Vietnam's science, technology, and innovation sector is showing significant growth dynamics, with the number of business entities now exceeding 81,000 companies. One concrete manifestation of this progress is the VNPT Group's strategic move in introducing a smart kiosk solution integrated directly with the national public service portal, an effort to digitize state administration more efficiently.
Although the number of companies continues to rise, major challenges still loom over the country's innovation ecosystem. The majority of companies are currently still in the low-technology proficiency group. The local government recognizes the urgency to expand the "core" group focused on research and development (R&D) and high technology to create more competitive added value in the global market.
As a mitigation step, the government is committed to formulating more progressive policies, including special support for innovation-based startups. The future strategic focus includes efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in the high-tech sector, while strengthening the involvement of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the global value chain through more massive commercialization of research results.
On the other hand, the strengthening of international relations continues to be forged as part of science, technology, and cultural diplomacy. During his official visit to Sweden, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the Karolinska Institute, emphasizing the importance of medical research collaboration. These bilateral relations are built not only through formal sectors but also through alumni networks and cultural exchanges, such as the Vietnam-Sweden Children's Film Week, which aims to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two countries.
