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| Professor Tran Thanh Van, a Vietnamese-French scientist, the founder and President of the Quy Nhon-based International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE) (Photo: VNA) |
Paris (VNA) – A key requirement for Vietnam’s development in the coming period is to turn words and trust into concrete, sustained and effective action, said Professor Tran Thanh Van, a renowned Vietnamese-French scientist, the founder and President of the Quy Nhon-based International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE).
Speaking with Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Paris on the occasion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Van said the congress’s identification of science – technology and innovation as a key driver of national development is a precise decision holding long-term strategic significance.
A strong scientific foundation, he stressed, is indispensable to independent, self-reliant and sustainable development of the nation.
He highlighted the fundamental and decisive orientation of making long-term and methodical investment in basic science, closely linked with applied research and technological development.
Investing in basic science, he noted, is “investing in the foundations”, generating new knowledge, elevating education and training, nurturing core technologies, and building long-term scientific and technological autonomy, thereby gradually reducing dependence on external technologies. Given limited resources, Vietnam should focus on selected strategic research fields, strengthen international linkages, and develop excellent research groups and centres. These, in turn, can spill over into applications and enterprises, enabling Vietnam to master technologies where it has advantages and can master.
This approach is in line with Party General Secretary To Lam’s consistent instruction that technological self-reliance and independence is essential to national strength, the professor said.
Mentioning the role of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists, Van noted candidly that while Vietnam’s science sector has made encouraging progress, it still lags behind advanced countries and faces manpower shortages in many rapidly developing fields. He emphasised that most overseas Vietnamese scientists are eager to contribute to their homeland; the real challenge lies not in willingness, but in domestic reception mechanisms and working environments.
Those who choose to return to Vietnam, he said, often do so with strong commitment since they have already secured stable careers abroad. What they need most is trust, recognition, and an environment that enables them to pursue long-term scientific goals. For domestic scientists, particularly younger researchers, improving income and living conditions is equally crucial to preventing brain drain.
With appropriate mechanisms, overseas Vietnamese scientists can contribute in key areas, including connecting Vietnam to frontier knowledge, advising on science and technology policies, co-leading national programmes, developing high-quality human resources, and promoting science diplomacy through international cooperation.
Drawing on his participation in five conferences of overseas Vietnamese, Van was particularly impressed by the August 2024 conference, where policy recommendations from overseas scientists were swiftly reflected in the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthroughs in science – technology development, innovation and national digital transformation. He described the resolution as a “breath of fresh air” that has renewed confidence within the domestic scientific community and overseas intellectuals.
While praising the strong direction from the Party leadership, he stressed that trust can only endure when translated into concrete action. Despite progress in legislation and policy-making, implementation remains uneven, with financial mechanisms and administrative barriers still constraining innovation.
From the ICISE’s practical experience, Van argued for a mindset shift toward effectiveness as the primary criterion. Whether public or private, any institution that delivers national priorities well deserves appropriate support. Strengthening supervision to ensure that breakthrough policies are fully realised, he concluded, is essential for science and innovation to truly become a key driver of Vietnam’s fast, sustainable and self-reliant development in the new era./.
