Vietnam Boosts International Cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation

Vietnam is accelerating its strategy to enhance international cooperation, positioning science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation (DX) as new engines of economic growth. This commitment is underscored by a series of government-driven policies and strengthened international partnerships. The Ministry of Science and Technology has initiated a feedback process for a draft decree aimed at reinforcing the legal framework for technology appraisal and transfer. The proposed amendments seek to improve support policies for participating entities and bolster risk management to ensure sustainable development, environmental protection, and public health, thereby enhancing the transparency and efficiency of technology transfer. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed his hopes for Swiss and European enterprises to scale up both direct and indirect investments, intensify technology transfer, support workforce training, share management expertise, invest in research and development, and assist Vietnamese businesses in integrating more deeply into global value and supply chains. This reflects Vietnam's ambition to adopt advanced technologies and bolster its international competitiveness. In the realm of AI regulation, Vietnam has been identified by the World Bank as one of the few economies outside the European Union (EU) to adopt a comprehensive AI regulatory framework by 2025. Employing a risk-tiered approach similar to the EU AI Act, Vietnam will impose different obligations based on the risk level of AI systems, a strategic step towards ensuring safe and transparent AI governance. This demonstrates Vietnam's intent to navigate its digital economy transition securely. The deployment of 5G networks is also progressing rapidly, with over 40,000 base transceiver stations (BTSs) already deployed, covering approximately 92% of the population. This rapid rollout is among the fastest globally, highlighting Vietnam's focus on digital infrastructure development compared to many advanced economies that typically take two to three years to achieve over 80% population coverage. These initiatives suggest Vietnam's aspiration to evolve from a mere manufacturing hub to an economy focused on higher value-added, knowledge-intensive industries, aiming to play a significant role in global supply chains. Particularly, entry into the semiconductor industry and strengthening competitiveness in AI, electronics, and the digital economy are considered crucial for Vietnam's future economic development.