Forbes Vietnam Innovation Forum: Sailing the digital sea
It is a need to build a dynamic, fast-growing, sustainable and self-reliant economy on the basis of science-technology and innovation, and in combination with international relations and integration, heard a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on March 30.
HCM City (VNA) – It is a need to build adynamic, fast-growing, sustainable and self-reliant economy on the basis ofscience-technology and innovation, and in combination with internationalrelations and integration, heard a forum in Ho Chi Minh City on March 30.
The Forbes Vietnam Innovation Forum, themed “Sailing thedigital sea”, was jointly held by Forbes Vietnam, the Vietnam NationalInnovation Centre (NIC) and Do Ventures.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Planning andInvestment Tran Duy Dong said factors such as geopolitical competition, tradewars between powers, and strong impacts of the fourth Industrial Revolution havepresented an urgent need for self-resilience in production.
Vietnam has climbed up five places to the 54th position in thelatest Global Startup Ecosystem Index by startup research company StartupBlink,he said, adding that the country remained among the world top 50 innovativecountries.
In 2022, Vietnam posted the highest growth rate indigital economy in Southeast Asia with 28% as compared with the previous year,from 18 billion USD to 23 billion USD. The growth rate is expected double thenational GDP growth by 2030.
They are encouraging signs as Vietnam shifts from therecovery mode to a regeneration phase, the official noted.
Google and Temasek also estimated that Vietnam'sdigital economy will reach 43 billion USD by 2025.
Orkan Akcan, Executive Vice President forInternational Growth of Insider, an Asian technology unicorn, said innovationand optimising development opportunities during the transition from thetraditional economy to the digital economy will bring a lot of opportunitiesto Vietnam.
He suggested domestic firms utilise innovation anddevelop right products to access markets and affirm their footholds.
Nguyen Duc Long, a representative from the NIC, saidthe centre has selected some sectors to focus its support for startups, includingsmart production, smart cities, cyber security, digital communications,semiconductor and medical technology./.
The Institute for Innovation and Development (IID) on March 15 held a “Drive Innovation for Impact” event to announce three digital innovation platforms boosting sustainable development.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy held a working session in Hanoi on March 23 with a business delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) led by the council's President and CEO Ted Osius who are on a working visit to Vietnam from March 21-23.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Delegates at the forum (Photo: VNA) 
