HCM City mulls ways to help small firms achieve digital transformation

Dr. Ho Duc Thang, a full-time member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Cultural and Educational, said productivity is the key to sustaining double-digit economic growth, and AI has greater potential to improve productivity than any previous technology.

There will also be over 40 discussions focusing on AI applications, sustainable development and human resource development, as well as meetings for companies to find international partners.

To strengthen its competitiveness in attracting global talent, the city has introduced a comprehensive package of incentives, including housing assistance, transportation support, streamlined immigration and work permit procedures, improved research facilities, and favourable working conditions.

Nearly 467,600 from more than 874,800 university applicants have registered for STEM majors for the 2026 admissions cycle, accounting for 53.45% of all candidates, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

Vietnam's growth model, long fueled by low-cost labour, resource extraction, contract manufacturing, expanded investment, and capital accumulation, has run out of road. The country now needs a sweeping reform agenda to shift from extensive growth to a model driven by productivity, knowledge, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

According to the State Agency for Technology and Innovation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam is now home to nearly 4,000 start-ups and enterprises operating in the fields of science, technology and innovation, supported by a workforce of more than 30,000 highly skilled professionals.

Vietnam’s challenge is not merely to train more engineers or scientists, but to cultivate a generation capable of mastering, improving and eventually creating core technologies.

Vietnam's semiconductor ecosystem now comprises around 60 chip design companies, some 7,000 chip design engineers and 166 universities offering semiconductor-related training programmes. Initial registrations from 12 organisations indicate demand for the prototyping of approximately 30,000 chips.

Developing nuclear power therefore requires a comprehensive ecosystem in which every component is supported by highly skilled personnel.

The breakthrough is expected to support diabetes prevention and treatment while opening up broader biomedical applications.

Development efforts should properly recognise and leverage the role of science and technology in creating new economic models based on emerging resources.

Under this blueprint, tourism is designated as a high-priority sector to enhance the use of digital technology to improve management capabilities, service quality, and the visitor experience.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed a decision approving a plan to develop large domestic strategic technology enterprises in the 2026–2030 period, aimed at advancing digital infrastructure, digital human resources, digital data, strategic technologies and cybersecurity.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has been actively cooperating with Vietnam, which is regarded as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising offshore wind markets, Cuba’s e-newspaper Prensa Latina reported.

To date, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology, has issued 18 standards and regulations related to charging stations, charging equipment and batteries.

In Vietnam, digital transformation in the finance and banking sector is accelerating cashless payments, expanding access to financial services, improving market transparency and supporting economic growth and macroeconomic management.

Experts said close coordination among State management agencies, research institutes, universities, and businesses will improve training quality and serve the dual goals of quality education and practical research application.

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Saigon Asset Management (SAM), and Plug and Play Tech Centre co-hosted the “From Vietnam to Silicon Valley” forum, exploring AI innovation, venture capital, and pathways to integrate Vietnam’s startup ecosystem with Silicon Valley and global markets.

Experts have warned that fake news, misinformation and harmful online content are increasingly shaping public perceptions, particularly among young people, and stressed the need for stronger legal safeguards, technology tools and wider dissemination of credible information to tackle the problem effectively.

Participants highlighted the importance of building a proactive, synchronised and sustainable national cybersecurity ecosystem through closer cooperation among regulators, technology firms, research institutions and cybersecurity experts.