GII is a prestigious toolkit for assessing national innovation capacity in the world, reflecting the socio-economic development model based on science, technology and innovation of countries. Through that, countries can see the overall picture as well as their strengths and weaknesses. In recent times, the Vietnamese Government has used this index as one of the important management and administration tools and has assigned ministries, agencies and localities to be responsible for improving the index.

On this occasion, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat spoke to the press about this achievement as well as the efforts needed to improve to increasingly improve the ranking, making positive contributions to socio-economic development based on science, technology and innovation.

Minister, could you please tell us about the results of Vietnam's innovation index rankings in 2024 that have just been announced?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has just released the Global Innovation Index 2024 (GII) Report for 2024. Accordingly, Vietnam's GII has increased by 2 places compared to 2023, from 46th to 44th out of 133 countries and economies. Among low-middle income countries, our country's Innovation Index continues to maintain its second position.

Some positive improvements can be mentioned as, in 2024, Vietnam will have 3 leading indexes including: High-tech imports, high-tech exports, and creative goods exports. For the first time, our country's creative goods export index has reached the number one position in the world.

Notably, our country's venture capital indicators are showing a very good development trend. The number of venture capital deals increased by 27 places, ranking 50th out of 133 countries and economies. The number of deals receiving venture capital increased by 10 places, to 44th out of 133 countries and economies. These positive improvements were achieved thanks to the close and drastic direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, as well as the participation of ministries, branches, localities and the science, technology and innovation community. Enterprises have also been active and proactive in research activities, applying science and technology to production and business activities, promoting innovation in enterprises.

Could the Minister please specify the indicators that have not been improved in 2024?

In 2024, there are 2 groups of pillar indexes that have not improved. They are the institutional index group and the human resources and research index group. I think that institutional issues need a lot of effort to improve favorable conditions for socio-economic development based on science, technology and innovation. In particular, the index on the quality of legal regulations currently ranks only 95 out of 133 countries and economies.

Regarding human resources and research, the education index group has not improved much, it is necessary to continue to improve the quality of training to attract domestic and foreign students. In addition, the education model needs to be invested to meet international standards; it is necessary to promote the role of the university sector in cooperation with the business sector when carrying out research and development activities, innovation.

It should be noted that the ICT infrastructure index has not changed, ranked 72 out of 133 countries and economies, and has not achieved the target of improving the index according to the Government's Resolution.

According to the Minister, in the coming time, what solutions are needed to maintain and continue to improve the GII ranking in a sustainable direction?

To maintain and continue to improve the GII ranking sustainably, Vietnam needs to focus on both the input and output factors of innovation; paying special attention to improving groups of indicators that still have much room for potential development.

In my opinion, there are three groups of solutions that need to be implemented immediately to improve the GII index next year. Firstly, it is necessary to build specific breakthrough policy mechanisms, creating favorable conditions for the development of science, technology and innovation so that science, technology and innovation are truly the main driving force of the economic growth model, promoting the development of the digital economy and digital society.

Second, improve the capacity of enterprises to proactively receive and absorb advanced technologies from the world, prioritize environmentally friendly projects, link with domestic and foreign enterprises to participate in the global value chain; continue to develop the creative startup ecosystem.

Third, ministries and sectors, according to their assigned functions and tasks, need to identify and implement fundamental, synchronous, long-term solutions to improve the GII indexes that have been ranked low for many consecutive years. Localities need to actively implement solutions to improve the Local Innovation Index - PII; thereby contributing to improving the Global Innovation Index GII in the coming time.

Thank you very much Minister.