advisory Council, and the Working Group, closely following the working regulations and assigned tasks.

Building, amending and supplementing a series of related laws

Also at the second meeting, General Secretary To Lam directed and assigned specific tasks to the Government Party Committee, the National Assembly Party Committee, the Central Party Office, Party committees and members of the Steering Committee to focus on urgent implementation right after the meeting.

Accordingly, regarding the building and improvement of institutions, the National Assembly Party Committee and the Government Party Committee, according to their functions and tasks, will focus on building, amending and supplementing laws to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 9th session (May 2025): Law on Digital Technology Industry; Law on Science and Technology; Law on Technical Standards and Regulations; Law on Product and Goods Quality; Budget Law; Law on Atomic Energy and a number of related laws according to Resolution No. 193/2025/NQ-QH15 of the National Assembly.

At the same time, promptly study and propose amendments and supplements to a number of provisions in the following laws: Law on Corporate Income Tax; Law on Personal Income Tax; Law on Public Employees; Law on Anti-Corruption; Law on Enterprises; Law on Intellectual Property, Law on Public Investment, Law on Bidding... to meet the requirements of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, to be completed in 2025.

Adjust the 2025 budget estimate to allocate at least 3% of the budget for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation development, and continue to increase it to 2% of GDP in the next 5 years.

General Secretary To Lam requested the Government Party Committee to urgently direct the development and promulgation of a Decree detailing and guiding the implementation of Resolution No. 193/2025/NQ-QH15 of the National Assembly according to a simplified procedure.

Completed in March 2025. Updating the Vietnam e-Government Architecture Framework, digital government and adjusting information systems to suit the 3-level organizational model, especially digitizing data for handover, upgrading the information system for handling administrative procedures to be implemented immediately after the end of the district-level model and completed in the second quarter of 2025.

At the same time, research and develop a system of research and testing centers, national key laboratories, focusing on strategic technology and having mechanisms and policies to support and encourage individuals and organizations to carry out these activities; perfect institutions, establish investment funds for science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation, to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.

Identifying artificial intelligence technology as a breakthrough technology

Regarding the development of infrastructure, technology, data, and applications, General Secretary To Lam stated that the Government Party Committee directed the construction and completion of digital infrastructure and digital platforms, ensuring nationwide coverage of 5G broadband mobile networks in conjunction with promoting the deployment of satellite internet; and promptly putting the National Data Center into operation.

Delegates visit an exhibition on Artificial Intelligence solutions in education, at a workshop in November 2024. (Photo: Thu Hoai/VNA)

Along with that, identify artificial intelligence technology as a breakthrough technology. Urgently develop and promulgate the List of strategic technologies; establish a Strategic Industrial Development Investment Fund, to be completed in the second quarter of 2025.

The General Secretary also directed to focus on research and development of core technology and new generation breakthrough specialized chip products through investment in core technology research centers on semiconductors, focusing on areas such as AI chips, IoT chips; having a support mechanism to share and use some laboratory infrastructure and research facilities.

In the second quarter of 2025, complete the review and update of the National Data Strategy. In the third quarter of 2025, complete the digitization of internal business processes, documents, and results of administrative procedure settlement in areas related to people, businesses, public service activities, and party work (land, justice, health, education, labor, employment, party members, etc.); reuse 100% of digitized data to minimize administrative procedures and compliance costs for people and businesses...

"Deploy a number of application software in management activities and serve people and businesses in 2025, such as completing 61 utilities on VNelD to serve socio-economic development, innovation and crime prevention and control; deploy and expand automatic immigration gates applying advanced technologies at all airports; deploy non-stop toll collection at bus stations and parking lots in urban areas, evaluate effectiveness to improve traffic management, promote urban civilization...," the General Secretary requested.

Notably, regarding human resource development, the Government Party Committee directed the development of mechanisms and policies to attract and develop high-quality human resources in the fields of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; directed universities to promote human resource training for this field and research and implement a model combining universities, research centers and production facilities.

The General Secretary stated that the provincial and municipal Party Committees should establish a Steering Committee, headed by the Provincial Party Secretary, similar to the Central Steering Committee model, and develop and issue an action plan to implement Resolution No. 57, ensuring that the goals and tasks are linked to a roadmap, specific products, have local characteristics, are feasible and flexible with reality, and be completed in March 2025.

The General Secretary assigned the Steering Committee's Working Group to preside over and coordinate with the National Advisory Council in April 2025 to develop and submit to the Head of the Steering Committee for approval a Plan to implement Resolution No. 57 to ensure action, effectiveness, measurability and a flexible adjustment mechanism suitable to reality.

Vietnamese students get acquainted with Artificial Intelligence (Illustration photo: VNA)

The Central Organizing Committee shall promptly submit to the Secretariat instructions on the reorganization and arrangement of cadres with scientific and technological expertise in Party committees at all levels, to be completed by May 2025.

The Central Inspection Commission implements the Politburo's Inspection Plan, including the inspection and supervision of the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW by Party Committees, agencies, provincial and municipal Party Committees. In the second quarter of 2025, the Central Party Office will put into operation the Index to evaluate the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW...

General Secretary To Lam once emphasized: "Only science and technology and innovation are the ways to help us catch up, progress together, break through and surpass ourselves and the world."

Therefore, to achieve the goals and targets of the National Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, towards the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding and the 100th anniversary of the country's founding, we need breakthroughs, in which breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation are the chosen path to make leaps forward and shorten the gap with leading countries.

This is a prerequisite, a rare opportunity for our country to develop richly and powerfully in the new era - the era of national growth./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dat-kh-cn-doi-moi-sang-tao-vao-trung-tam-qua-trinh-phat-trien-dat-nuoc-post1023236.vnp