On June 11, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Hai Phong People’s Committee, organized a seminar on socio-economic development based on science, technology, and innovation. A core message at the event was to correctly reassess the nature of innovation, as many localities and businesses often equate this concept with merely increasing spending to purchase modern machinery or applying available technologies.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Minister of Science and Technology, development based on science, technology, and innovation is not only about investing in research or applying technology but primarily concerns institutions, policies, and governance of development. “A growth model based on high knowledge content requires a comprehensive structural approach. Strong institutions serve as a crucial foundation and catalyst to unleash the creativity of all social resources,” he stated.
Minister Vu Hai Quan speaks at the seminar on the morning of June 11. Photo: Dam Thanh
Delving deeper into this shift, the Minister assessed that where a favorable institutional environment is established, mechanisms to encourage innovation are in place, and effective connections between development entities exist, there are better conditions for transforming knowledge into productivity, technology into value, and innovation into growth momentum.
Focusing on the core solutions to build new macro drivers, the head of the Ministry of Science and Technology pointed out that the innovation value chain cannot be effective if it operates in isolation or develops independently within a closed environment.
He emphasized the need to eliminate the “island mentality,” where an entity closes itself off from research and is not linked to market flows. In the innovation ecosystem, alongside the state’s role in creating and guiding, businesses must be positioned at the center. Businesses are the direct points that apply technology, optimize processes, and commercialize research results. “Tightening the links between the three pillars of researchers – universities – businesses will create a strong impetus for development,” the Minister stressed.
At the seminar, experts noted that the country’s economy is entering a new development phase with stringent demands for innovation in the growth model, enhancing productivity, quality, and competitiveness. Throughout many decades, the growth model based on resource extraction, cheap labor, or expanded investment is gradually revealing its core limitations and has little room for further expansion.
In this flow, knowledge, technology, data, and innovative capabilities are no longer supplementary factors but play a decisive role, becoming the leading driving force for labor productivity and the quality of growth for each locality as well as the entire nation. The shift from extensive to intensive growth, where the factor of comprehensive productivity plays a paramount role, is not only a global trend but also an urgent requirement to create a solid breakthrough.
As a locality chosen for practical analysis at the seminar, Hai Phong is evaluated to be facing a historic opportunity for transformation. After the milestone of merging with Hai Duong in 2025, Hai Phong will become the third-largest city in the country, holding a crucial position in industry, logistics, and the maritime economy. Minister Vu Hai Quan noted that proactively mobilizing, connecting, and effectively utilizing resources from the state, businesses, research and training institutions, and domestic and international partners is significant in establishing new competitive advantages and expanding development space for the city.
