Vietnam Demands 'Substantive Results' in Science, Tech & Digital Transformation: Top Leader Outlines Four Key Tasks

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam has strongly urged the creation of "substantive results" in the implementation of Resolution 57, which aims to promote science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Speaking at a review conference for the resolution after 18 months, Lam acknowledged positive developments, including improved awareness, institutional frameworks, and significant progress in national digital transformation. He highlighted the completion of the national population database and the activation of over 71 million VNeID accounts, which have streamlined numerous administrative procedures. In the science and technology sector, the "three-house" collaboration model has shown initial effectiveness in translating research into practice, with some Vietnamese enterprises mastering technologies and entering domestic and international markets. However, Lam candidly pointed out persistent challenges and bottlenecks. The disbursement rate for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation funds for the first six months of 2026 stood at a mere 23.35%, with digital transformation at only 12%. This, he noted, indicates a lack of implementation or know-how, with many areas possessing funds but unable to utilize them effectively. He also recognized that the impact of science, technology, and digital transformation has been most pronounced in state management and improving administrative procedures for citizens, while applications in businesses and economic development remain limited. Lam characterized the overall implementation of Resolution 57 as having clear directives, improving institutions, allocated resources, and high political will, but lacking commensurate actual results. Identifying the "execution phase" as the biggest bottleneck, Lam called for a shift from building mechanisms to generating tangible products and value. "We must strongly transition from building mechanisms to creating products, from completing tasks to creating value, and from preparing conditions to directly contributing to national development," he stated. To achieve more substantive results from Resolution 57, Lam outlined four key requirements: 1. Deeply grasp Resolution 57 in conjunction with the implementation of the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress. Resolution 57 is seen as a crucial "engine" to realize the "strategic blueprint" of the 14th Party Congress. 2. Shift from a mindset of completing tasks to creating concrete products, results, and value that directly contribute to double-digit growth targets. Specific questions must be answered regarding mastered technologies, connected data, reduced procedures, growing businesses, increased productivity, and tangible benefits for citizens and society. 3. Foster synchronized progress from the central to local levels and across society. Ministries should act as development facilitators, localities should proactively implement rather than await guidance, businesses should be at the core of the innovation ecosystem, and research institutions/universities should focus on solving practical problems and applying research findings. 4. Radically innovate leadership, direction, inspection, and evaluation methods. Heads at all levels must directly lead, inspect, and be accountable for the implementation results of Resolution 57, acting proactively within their authority and promptly reporting/proposing beyond it. Lam concluded by emphasizing the need for more determined, stronger, and, most importantly, more practical and effective implementation of Resolution 57, given the rapid pace of global technological competition. The conference saw participation from over 568,000 delegates across 3,662 online and offline locations nationwide.