Building up an innovation ecosystem at new era’s demands

Provincial planning for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (briefly called provincial planning), aims for Binh Duong to lead in science, technology and innovation, becoming a modern industrial service hub in the region. On the occasion of Binh Duong announcing its planning, Binh Duong newspaper conducted an interview with Dr. Nguyen Viet Long, Director of provincial Department of Science and Technology (DoST), about the department's upcoming orientations and activities.

ICF leaders visit the innovation ecosystem at the Binh Duong Community Innovation Center (BIIC)

What is the significance of the upcoming provincial planning announcement ceremony for the development of Binh Duong in general, for the field of science, technology and innovation in particular, sir?

-The upcoming provincial planning announcement ceremony is a major event of special significance for the comprehensive development of Binh Duong. The event will be attended by leaders from central to local levels as well as organizations, businesses, experts and scientists. In this new period, Binh Duong will develop with a new mindset, along with breakthrough directions and programs and new strategies to adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, enhancing Binh Duong's competitiveness and creating a foundation to overcome the middle-income trap, reaching new heights.

In addition, the provincial planning announcement ceremony will feature a global-scale exhibition on green energy and technologies supporting automation, organized in collaboration with Korea and the World Trade Center (WTC). At the exhibition, provincial DoST will work with WTC to host in-depth seminars on technology, providing businesses with solutions for 4.0 technology transformation to apply green energy in the new period.

- Is the promotion of the Top 1 ICF part of the series of events surrounding Binh Duong's provincial planning announcement? Could you tell us more about this activity, sir?"

-In this series of events, Binh Duong is not organizing the event alone, but with the participation of major international partners such as WTC, Korea, the United States and some European countries, including the direct attendance of two ICF leaders. Additionally, at the events and seminars, the two ICF leaders will share insights on Binh Duong's development and vision within the global development trend, especially in the context of smart city and community development.

At the provincial planning announcement event, there will be seminars focused on attracting investment projects and building up a next-generation industrial ecosystem. Through this event, ICF aims at further deepening Binh Duong's connection with the entire ICF network. Therefore, the seminars will be organized by the province in both in-person and online formats globally. Most ICF members are leading regions in technology development and smart city development, with strong human resources. Organizing these seminars will connect ICF members, creating great opportunities and networks for Binh Duong to learn, exchange experience, attract investment and link human resources, share in fields such as culture, society, science and technology while maximizing the mobilization of resources for investment, striving to achieve growth targets, promoting socio-economic development and improving the quality of life and happiness of the people.

-To continue promoting the role and position of being in the Top 1 ICF and to create new momentum in the upcoming period, what methods will Binh Duong implement to develop in the future, sir?

-Binh Duong has made great efforts to achieve the Top 1 ICF position. The key concern now is how the province can continue promoting its Top 1 ICF status in the new period while also demonstrating that Binh Duong is a member with active contributions to the ICF network, and how to further connect cities, businesses and institutes/universities within the ICF. In my view, this is also a new driving force for Binh Duong to make breakthroughs in the next period.

Especially for ICF, the development direction is not only about technology or development of 4.0 technologies, but more importantly, how to build an innovation ecosystem that always has pioneering, well-organized new strategies, pushing all members and elements within the ICF to continuously change and innovate to meet the demands of the new era. That is the “key” to the development of Binh Duong in the future.

-The provincial planning aims for Binh Duong to lead the region in science, technology and innovation. What tasks will the province's science and technology sector implement to help realize the goals set by provincial planning?

-For the science and technology sector, provincial leaders are very concerned and have tasked us with connecting the “three sides”, effectively coordinating between the State, businesses and research institutions/universities, along with experts. Recently, provincial DoST has advised provincial People’s Committee on issuing a Program for the Development of Science, Technology, and Innovation to support the development of smart cities for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2040. This program clearly outlines that in each stage, the science and technology sector will implement major scientific and technological projects/programs to organize and collaborate on research, application implementation, and propose new policies, with businesses at the center and research institutes/universities as the primary entities for researching and applying new technologies. These will be formulated into programs aimed at achieving high effectiveness across various fields in the province's socio-economic development and national defense-security.

Students from Eastern International University during a lab session at the fabrication laboratory (Fablab)

According to provincial planning, Binh Duong will develop scientific and technological organizations and activities such as attracting research institutions/universities to invest in Binh Duong; enhancing the development of innovation centers, community development, networks of scientists and organizations to create a vibrant community in the advancement of science and technology. In the upcoming period, the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City will implement an innovation center in the province. Binh Duong will establish a concentrated information technology park. Becamex IDC, the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP), and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have signed three memorandums of understanding to promote digital transformation and develop high-quality human resources.

Provincial DoST is responsible for connecting research institutions/universities to create new breakthroughs. This includes launching new programs, curricula, training, research, and practical applications in fields such as digital transformation, digital economy, green economy, semiconductor technology... Additionally, provincial DoST signs agreements with sectors, agencies and research institutions/universities to promote the application of scientific and technological advancements in production, mobilize social resources for scientific and technological activities and enhance digital transformation efforts for businesses operating in the province.

-Thank you!

Reported by Phuong Le-Tran Dinh Truc-Translated by Kim Tin