Vietnam Charts Bold Path for Innovation with New Resolution on Science, Technology, and Digital Transformation
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam is taking a major leap forward in its quest to become a regional leader in innovation and digital transformation with the issuance of Resolution 57, adopted by the Communist Party in December 2024. The resolution outlines a comprehensive strategy to remove institutional barriers, strengthen enterprise-led innovation, modernize digital infrastructure, and overhaul public governance through technology.
Building on previous legislative foundations—including the 2012 Party resolution on science and technology and the 2013 Law on Science and Technology—Resolution 57 introduces transformative reforms to foster sustainable and inclusive digital growth across five key pillars.
Removing Institutional Bottlenecks
Despite holding over 300 intellectual property rights, Vietnamese research institutions have often struggled to bring their innovations to market due to legal fragmentation and overlapping regulations. For example, a genetically edited soybean variety and a Vietnam-specific red blood cell panel—both scientific breakthroughs—remain underutilized due to the absence of a coherent licensing framework.
“We need legislative reform that gives priority to applying domestic technologies,” said Associate Professor Chu Hoàng Hà, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
“Our red blood cell panel is superior to imported ones and tailored to our people,” added Professor Nguyễn Anh Trí, yet its wider application has been hindered by licensing hurdles.
Streamlining Licensing and Commercialization
Trần Thị Nhị Hà, Deputy Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for People’s Aspirations, emphasized the need to streamline licensing procedures and reduce overlapping ministerial oversight. In some cases, a single AI-powered healthcare device had to be approved by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications.
She proposed a unified regulatory regime and specific time limits on patent processing:
- 12 months for substantive examination
- 3 years for total patent approval
Legislative and Strategic Advances
To implement Resolution 57 effectively, the National Assembly passed a complementary resolution in February 2025, introducing a pilot mechanism that features:
- Lump-sum budgeting for research
- Greater autonomy for researchers
- Central funding for digital infrastructure
- Streamlined commercialisation support
A revised Law on Science, Technology and Innovation is expected to be submitted for approval in May 2025, alongside a new Science and Technology Strategy for 2026–2030 to guide Vietnam’s long-term innovation planning.
A Vision for the Future
With Resolution 57, Vietnam is setting the stage for a modern, innovation-led economy where research moves efficiently from laboratories into real-world applications. By dismantling bureaucratic hurdles and empowering its scientific community, the country aims to position itself as a key player in the global digital transformation movement.
