‘The country that masters strategic technology will be able to lead the future’

Theo VNAspeaking at the Vietnam – Singapore Technology Connection Forum with the theme “From Strategic Partnership to new generation industrial platforms, innovation and sustainable development” on the afternoon of May 29, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized the role of mastering strategic technologies. Artificial intelligence, semiconductors, big data, biotechnology, quantum technology, clean energy or digital economy are fundamentally changing production methods, business models and the way the world economy operates. “The country that masters strategic technology will be able to lead the future,” he said.

For Vietnam, Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo clearly identified science and technology as the central driving force of development. Vietnam is making efforts to improve institutions, develop high-quality human resources, promote the innovation ecosystem and create favorable conditions for businesses to participate more deeply in the process of digital transformation and technology development. Vietnam attaches special importance to expanding international cooperation in science, technology, innovation and human resource development.

According to General Secretary and President To Lam, in the current era, technological self-reliance does not mean closedness, but needs to be built on a foundation of open cooperation, knowledge connection and joint development of technological capacity. He assessed Singapore as one of Asia’s leading technology, innovation and financial centers. This country also has strengths in research and development (R&D), technology management, finance, innovation and startup ecosystem, while Vietnam has young human resources, large market scale, fast digital transformation speed and increasing demand for technology applications. In industrial parks, including the Vietnam – Singapore industrial park system (VSIP), the need to apply technology in smart manufacturing, smart logistics, supply chain management, clean energy and digital transformation is opening up huge scope for cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

General Secretary and President To Lam said that the most important thing today is not only to promote more connection activities, but to build mechanisms to turn connection into substantive cooperation and specific projects. The spirit of “Tech Connect” should not just stop at a meeting forum, but should aim to form a new model of cooperation – where the State creates, pioneering scientists and leading entrepreneurs participate in the process of co-research, co-development and co-production. From the “Three Houses” model within one country, it is necessary to gradually form the “Three Houses of two countries”, thereby building a cross-border cooperation network between businesses, universities, research institutes and innovation centers of Vietnam and Singapore.

He emphasized that what the two countries aim to do is not only to receive technology, but to jointly develop technological capacity and create new values ​​capable of deeply participating in regional and global value chains. The two sides gradually form a Vietnam – Singapore technology cooperation space, where knowledge, data, technology and high-quality human resources are effectively connected to create products and technology solutions of regional and international value.

General Secretary and President To Lam believes that the two sides will open up specific directions of cooperation between businesses, universities, research institutes and technology partners; Promote stronger cooperation projects in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital technology, smart logistics, clean energy, cyber security and innovation.

Speaking at the forum, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan emphasized that Vietnam – Singapore have determined to promote science, technology and innovation to become the pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership, including promoting the implementation of the model connecting the State – businesses – researchers, linking research with applications.

He believes that the forum will contribute to strengthening connections between the two countries’ innovation ecosystems, especially in strategic technology fields, promoting deeper cooperation between universities, research institutes and businesses of the two countries; Building cooperation programs to develop high-quality human resources to serve the digital economy, creating favorable conditions for technology startups and innovation centers of the two countries to connect and cooperate and participate in the global value chain.

Mr. Tan See Leng, Minister of Manpower and in charge of energy and science and technology, Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, emphasized that the foundation of the two countries’ partnership is solid but to maintain relevance and competitiveness, it must continue to evolve with the rapidly changing global environment. This is an opportunity for both sides to think about how to go further and do more together in science and technology. Mr. Tan See Leng also pointed out areas that can cooperate together such as: Advanced, smart and sustainable manufacturing, startup ecosystem, and talent exchange.

At the forum, General Secretary, President To Lam and senior leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between Vietnam and Singapore in the fields of: High technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, semiconductor industry, energy and supply chain, medicine, biology and health care, innovation and startups, education, training and human resource development, digital finance, trade and services….

The Vietnam-Singapore Technology Connection Forum was held within the framework of the state visit to Singapore on May 29-31 of General Secretary and President To Lam at the invitation of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.