Decision 604/QD-TTg 2026 approving the adjusted and supplemented Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030

DECISION

Approving the adjusted and supplemented Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030¹

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organisation of the Government;

Pursuant to the June 27, 2025 Law on Science, Technology and Innovation;

Pursuant to the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation;

Pursuant to the 2021-2030 Ten-Year Socio-Economic Development Strategy;

At the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the adjusted and supplemented Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030 (below referred to as the Strategy) with the following contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. Science, technology and innovation constitute the foremost national policy and serve as the principal driving force for establishing a new growth model, improving productivity, quality, efficiency, added value and the competitiveness of the economy; accelerating national industrialisation and modernisation; and, at the same time, strengthening national defence and security and the country’s capacity for strategic autonomy.

2. The development of science, technology and innovation shall be closely associated with socio-economic development and the modernisation of national governance; enterprises shall be regarded as the centre of the innovation system, while the market, commercialisation efficiency and development impacts serve as the principal measures of performance. The State shall play the role of institution builder, orientator and guide; concentrate investment on key priorities, place orders for strategic tasks, and strongly shift from theme-based management to governance based on programmes, products and outcomes.

3. Technological autonomy shall be promoted. Resources shall be prioritised for the development of strategic technologies, high technologies prioritised for development investment, digital technologies and core technologies; strategic technology products and hi-tech products shall be encouraged for development. Technology research and development shall be closely linked with industrial development and must meet the demands of enterprises participating in domestic, regional and global value chains.

4. Human resources for science, technology and innovation are the decisive factor. A contingent of highly qualified scientists, engineers, experts and technology entrepreneurs shall be developed; a force of chief engineers and strategic technology experts shall be formed; and a transparent and competitive research and innovation environment that accepts controlled risks and values talents shall be fostered.

5. Modern, synchronised, open and efficiently shared science, technology and innovation infrastructure shall be developed; data, digital platforms and computing capacity shall be regarded as new strategic resources. Selective international integration shall be proactively pursued, combining internal strengths with global knowledge and technologies, while ensuring technological sovereignty, technological security and national interests.

II. OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. General objectives

Science, technology and innovation will become the principal driving force of economic growth and a decisive factor for improving productivity, growth quality and national competitiveness; and directly contribute to rapid and sustainable development, ensuring national defence and security, environmental protection and improvement of the people’s quality of life. Vietnam’s science, technology and innovation potential and level will attain advanced standards in a number of important fields; the capacity for mastering and developing a number of core technologies and strategic technologies will be established, creating a foundation for national technological autonomy. A modern national innovation system aligned with international integration requirements will be built; the innovative start-up ecosystem will be strongly developed while Vietnamese technology enterprises will possess regional competitiveness and gradually expand into global markets.

2. Specific objectives through 2030

- The contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to economic growth will exceed 55%.

- The proportion of exports of hi-tech products in the total export value of goods will reach at least 50%.

- The Global Innovation Index (GII) will continuously be improved, placing Vietnam among the world’s top 40 countries.

- Total social investment in research and development will reach at least 2% of GDP, of which non-state budget sources will account for more than 60%. At least 2% of total annual state budget expenditure will be allocated for the development of science, technology and innovation, with gradual increases in line with development requirements.

- Human resources for scientific research and technological development (converted into full-time staff) will reach 12 persons per 10,000 inhabitants.

- At least 50 science and technology organisations will be regionally and internationally ranked.

- The number of international scientific publications will increase by 10% per year on average.

- The number of patent applications and patent protection titles will increase by 16%-18% per year on average; the commercialisation rate will reach 8%-10%.

- The national quality infrastructure (NQI) will rank among the world’s top 50.

- Vietnam will be among the top 3 countries in Southeast Asia in artificial intelligence research and development.

- The technological and innovation level and capacity of enterprises will reach the world average.

- The proportion of enterprises engaged in innovation activities will exceed 40% of the total number of enterprises.

- The rate of commercialisation of research outcomes generated by research institutes and universities will reach at least 30%.

- At least 5-10 regionally scaled technology enterprises in strategic technology fields will be formed.

- Vietnam will master and domestically manufacture a number of strategic technology products having major impacts on its economy and national security.

III. CENTRAL TASKS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. Implementing programmes and tasks for the development of strategic technologies and strategic technology products

a/ To organise the implementation of national programmes and tasks for the development of strategic technologies and strategic technology products according to approved lists; to select a number of priority products for concentrating resources on their research, design, integration, manufacture, testing and application, thereby building the capacity to master core technologies and gradually expanding to other groups of strategic technologies.

b/ To prioritise the development of core digital technologies and digital platforms, “Make in Viet Nam” key digital technology products and services associated with the development of strategic industries with high added value and export potential.

c/ To formulate national projects addressing major issues of sectors, regions and localities; to promote the participation of enterprises, research institutes and universities in the implementation of these projects in order to form strategic industries and digital technology industries.

d/ To develop systems for testing, inspection, certification, standards, measurement, quality assurance, safety and security, giving priority to strategic technology products; to formulate standards, technical regulations and assessment methods in conformity with international practices.

2. Developing science and technology fields serving as the foundation for innovation

a/ To intensify basic research and applied research in social sciences and humanities in order to provide scientific and practical grounds for the formulation, improvement and implementation of the Party’s line and the State’s policies and laws.

b/ To intensify basic research towards combining the pursuit of new knowledge with the training of highly qualified human resources and the identification of talents; to attach importance to basic research in fields in which Vietnam has strengths, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, data science and emerging interdisciplinary fields, serving as a foundation for the absorption, mastery and development of core technologies, strategic technologies and digital technologies.

c/ To develop research centres, modern laboratories, excellent research groups and key universities; to closely link basic research, high-quality human resource training and strategic technology development.

d/ To strengthen interdisciplinary research among natural sciences, engineering sciences, technology, social sciences and humanities; to intensify baseline surveys of natural resources, disasters, climate change, the environment, biodiversity and sustainable development issues.

3. Developing science, technology and innovation infrastructure and national data infrastructure

a/ To build, upgrade and modernise systems of research centres, testing centres, national key laboratories, open testing facilities, simulation platforms, high-performance computing platforms, data infrastructure and shared-use infrastructure serving the research, development and testing of strategic technology products.

b/ To prioritise infrastructure investment for fields with urgent needs and significant spillover effects, such as artificial intelligence, big data, semiconductor chips, 5G/6G networks, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, biomedical technology, cybersecurity, new energy, new materials and marine technology.

c/ To develop data infrastructure and digital infrastructure serving the design, simulation, model training, testing and trial production of strategic technology products and key digital technology products; to promote the connectivity, sharing and efficient exploitation of science and technology databases, enterprise databases and national databases.

d/ To develop testing, inspection, standards and conformity assessment infrastructure in support of the research, development and commercialisation of new technologies; to enhance the capacity of the national quality infrastructure system to serve the development of hi-tech industries.

dd/ To develop hi-tech technical infrastructure (including hi-tech parks, technology incubators and research facilities); to establish and develop technology infrastructure for strategic technologies, digital technology industries and key digital technology products.

4. Developing science and technology organisations and high-quality human resources

a/ To reorganise, consolidate, and enhance the capacity of, science and technology organisations, higher education institutions and innovation centres towards a streamlined and specialised structure associated with strategic technology development tasks; to select and support research institutes and universities to accompany enterprises in technology research, development and commercialisation.

b/ To implement appropriate mechanisms for the selection, employment and remuneration of chief engineers, leading experts and talented individuals participating in tasks for the development of strategic technology products and high technologies prioritised for development investment; to ensure the delegation of authority and responsibility and the linking of benefits with outcomes.

c/ To train high-quality human resources, giving priority to strategic technology sectors; to attract and effectively employ outstanding domestic scientists and experts, overseas Vietnamese and international experts in key projects.

5. Developing the innovation system, innovative start-up ecosystem, technology enterprises, the science and technology market and intellectual assets

a/ To develop enterprises as the centre of the processes of technology research, development, absorption, mastery, improvement and commercialisation, focusing on strategic technologies; to encourage, and create favourable conditions for, enterprises to lead or jointly lead science, technology and innovation tasks; to closely link technology research and development with the formation of technology enterprises, digital technology enterprises, strategic industries and market development.

b/ To support science and technology enterprises, technology innovation enterprises and digital technology enterprises in acquiring technologies, receiving technology transfer, and decoding and mastering technologies; to prioritise funding, placing orders to, and supporting enterprises in applying technologies to address Vietnam’s development challenges; to form and develop an ecosystem of auxiliary enterprises and enterprises supplying equipment, components, software, data and services related to strategic technology products and key digital technology products, thereby enhancing their capacity for participation in domestic, regional and global value chains.

c/ To support innovative start-ups, spin-off enterprises, spin-out enterprises and fast-growing technology enterprises through financial instruments, incubation infrastructure, testing facilities, technology validation, legal consultancy, intellectual property and investment connection.

d/ To develop the science and technology market towards modernity, transparency and connectivity; to develop intermediary organisations, technology exchanges, digital transaction platforms and technology and intellectual asset transfer services.

dd/ To promote the commercialisation of research outcomes, the development of intellectual assets, standardisation and branding for strategic technology products; to establish funds and cooperation mechanisms among research institutes, universities, enterprises and investors for the efficient exploitation of research outcomes.

6. Proactively promoting international integration and science, technology and innovation diplomacy

a/ To intensify science, technology and innovation diplomacy; to expand selective international cooperation in research, technology transfer and investment; to link international cooperation with the objectives of absorbing, mastering and co-developing technologies and participating in global value chains.

b/ To attract multinational technology corporations and leading international research organisations to establish headquarters and research and development centres in Vietnam and participate in the development of Vietnam’s innovation ecosystems.

IV. BREAKTHROUGH SOLUTIONS

1. Breakthroughs in institutions and mechanisms for management of science, technology and innovation

a/ To review, revise, supplement and comprehensively improve mechanisms and policies for the development of science, technology and innovation in the direction of regarding the development of strategic technologies, strategic technology products, the capacity to master core technologies and commercialisation capabilities as the centre; to establish centralised management mechanisms for strategic technology programmes in order to ensure unified management and avoid duplicate allocation of resources.

b/ To restructure science, technology and innovation programmes, concentrating resources on fields with significant spillover effects while ensuring balanced and comprehensive development; to establish a unified and intelligent governance model based on digital platforms, enhancing transparency and minimising overlaps in task management.

c/ To strongly shift implementation mechanisms towards order placement, direct assignment, funding and lump-sum financing based on output (final products), particularly for strategic technology tasks.

d/ To vigorously implement regulatory sandbox mechanisms for new technologies, products and business models, giving priority to the fields of artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, digital assets, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, biomedical technologies, new energy, new materials and marine technologies.

dd/ To give priority to public procurement, public order placement and technology service outsourcing for “Make in Viet Nam” products that satisfy technical requirements and national security requirements.

e/ To improve mechanisms for the protection, exploitation and benefit-sharing of intellectual assets and research outcomes generated from the state budget, thereby facilitating the participation of lead organisations, research groups, enterprises and investors in technology commercialisation.

2. Breakthroughs in financial mechanisms and resource mobilisation

a/ The proportion of annual state budget expenditure for science, technology and innovation may be flexibly adjusted in conformity with practical development requirements, of which at least 15% of state budget expenditure for scientific activities shall be allocated for research on strategic technologies.

b/ To establish and operate a Strategic Industry Development Investment Fund or supplement the functions of existing funds (the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development and the National Technology Innovation Fund) in order to concentrate resources on the design, manufacture and mastery of essential core technologies, digital technology products and strategic technology products.

c/ To strengthen the mechanism whereby the State proactively places orders to address major challenges of the nation and programmes and tasks associated with strategic technologies. To concentrate resources on large-scale programmes and projects with specific products and identified application addresses, and the participation of enterprises, research institutes and universities.

d/ To promote the mobilisation of social investment; to improve the legal framework for non-budget venture capital funds; to encourage enterprises to co-finance at least 30% of the funding for technology application tasks.

dd/ To implement exceptional incentive mechanisms in tax, credit and market support for leading enterprises, digital technology enterprises and strategic technology enterprises.

e/ To apply controlled risk-acceptance mechanisms in scientific research and technology development; to encourage experimentation with new ideas and breakthrough technologies.

3. Implementing mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and adjustment of the Strategy

a/ To organise the implementation of the Strategy in the direction of associating science, technology and innovation programmes and tasks with addressing major challenges of the nation, sectors, regions and localities; to give priority to tasks that have specific products, identified application addresses, commercialisation potential and enterprise participation.

b/ To develop a set of indicators for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Strategy by four groups: inputs, outputs, outcomes and impacts, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) concerning the mastery of core technologies and strategic technologies, localisation rates, added value, numbers of participating enterprises, auxiliary enterprises and strong research groups, publication rates, intellectual property rates, application rates, commercialisation rates, the capacity to meet domestic market demand, and export potential.

c/ To conduct evaluations and reviews and, on that basis, adjust task lists, policies and mechanisms, and resource allocation as suitable to practical requirements.

d/ To link implementation results of the Strategy with the accountability of in-charge agencies, coordinating agencies and heads of agencies; to use implementation results of the Strategy as a basis for evaluating annual and periodical task performance.

Article 2. Organisation of implementation

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for formulating an action plan for implementation of the Strategy; guide, urge and inspect ministries, sectors and localities in implementing the Strategy; and develop a monitoring, supervision and evaluation system and annually report thereon to the Prime Minister.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for formulating, and organising the implementation of, national science, technology and innovation programmes, schemes and tasks in conformity with the Strategy; and strengthen interdisciplinary coordination mechanisms in implementing national science, technology and innovation programmes and strategic technology development tasks.

c/ Assume the prime responsibility for proposing estimates of state budget expenditure for science, technology and innovation; and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in summarising and submitting such estimates to competent authorities for decision.

d/ Assume the prime responsibility for reviewing, and proposing amendments and supplements to, or promulgating according to its competence, mechanisms, policies and management instruments for effective implementation of the Strategy.

dd/ Assume the prime responsibility for proposing lists of strategic technologies prioritised for development in each period; and organise the mid-term review for the 2026-2028 period and the final review in 2030.

2. The Ministry of Finance shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for balancing and allocating annual state budget funds for science, technology and innovation in accordance with regulations.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in, formulating mechanisms and policies to attract and encourage foreign-invested enterprises to establish research and development centres, headquarters and ecosystems in Vietnam.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate in, training human resources for science, technology and innovation within the education system; and develop universities into strong research centres.

b/ Intensify STEM and STEAM training and training of engineers, digital technology experts, strategic technology experts and highly qualified human resources associated with national development requirements.

4. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall:

Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate in, reviewing and improving mechanisms concerning organisational structures, personnel, job positions, and policies on attraction, employment and remuneration of personnel engaged in science, technology and innovation activities.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall:

Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate in, promoting international cooperation and connecting experts, scientists, overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and international partners in the implementation of the Strategy.

6. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

a/ Concretise the objectives, tasks and solutions set in the Strategy in strategies, master plans and 5-year and annual plans of their respective sectors, fields and localities.

b/ Directly organise the performance of tasks within their management scope; allocate resources, conduct inspection and supervision, and take responsibility for implementation results.

c/ Conduct annual assessments of implementation and submit reports thereon to the Ministry of Science and Technology before December 15 for summarisation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

7. Research institutes, universities, science and technology organisations and enterprises shall:

a/ Proactively formulate plans and action programmes and organise the implementation of the Strategy within the ambit of their functions and tasks and in accordance with law.

b/ Promote linkages among research institutes, universities and enterprises; intensify the commercialisation of research outcomes; develop spin-off enterprises and spin-out enterprises; and increase investment in research and development.

8. Socio-political organisations, socio-professional organisations, economic organisations, social organisations and other organisations shall:

Within the ambit of their functions and tasks, proactively and actively participate in the implementation of the Strategy; conduct communication activities and social supervision and mobilise lawful resources for the development of science, technology and innovation.

Article 3. Implementation provisions

This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing and replaces the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 569/QD-TTg of May 11, 2022, promulgating the Strategy for Development of Science, Technology and Innovation through 2030.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and related organisations and individuals shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
NGUYEN CHI DUNG