Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park: Aiming at a multifunctional center, promoting the City's economic growth

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (CNC) has 161 valid projects, including 71 manufacturing projects, 18 service projects, 20 R&D projects, 8 training and incubation projects, and 23 supporting industry projects. There are 10 leading high-tech corporations that have invested in the park, including Intel, Jabil, Rockwell Automation, Nidec, Nipro, NTT, Samsung, etc.

The workforce at CNC enterprises is about 47 thousand workers, trained to meet the requirements from management, production operations to research and development (R&D). The number of university-level workers or higher in R&D increases sharply every year, of which the information technology sector accounts for more than 50%.

Since its establishment, Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park has had 3 affiliated units (R&D Research and Development Center, Hi-Tech Business Incubator, Hi-Tech Training Center) with the goal of supporting and linking with businesses to carry out science and technology activities at SHTP.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan assessed that R&D activities and expenditures from projects at SHTP accounted for over 47% of total private expenditure on R&D in Ho Chi Minh City, a very impressive figure.

On that basis, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly “ordered” SHTP to help Ho Chi Minh City increase investment in innovation and research and development of the private sector in the coming time. At that time, the mission of the Hi-Tech Park will not only be limited to the area of ​​the park, but will have a spreading effect, promoting the development of the private economy and investment in scientific and technological research.

“The Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park needs to set goals and directions to attract more private economic sectors to invest in research, thereby promoting the development of Ho Chi Minh City’s economy, becoming the economic locomotive of the whole country; in which, focusing on small and medium enterprises. With the investment in the Science Park, it should aim to become a science entertainment park, to attract students who love and have a passion for science and technology research. The High-Tech Park also needs to build an open space for science and technology to attract more enterprises to invest in the field of CNC”, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan emphasized.

Reporting to the delegation, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Quoc Cuong, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park, said that investment projects in SHTP all have commitments to spend on R&D activities. It is forecasted that by 2025, total spending on R&D is estimated to reach 250 million USD, an increase of 58% compared to 2021.

In particular, R&D spending from projects in the SHTP accounts for over 47% of total private spending on R&D in Ho Chi Minh City and about 7% in Vietnam. SHTP aims to become a SHTP not only limited to its geographical location, but also a multifunctional center that plays a role in promoting Ho Chi Minh City's economic growth.

“With the Science Park model, SHTP is planning to expand in the near future, with more space for exhibition, testing, and demonstration of CNC products. Currently, SHTP is also organizing many competitions for students to encourage their passion for science, typically the Smart Urban Microchip Design Competition. In addition, to promote science and technology and innovation activities, the Management Board has developed a model of linking 3 parties (universities, research institutes, enterprises) in CNC research and production”, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Quoc Cuong shared.

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park still faces some difficulties and problems such as: Lack of forecasting of technology trends in the world, difficulties in the process of technology transfer - product commercialization, no clear industrial planning in the law to guide development...

In the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park will focus on implementing a number of projects to create breakthroughs in science and technology infrastructure such as expanding with the additional function of a Science and Technology Park; upgrading the Research and Development Center to international standards (CoE); investing in infrastructure and equipment for semiconductors, biotechnology, AI, nanotechnology; converting the Hi-Tech Business Incubator into an Innovation Center, becoming an infrastructure for incubating and promoting Vietnamese innovation.

Regarding the draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Le Quoc Cuong proposed to establish the role of the CNC zone in the national strategy for science and technology development; legalize the orientations for developing CNC zones into science and technology parks; have a specific mechanism for establishing the Institute of Advanced Technology and Innovation, becoming the core of research and development of advanced technology; need to legalize and provide more specific guidance on concepts and standards on organizational and governance models according to international practices for S&T organizations; supplement regulations on principles for determining R&D costs at enterprises, regulations on the announcement of R&D expenses of enterprises in CNC zones. Propose to supplement regulations on principles for determining costs for R&D activities at enterprises, regulations on the announcement of R&D expenses of enterprises in CNC zones; decentralize to the provincial People's Committees to research and develop a CNC list, a list of strategic technologies prioritized for investment, development and related policies...

Bui Yen

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/khu-cong-nghe-cao-tp-ho-chi-minh-huong-den-muc-tieu-trung-tam-da-chuc-nang-thuc-day-tang-truong-kinh-te-thanh-pho-post543352.html