Communist Review - It is clearly shown in the history of human development that countries attaching great importance to and promoting the application of science and technology have achieved various socio-economic successes and constantly enhanced their stature in the international arena. Currently, to the requirements of rapid and sustainable development in the new era, Viet Nam should consider science and technology as a key strategic industry, contributing to the national construction and protection cause, towards the goal of “a prosperous people and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilized country”.

1-Throughout history, scientific and technological revolutions have had strong and profound impacts on social development, enabling humanity to overcome natural and socioeconomic bounds and challenges, determining the position of countries in the world.

In reality, scientific and technological inventions in multiple fields, such as electricity, energy, new materials, atomic energy... have long been applied by humans, making important contributions to social development. A large number of new compounds in the field of chemistry, with biological and specific properties, have been raw materials for the production of antibiotics, vaccines... for treating various diseases, helping people survive a lot of pandemics. In mechanics, the manufacture of steam, internal combustion, electric, jet, and hybrid engines... has met the needs of human movement and transportation. The development of telecommunications, radio, television, and computers has fundamentally changed the cultural, social, economic, and spiritual life of people, promoting cultural and economic exchange and cooperation among communities, nations, and peoples in the world. Especially in the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries, the accelerating development of information technology, the Internet, biotechnology, medicine, new generation robots, analytics technology... has ushered mankind into a new era. Seemingly insurmountable limits have been overcome through the application of science and technology. Supercomputers connected via the Internet have helped to deploy computational models, simulations, and issue forecasts with billions of calculations. Molecular biotechnology, genetics, and biological linkage have interfered in the smallest elements of cell walls to adjust a living organism, or an entire population, biome, field, farm... New-generation robots have assisted people in doing a multiplicity of things deep in the ocean, inside the Earth, in outer space, and even on other distant planets.

Being fully aware of the significant role of science and technology in the cause of socio-economic development, national construction and defense, the CPV consistently affirms that, together with education and training, science and technology have always been the top national policy; science and technology development strategies must be targeted at modernity-oriented industrialization that reaches the advanced level of the world; the scientific and technological national potential must be effectively exploited and rapidly increased; social science, natural science, science and technology must be synchronously developed in tandem with education, culture and raising people’s intellectual level.

2- Over the course of national reform in Viet Nam, science and technology have made plenty of valuable contributions. In the 1991 - 2000 period, Viet Nam’s economy began a new phase of development in terms of productive forces, production relations, and international integration; people’s material and spiritual life was markedly improved, their cultural and social life was continuously enriched; security and political stability created favorable conditions for speeding up industrialization and modernization. In 10 years, gross domestic product (GDP) more than doubled (2.07 times). Science and technology, during this stage, introduced important innovations, contributing to the success of the country. For example, the system of legal documents was built and implemented to attract foreign investments and to sign technology transfer contracts; the obsolete technology of domestic enterprises was innovated; technology started to be applied in management. In this period, science and technology set multiple objectives, such as scientific research (launching key state scientific research programs and projects, expanding the scope of scientific research to the local level); technology development (developing key state technologies); environmental protection (establishing regulations and standards in environmental protection, executing environmental protection contents in socio-economic development projects); standard, measurement, and quality development; accessing intellectual property; attracting resources for scientific and technological development; fostering international cooperation in science and technology...

In the 2001 - 2010 period, Viet Nam achieved excellent results in realizing the overall goal, shifting from the group of low-income countries to that of middle-income ones, which marked a significant change in Viet Nam’s position. GDP per capita increased by more than 42% of the average level, ranking 7^th out of 11 Southeast Asian countries (up 10% compared to the previous period); GDP in 2010 was twice as high as that of 2000. Living standards and the quality of material, cultural, and spiritual life were remarkably raised. Infrastructure gradually fulfilled the requirements of economic development, national defense, and security. The legal system on science and technology was refined in harmony with international integration. The quality of basic research in natural science was enhanced in accordance with international standards; the development of science and technology progressed in close proximity to that of the region, helping to perform various important national tasks; the scientific and technological potential was increased; the sense of autonomy and self-responsibility in establishing science and technology enterprises were heightened. Science and technology organization and management mechanisms were renewed; financial mechanisms for science and technology were initiated; scientific and technological activities were linked with production and business. International cooperation in science and technology was expanded and promoted.

In the 2010 - 2020 period, the National Development Strategy achieved critical outcomes, raising Viet Nam’s position in the international arena. The economic growth rate stabilized at a relatively high level. The GDP growth rate reached an average of 5.9%/year from 2011 to 2015, and 6.8%/year in the 2016-2019 period. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth rate was recorded at nearly 3%, the average GDP growth rate between 2016 and 2020 was equal to roughly 5.9%/year. Over the entire period from 2011 to 2020, the GDP growth rate was approximately 5.9%/year, which placed Viet Nam among the group of countries with a high growth rate in the region and the world. The GDP scale increased 2.95 times, from 116 billion USD in 2010 to 343 billion USD in 2020. GDP per capita climbed from 1,331 USD in 2010 to about 3,521 USD in 2020. The quality of growth was improved. Labor productivity was significantly boosted. Economic growth gradually depended less on resource exploitation, and more on the application of science, technology, and innovation. The growth model was renewed following the epochal development trend. The inter-sectoral and intra-sectoral economic structure changed positively with an increase in the proportion of processing, manufacturing, and high-tech industries. The structure of agricultural production shifted positively towards promoting the potential and advantages of each region, market demand, adapting to climate change, and ensuring food security. Agricultural production was focused on commodity production, modernity, high added value, and sustainability. Various production models adopting advanced technology, and developing linkages in agricultural production along the value chain were constructed. The development of hi-tech, clean, and organic agriculture was encouraged by gradually converting to crops and livestock with high productivity, quality, and efficiency. The quality of a wide range of products satisfied safety requirements in line with international standards. Cooperative economies and agricultural enterprises increased rapidly in quantity. The quality of growth was progressively enhanced.

In 2019, hi-tech enterprises accounted for over 13% of the total number of processing and manufacturing ones. The value of high-tech products rose from 26% in 2010 to over 40% in 2019. A number of supporting industries were spawned, leading to the increased localization rate. The global competitiveness of the Vietnamese industries climbed from 58^th (in 2009) to 42^nd (in 2019). Viet Nam’s position in the global business environment rankings was noticeably improved. Human resource development was stimulated, especially high-quality human resources closely linked with market demand. The national scientific and technological potential was strengthened. Several fields in natural science reached the regional and international advanced level. Scientific and technological research, application, and capabilities were paid attention to. Viet Nam was successful in designing and manufacturing equipment, and creating technologies that matched international standards. A multitude of large domestic and foreign enterprises and corporations made large-scale investments in applying high technology in the production of technological goods for worldwide distribution. The system of key and specialized laboratories continued to receive further investment, enabling them to boost their operational efficiency. Research infrastructure in some crucial fields, such as biotechnology, petrochemicals, materials, automation, nanotechnology, computational technology, medicine...was promoted. The digital Vietnamese knowledge system was launched and developed. International cooperation in science and technology saw numerous positive changes. The science and technology market developed more strongly with 15 trading floors, and 50 technology incubators. The protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights was strengthened. The number of intellectual property and industrial property certificates grew rapidly. The national standard system closely approached international standards. A database of technology and experts was created. The startup ecosystem was innovative and well-developed. Viet Nam’s global innovation index in 2019 topped the group of low and middle income countries.

During this period, science and technology were considered as a lever for the process of restructuring the economy, reforming the growth model, and raising the productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy in the trend of integration. Science and technology were key to shortening the industrialization and modernization process of Viet Nam, as well as to successful integration and keeping pace with other countries in the world. They were also decisive factors in transforming the economy into a knowledge-based one, expanding science and technology subjects from institutes and universities to enterprises... The 2013 Vietnamese law on science and technology made fundamental breakthroughs in scientific and technological activities, which included innovations in science and technology organization; in the policy of using and treating human resources in science and technology; in investment forms for science and technology; in applying research results and disseminating scientific and technological knowledge; in managing and allocating the state budget for scientific and technological research; in international integration in science and technology; in honoring scientists by choosing May 18 as the Viet Nam’s Science and Technology Day annually. The document system of the CPV and the legal framework for science and technology basically enabled the science and technology sector to grow fast. In addition, in response to the requirements of national development in the new period, various issues associated with science and technology were also researched and implemented, such as the startup ecosystem, circular economy, green economy, the fourth industrial revolution, regional and inter-regional development, digital economy, national digital transformation, international cooperation, tectonic government...

3- At the present time, the context of globalization and international integration has opened up numerous opportunities but also posed quite a number of challenges for the sustainable development of Viet Nam. According to the draft document of the 13^th National Congress of the CPV, science - technology, innovation, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have been evolving rapidly with far-reaching and multi-dimensional impacts on a global scale. Science, technology, and innovation have become a decisive factor to each country’s competitiveness. Digital technology will change state management methods and models of production, business, and consumption, as well as cultural and social life; promote the development of the digital economy and society. That scenario requires Viet Nam to accelerate the renewal of the growth model towards in-depth development, rapidly transform the economic structure towards modernization, improve the quality of human resources, and continue to encourage industrialization and modernization based on science, technology, and innovation. Science and technology need to be regarded as a strategic breakthrough in developing Viet Nam rapidly and sustainably. Therefore, the science and technology sector must be innovated in compliance with a number of key development orientations as follows:

Firstly, creating a science and technology ecosystem in all the structures and pillars of development. Horizontally, all economic sectors, subjects, and components of the society must consider science, technology, and innovation as the driving force for their development, which then generates momentum for other components and subjects to develop, gradually achieving an equal development across the system. Vertically, in an economic component and subject, science and technology must act as “strings” to create organic relationships, and value chains.

Secondly, attaching importance to the training of science and technology human resources, ensuring such requirements as age and professional competence to meet development demands of every branch and field and different developmental stages of Viet Nam. Rekindling dreams and aspirations for innovation in all individuals in the process of scientific and technological research and training. Perfecting mechanisms and policies to ensure the life of cadres doing scientific research.

Thirdly, amending, supplementing, and completing legal documents, mechanisms, and policies on science and technology, contributing to creating a legal corridor and a favorable environment for scientific and technological development.
Financial mechanisms must be transparent, tight, and suitable in the new era. The regulations on intellectual property should be implemented more rigorously and strictly, contributing to encouraging and promoting all research, production, and business subjects to invest in science and technology.

Fourthly, identifying and selecting several core, pivotal, and essential science and technology branches and fields for investment and development in consonance with standards of international integration. Strengthening international cooperation in science and technology, considering science and technology training as a market to attract domestic and foreign investment. Stimulating scientific and technological research in national security and defense, national sovereignty protection, gravitating towards mastering numerous important technologies. Focusing on developing science and technology fields that are the pillars of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (including digital technology, biotechnology, physics, advanced materials, energy, and the environment).

Fifthly, stimulating activities in basic research and investigation, fostering an ideal environment for multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary coordination in science and technology aimed at contributing to the formulation of the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws. Strengthening the role of science and technology organizations in arbitration and independent consultation on socio-economic issues. Establishing a feasible and appropriate strategy for planning the science and technology sector in Viet Nam for the period of 2020 - 2030 with a vision to 2040 (with core components, primary components, and secondary components).

Sixthly, promoting communication about science and technology. Spreading and encouraging the spirit of research, study, and application of science and technology in the entire political system and mass organizations. Building a competitive environment for scientific and technological activities, creating flexibility and allowing career shifts from scientific and technological research to other occupations. Timely rewarding people who have inventions and initiatives, promote the application of science and technology in the socio-economic development of Viet Nam./.

This article was published in the Communist Review, No. 958 (January 2021)