Vietnam's Top Leader Urges Stronger Breakthroughs in Science, Technology, and Digitalization

Vietnamese top leader To Lam has called for stronger breakthroughs in the implementation phase of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which focuses on advancements in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Addressing a national conference reviewing the 1.5-year implementation of the resolution on July 1, 2026, in Hanoi, General Secretary and President To Lam identified the "biggest bottleneck" as lying within the execution stage, demanding a more vigorous push forward. He emphasized that Vietnam must decisively transition from laying foundations to delivering results, moving from mechanism building to product creation, from task completion to value generation, and from preparing conditions to directly contributing to national development. "The upcoming period must focus on delivering results," To Lam stated. Among the major tasks for the coming period, To Lam outlined four key requirements. First, it is imperative to continue thoroughly grasping Resolution 57 in alignment with the implementation of the Resolution adopted at the 14th National Party Congress. He stressed that science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation are the primary drivers of the new development and growth model and an "obligatory path" to realize the country's two centenary goals. Every party committee, organization, official, and member, especially top leaders, must view the resolution's execution as their critical and regular political task. Tasks under Resolution 57 will only be considered complete when they yield operational products, verifiable data, actual users, and measurable efficiency. "We must answer with concrete products: which technologies have been mastered, which data systems have been connected, which administrative procedures have been streamlined, which enterprises have scaled up, which sectors have increased productivity, how citizens have benefited, how much society has saved, and how much growth has been contributed," he specified. Regarding national digital transformation, To Lam highlighted the need to accelerate digitalization across enterprises and society, alongside focusing on the political system, while developing the digital and data economies. In terms of science, technology, and innovation, he stressed concentrating national resources on mastering and developing strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, robotics, biomedicine, materials and energy, semiconductor chips, cybersecurity, quantum computing, unmanned aerial vehicles, and marine technologies. He called for setting clear targets for technological mastery, product possession, exports, and contributions to economic growth, national defense, security, and national autonomy over various timeframes. Ministers leading strategic technology projects must bear ultimate responsibility for the final product, focusing on actual outcomes, efficiency, and real-world impact. To Lam also urged the business community to increase investment in R&D, technological innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resource training, urging enterprises to serve as the center of the innovation ecosystem. Research institutes and universities were encouraged to focus more heavily on practical problems facing the country and utilize application, transfer, and commercialization as key metrics for research performance. He also called for strengthening international cooperation to attract knowledge, technology, and experts, thereby enhancing domestic R&D capacity. Furthermore, To Lam requested that the education and training sector, starting from the upcoming academic year, review curricula, prioritize strategic technological fields, and accelerate training in digital skills, innovation capacity, and AI application. The implementation outcomes of Resolution 57 will serve as a key criterion for cadre evaluation.