Breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation represent an important component and one of the new highlights of the Draft Documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress, reflecting the Party’s strategic thinking and vision in response to the requirements of national development in the new era.

The Draft Political Report for the 14th National Party Congress identifies one of the key tasks for the coming period as: “…to take science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the primary driving forces for improving productivity, quality, efficiency, added value, and the competitiveness of the economy”. At the same time, it identifies that “promoting breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation to serve and foster development” constitutes one of the strategic breakthroughs.

In our opinion, the above orientation is completely correct and well-suited to the current context and global trends; it also represents a pressing requirement for Vietnam to achieve rapid and sustainable national development in this new stage of the nation’s progress. This conclusion is grounded in several key reasons outlined below.

Party General Secretary To Lam visits exhibition of technological products

First, since national reunification, and especially since the initiation of the renovation process, the Party’s thinking and awareness regarding the position and importance of science and technology in socio-economic development, particularly in accelerating the country’s industrialisation and modernisation have become increasingly comprehensive and well-developed. The system of directives and resolutions issued by the Party over different periods provides clear evidence of this trajectory. The 6th National Congress (1986) set out the requirement that science and technology must serve as a great driving force to accelerate the socio-economic development process. The 7th National Congress (1991) affirmed the key role of science and technology in advancing the development of productive forces. The 8th National Congress (1996) asserted that science and technology are the driving forces of industrialisation and modernisation; based on this strategic orientation, the National Assembly enacted the Law on Science and Technology in 2000. The 9th National Congress (2001) agreed in terms of perception with the view that science and technology is a top national policy, serving as both the foundation and the driving force for industrialisation and modernisation. The 10th National Congress (2006) introduced, for the first time, the concept of a “knowledge-based economy” and highlighted the driving role of science and technology in developing such an economy in Vietnam. The 11th National Congress (2011) defined science and technology as the momentum to accelerate industrialisation and modernisation, while linking scientific and technological development to the advancement of the knowledge-based economy. The 12th (2016) and 13th (2021) National Congresses continued to reaffirm science and technology as a top national policy and the decisive driving force for the development of modern productive forces. Particularly, the 13th National Congress emphasised: “Strongly shift the economy to a growth model based on increased productivity, scientific and technological progress, innovation, high-quality human resources, and economical and effective use of resources to improve the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy”.

Building upon and further advancing this important strategic orientation of the Party, on 22 December 2024, General Secretary To Lam signed and promulgated Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, “On breakthrough development in science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation”. Resolution No. 57 is considered one of the “strategic quartet” designed to accelerate the nation’s development and enable Vietnam to truly take off in the era of national development. It can be affirmed that the orientations stated in the Draft Documents submitted to the 14th National Party Congress are not merely a simple development of our Party in terms of the position and role of science and technology in socio-economic development, but rather a breakthrough in thinking, awareness and major orientation of our Party in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. This breakthrough is reflected in the integration of science and technology, and innovation with national digital transformation, as well as in recognising science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the primary drivers for enhancing productivity, quality, and efficiency of the economy, contributing to realising the ambitious target of achieving double-digit economic growth in the period after 2026.

Second, in concretising this correct orientation and guideline of the Party, the government has institutionalised it into laws and policies, thereby attaining significant achievements and making important contributions to socio-economic development, ensuring defence and security, disaster prevention, environmental protection, and responding to climate change. Science and technology have contributed to promoting the industrialisation and modernisation process of the country, increasingly affirming their role as the principal driving force of the nation’s socio-economic development. This spirit was clearly conveyed by General Secretary To Lam in his message at the regular session of the second quarter of 2025 of the Central Steering Committee on science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation: “No country has ever become powerful with a weak science and technology foundation”. Over nearly 40 years of national renovation, Vietnam has witnessed remarkable progress in natural sciences, engineering, and technology, with numerous research projects making direct contributions to socio-economic development, especially in the fields of agriculture, medicine, pharmacy, energy, oil and gas, mechanics, manufacturing, defence, and security. Meanwhile, the social sciences and humanities, and political theory sciences have provided many scientific arguments for the Party’s major policies and guidelines as well as the government’s laws and policies, thereby contributing to the refinement of the national legal system. Vietnam’s potential in science and technology, and innovation has been steadily enhanced to meet the requirements of each period. Scientific and technological organisations, innovation institutions, and the team of scientists have been continuously enhanced in both quality and quantity, always serving as the pioneering force in research, application of science and technology, and innovation.

A type of UAV developed by Viettel at the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024

Third, the state governance framework for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation has been gradually developed and refined, thereby creating a legal corridor for the implementation of breakthrough solutions in these areas and enhancing their contributions to the country’s socio-economic development. Up to now, the state management organisation system and legal frameworks has been progressively completed and timely adjusted in alignment with the renewal of Vietnam’s political system. National digital infrastructure has received significant investment and has been accelerated towards synchronous and modern development; internet, telecommunications, and other technical infrastructures serving the process of national digital transformation have been promoted in a modern, comprehensive manner, on par with developed countries. The national database has been and is being perfected; specialised databases are gradually being deployed. These notable innovations have contributed to the increasing share of the digital economy in Vietnam’s GDP, with the digital technology industry accounting for 18.3% in 2024.

Fourth, emphasising the role of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the principal driving forces is a correct affirmation of our Party. Promoting the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation will ensure that our economy grows vigorously, accelerates, creates breakthroughs, and maintains sustainability in this era of national development. This is manifested in several aspects: (1) helping Vietnam keep pace with and advance alongside developed countries, thereby avoiding the risk of falling behind and steadily moving forward to stand side-by-side with other advanced nations; (2) serving as the key for the country to firmly open the gateway to a new era of development by enhancing labour productivity and the competitiveness of the economy, and creating products and services that meet the demands of both domestic and international markets; (3) optimising the production, business, and management processes of domestic enterprises by fostering the growth of the digital economy combined with the green economy, a digital society in harmony with a lifelong learning society, aligned with the major global development trends; (4) bringing practical benefits to the people, thereby realising the aspiration of building a prosperous Vietnam grounded in such core values as ensuring progress, social equity, widespread social welfare, and social security for every citizen. Our Party is fully aware that, to fulfill the aspiration of successfully building socialism in our country, there is no alternative but to make breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. This is also the only path to make leaps forward, overcome difficulties and challenges, and seize opportunities in building an independent, self-reliant, strong, civilised, and modern economy.

Fifth, in today’s world, the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation is an objective necessity and serves as the backbone of a modern, advanced economy. Under the leadership of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau, and the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary To Lam, the advancement of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation has been set on the right “track”, demonstrated through encouraging achievements in recent times, which have directly contributed to the cause of comprehensive renovation in all aspects of the country, creating new spaces and unprecedented opportunities for development. Only when placed in correlation with the renovation of the political system, the adjustment of administrative boundaries, and the implementation of the two-tier local government model can we clearly see the dynamic momentum generated by science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Without digitalised databases and the technological foundations that have been built and developed over more than 40 years of national renovation, there would be no opportunity to synchronously deploy the country’s “strategic quartet”. It can be affirmed that, in order to achieve the strategic goal of “becoming a modern industrialised nation with upper-middle income status by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045”, we must continuously advance science and technology, foster innovation, and accelerate digital transformation so as to open up boundless space for development.

Sixth, after nearly 40 years of implementing the national renovation strategy, the country’s financial and human resources have been sufficiently strengthened to meet the essential conditions for carrying out breakthrough solutions in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. This process not only renews the growth model and transforms the national development methods but, more importantly, enhances the country’s development potential in quality. Our country’s labour force in the fields of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation has also grown remarkably. With the current level and skillsets of the national labour force, the determination to advance science and technology, foster innovation, and accelerate digital transformation, especially by mastering core technologies, will not only create new milestones for the nation but also expand the ability to achieve high growth rates as outlined in the Draft Documents for the 14th National Congress of the Party, thereby contributing to the successful fulfillment of the key tasks and breakthrough solutions for the upcoming term.

It can be affirmed that in order to enable the nation to take off in this era of national development, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation constitute one of the new highlights of the Draft Documents submitted to the 14th National Congress of our Party. The breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation do not stem from the Party’s subjective will but are firmly rooted in the outcomes of strategic decisions and the steadfast determination to elevate the nation alongside developed countries over the past 40 years. In the context of the world’s rapid progress and the country’s revolutionary transformation, the identification of a strategic breakthrough in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation at this time represents a revolutionary choice, not only to renew the country’s development model but also to expand development space and open new opportunities for the path toward socialism in Vietnam.

Dr. DO TAT CUONG, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics