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| Experts attend the conference__Photo: VNA |
The conference hoped to strengthen national innovation system development with close connection between State agencies, manufacturers, enterprises and investors.
Vietnam’s national innovation system has been increasingly completed during the past years, said Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat in a conference held in Hanoi on April 19.
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology as part of the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024, which will fall on April 21.
The day was chosen by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2017.
The event was organized to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in socio-economic growth, building a sustainable society and promoting all aspects of human development.
It also targeted to call for organizations and individuals to work together in speeding up innovation activities.
The event hoped to strengthen national innovation system development with close connection between State agencies, manufacturers, enterprises and investors.
Speaking at the conference, Dat emphasized that Vietnam reached achievements in the field thanks to joint efforts of ministries, localities, enterprises and scientists, and support from international organizations.
The Global Innovation Index (GII) has been announced annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization since 2017 and has been used by the Vietnam Government as an important tool to compile and promulgate policies to promote innovation.
Since then, Vietnam’s GII ranking has continuously improved, increased from position 59 in 2016 to position 46 last year.
“Vietnam always maintains the second position in the group of low middle-income countries and is one of seven middle-income countries that have made the most progress in innovation over the past decade,” said Dat.
Since last year, with technical support from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Provincial Innovation Index (PII) has officially been deployed nationwide.
The implementation follows the Government’s instruction in Resolution 10/NQ-CP issued on February 3.
The PII aims to provide an overall view of current socio-economic development based on science, technology and innovation of each locality.
Thereby, it provides basis and evidence on strengths, weaknesses, potential factors and necessary conditions to enhance socio-economic growth based on science, technology and innovation for every province and city.
Besides achieved results, Dat said, Vietnam’s innovation capacity needed to be improved more strongly in the coming period to increase labor productivity and product quality, environmental protection and sustainable development.
“Vietnam is transforming its growth model from relying on capital and labor to one based on science, technology and innovation. This is a long-term goal, requiring the participation and joint contributions of the entire society,” he said.
Dat wished to receive more guidance from the Party, Government and National Assembly; support and cooperation of ministries, localities, research institutes, universities and businesses so that scientific research, technological development and innovation activities can make more and more practical contributions to the nation.
Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that innovation had the potential to advance achievement toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
According to the national volunteer report on SDGs last year, Vietnam has achieved five out of 17 SDGs.
In the coming years, she recommended Vietnam to intensify the process of achieving these goals through innovation and creativity.
The country should inspire green technology and solutions to respond to new challenges, reduce carbon emissions, as well as enhance environmental sustainability, improve people's lives and bring economic opportunities.
Pauline Tamesis assessed that Vietnam could achieve its vision of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045.
Innovation is not limited to high-tech fields with scientists, but needs to include innovators at the grassroots level, especially youth.
Aspirations for Vietnam to become a high-income developed country by 2045 depend on creating good conditions for creativity and innovation, she said.
During the conference, scientists and experts discussed an overview of innovation in enterprises; policies and orientations to push the national creative startup ecosystem; innovation measurement tools; and creative startups.- (VNA/VLLF)
