Science and technology has become indispensable to socio-economic development
Science and technology are always considered the most important basis for rapid, sustainable development and are one of the strategic breakthroughs in Vietnam's development.
Assoc.Professor. Dr. Bui Thi An, the Director of the Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Community Development - IRECO (a VUSTA’s member), and the Chairwoman of the Hanoi Intellectual Women's Association, emphasizes the crucial role of science and technology (S&T) in socio-economic development. We need to focus on addressing the issues at hand so that S&T can make significant contributions, commensurate with its potential and leading national policy position, truly becoming a driving force for development.
S&T encompasses all fields, driving development
Despite the difficulties and challenges faced, Vietnam's socioeconomic landscape in 2023 continues to showcase numerous bright spots, with science and technology playing a significant role in its progress. How can you evaluate the impact of S&T on economic, agricultural, tourism, cultural, and social development in Vietnam?
The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam affirmed that one of the primary tasks and solutions to implement the 10-year Socioeconomic Development Strategy (2021-2030) is the vigorous development of S&T, fostering innovation to create breakthroughs, enhance productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy.
Recently, Politburo issued Conclusion No. 69 to continue implementing Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW of the 11th CPV Central Committee on the development of S&T to serve industrialization, and modernization in the context of a socialist-oriented and internationally integrated market economy.
After 10 years of implementing Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, the development of science and technology in Vietnam has had a positive impact on the country's industrialization and modernization. There have been gradual improvements in the socio-economic development, modern labor force, knowledge economy, labor productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy.
Over the years, natural sciences, technical sciences, and technology have made significant advances. As a result, numerous new multidisciplinary fields have emerged, bolstering the nation's potential and level in science and technology. Social sciences and humanities also play a significant role in providing arguments for the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's ideology, and safeguarding the Party's ideological foundation. Additionally, they contribute to formulating guidelines and policies for national development and perfecting the legal system.
On Vietnam Science and Technology Day, May 18, 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh quoted Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel's famous saying, "Society develops thanks to science."
The Prime Minister emphasized the crucial role of science and technology in all fields, especially in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. He highlighted how science and technology are essential for economic and agricultural development, as well as for tourism, culture, and other areas. S&T drives progress sustainably and innovatively. Without science and technology, productivity, quality, sustainability, and breakthroughs would not be possible.
Assoc.Professor. Dr. Bui Thi An
To truly develop science and technology to its fullest potential
The CPV and Government have consistently identified scientific and technological implementation as the top national policy and the most crucial driving force for socioeconomic development. However, in reality, the development of S&T has not yet matched its potential and position, as well as its role. What steps should be taken for S&T to develop and contribute even more?
In my opinion, in order to further develop and enhance the contribution of S&T, it is necessary to institutionalize it alongside policy implementation. Without specific implementation, policy direction will not be effective.
The 13th National Party Congress's Documents identified 12 strategic orientations for the country's development by 2030, with a strong emphasis on two foundational aspects: "Industrialization and modernization of the country, focusing on innovation and creativity, promoting national digital transformation, developing a digital economy, and a digital society." To realize these strategic orientations, the 13th National Party Congress also stressed on: "Building an increasingly strong and high-quality intellectual workforce, meeting the country's development requirements in the new situation", thereby demonstrating the crucial role of the intellectual workforce in the development of science and technology.
According to the National Digital Transformation Program with a vision towards 2030, Vietnam aims to become a prosperous digital nation, leading in the adoption of new technologies and models. This includes fundamentally and comprehensively innovating the management and governance methods of the Government, businesses' production and operations, people's lifestyles, work, and education. The goal is to develop a safe, humane, and inclusive digital environment, where no one is left behind.
Vietnam has identified a dual goal of developing a digital government, digital economy, and digital society while also fostering the formation of Vietnamese digital technology enterprises with global competitiveness to realize the aspiration of a strong, prosperous Vietnam where people are thriving, well-being, and happy.
To achieve those goals, the role of Vietnamese intellectuals is particularly important. Digital technology needs resources in terms of physical conditions to invest in infrastructure and the quality of the digital workforce and experts.
However, we have not prepared in a timely manner. This phase is very new and human resource preparation is still limited. The current problem is to train digital human resources to serve digital technology.
The Government needs to have plans, even separate projects to submit to the National Assembly, to timely supplement the workforce for digital technology, digital transformation, and digital economy. We have the right direction and are implementing it, but there must be specific projects to prepare resources, including funding for infrastructure and human resources.
Thank you to Dr. Bui Thi An for the interview!
Enhancing the role of the intellectual workforce in science and technology
Dr. Sc. Phan Xuan Dung, Secretary of the Party Delegation and President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations stated that when the Government approved the national digital transformation program, the whole country got involved. This involvement is evident in the direction, policies, legal documents, etc. Specific solutions have been proposed to expedite the national digital transformation.
The government has established a national database with the participation of 80 ministries and sectors. Vietnamese enterprises related to information technology have made significant progress, responding to the government's strong calls and directives. Therefore, Vietnam's innovation index increases continuously each year. It can be affirmed that the national digital transformation initiative proposed by the government has been widely embraced by society and has achieved many noteworthy results.
Dr. Sc. Phan Xuan Dung, President of VUSTA
The position of a country and its people is evaluated and affirmed by its status and reputation in S&T, as well as its intellectual workforce. Therefore, the intellectual workforce plays a crucial role in determining the economic and social development of a nation, especially in an era of rapid, strong, and high-level S&T development like nowadays.
"There is room for the development of a country, and that is the solution to leverage the intelligence of its national intellectual workforce. Vietnam is not exempt from this logic and mindset. The Party, the Government, and various ministries and sectors have proposed many solutions, such as 'Believe in the intellectual workforce, honor them, and provide them with what they deserve for their contributions'; 'Assign them tasks to showcase their intelligence' and so on, said Dr.Sc. Phan Xuan Dung.
VUSTA President also believes that as intellectuals, scientific research involves risky endeavors. Therefore, when research or a task does not come out successfully, it should not be seen as a violation or a flaw. A previous failure could be the start of a successful one, and they should be rewarded for their contributions.
