High challenge, high goals and oriented towards the end result

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that the Ministry has basically stabilized its organization and started a new way of working with the spirit of being ready to take on challenging tasks, high goals and aiming for the final results. The Ministry of Science and Technology will play the role of the core and core Ministry in implementing Resolution 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo. The Ministry of Science and Technology is tasked with : If the country grows by 10% , the science and technology sector is responsible for promoting at least 5% growth, which means accounting for more than 50% of the country's growth target.

Currently, the Ministry of Science and Technology is developing a National AI Transformation Program to apply AI in all fields; building a shared AI computing infrastructure. The National AI Transformation Program must demonstrate the spirit of "all people" and "comprehensiveness". Each Vietnamese citizen has a virtual assistant. The deadline for submitting the National AI Transformation Program to the Prime Minister for promulgation is May 2025 and by November 2025, there must be a virtual assistant for the people, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung directed.

The next major task of the Ministry in 2025 is to build a shared AI computing infrastructure. Accordingly, it will invest in infrastructure with many data centers equipped with GPUs to support and facilitate businesses that want to develop their own AI to train AI and develop AI applications here. This is an important task because Vietnam considers AI as a key technology, so it must support businesses to develop AI applications.

Regarding digital government, in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on online public services. The Ministry strives for at least 80% of eligible administrative procedures to be provided online and integrated, provided on the National Public Service Portal; the ratio of files processed online over the total number of files to reach at least 50%. To achieve this goal, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung directed that among more than 2,000 public services, we should first focus on about 50 public services with the largest number of users to achieve the goal directed by the Prime Minister.

For each ministry and province, there must be an intelligent operations center (IOC) for these centers to be truly effective in helping provincial leaders analyze and evaluate the socio-economic situation, thereby making decisions based on real data. Therefore, it is necessary to soon issue standards on IOCs at the ministry and provincial levels this month.

Regarding the digital economy, the Ministry of Construction will submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation the Program to Support Digital Transformation for Small and Medium Enterprises, Business Households, and Cooperatives (expected in April 2025). Regarding this issue, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung directed that it is necessary to focus on building digital platforms to support businesses and business households in financial management, human resources, tax issues, etc. Focusing on quickly and well implementing these platforms will create conditions for businesses to develop, improve competitiveness, and promote economic development.

The digital technology industry must identify strategic products, thereby identifying strategic technologies and strategic industries. Regarding this issue, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that Resolution 57/NQ-TW of the Politburo was recently issued with a breakthrough spirit and a new approach to solving problems and bottlenecks. "Strategic products" and "strategic technologies" are completely new issues that have not been mentioned in any legal documents. Therefore, to implement them, we must change our thinking and approach. Accepting the Deputy Prime Minister's direction, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung pledged that the Ministry will soon issue a List of strategic technologies prioritized for development by the State, followed by the issuance of a Strategic Technology Development Program.

Along with that, the Ministry will issue a National Startup Project with the spirit of innovation among the entire population; effectively use the National Technology Innovation Fund (NATIF); build and deploy a Venture Capital Fund...

In the field of science and technology, the Ministry is building a shared science and technology infrastructure; restructuring national science and technology programs; issuing a set of indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of science and technology (S&T) activities, digital transformation (DCT), and innovation (I).

In the field of quality measurement standards, focus on completing investment in a system of new shared technology measurement rooms; promulgate the National Standards Strategy...

Eliminate all ideas, concepts, and barriers that are hindering development.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung affirmed the important and key role of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. This is the main driving force for economic development, increasing labor productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of the economy. This is also the new role and mission of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the science and technology sector in the coming time.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister also pointed out a number of major difficulties and challenges that need to be resolved, specifically: The large gap in the level of science and technology with developed countries; Awareness of the role of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in some ministries, branches and localities is still not really adequate; The legal corridor is not yet synchronous; there are still some "bottlenecks" that hinder the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation; Research and application activities have not achieved strategic breakthroughs; the ability to apply in practice is still limited; Human resources for science and technology are still lacking; Investment resources for scientific research facilities, laboratory systems, and digital infrastructure are not adequate and synchronous.

Based on the results achieved, along with analysis and forecasts of major trends that are strongly impacting the world and the rapid development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized a number of key orientations and tasks that the Ministry of Science and Technology needs to focus on implementing. Specifically:

The Ministry needs to quickly complete its organizational structure. This must be seen as an opportunity to restructure the industry and sectors; to refine the apparatus and rearrange human resources.

Thoroughly grasp and resolutely implement the policies of the Party and the State, especially Resolution 57 of the Politburo, Resolution 193 of the National Assembly and Resolution 03 of the Government. Raise awareness and create new momentum in the whole society about the role of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation; put people and businesses at the center, scientists as key factors, the State plays a leading and promoting role.

Resolution 57/NQ-TW assigns about 180 tasks, all of which must be completed urgently, mainly in 2025, so the Ministry of Science and Technology must have a specific program to monitor, update, and evaluate the implementation of the Resolution's tasks.

The Ministry needs to step up institutional improvement in a synchronous and transparent manner, eliminating all ideas, concepts, and barriers that are hindering development; determined to eliminate the mindset of "if you can't manage it, ban it".

Promote the development of digital infrastructure and strategic technology. In particular, promote the early completion of 2 submarine optical cable lines and deploy the nationwide 5G network, build large data centers, and develop cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, blockchain, semiconductors, etc. Digital infrastructure must be invested synchronously and modernly, creating the foundation for the digital economy, digital society and digital government.

Focus on scientific and technological research and develop high-quality human resources, especially for strategic technology sectors. In particular, promote the "three-party" linkage (State - Scientists - Investors), taking practical application as a measure of research effectiveness.

The Ministry also needs to promote innovation and digital transformation in enterprises in conjunction with enhancing the role of the private economic sector in developing the fields of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

The Deputy Prime Minister also highly appreciated the role of the Innovation Fund, directing the need to quickly form this fund to promote innovation and boost the startup ecosystem.

Regarding the recommendations and proposals of the Ministry, the Deputy Prime Minister preliminarily agreed and assigned relevant ministries and branches to consider and resolve them within their authority as soon as possible, especially issues related to policy mechanisms, infrastructure investment, database connection and human resource development.

Finally, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his belief that the Ministry of Science and Technology, with its new apparatus, with a spirit of solidarity, with strong innovation, under the direction of Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, will excellently complete the assigned tasks and responsibilities, especially when these tasks play an important role in promoting the country's economy./.