Improving innovation in Vietnam through PII

The Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the United Nations Development Programme have organised a workshop in Hanoi on August 3 on the innovation index framework in the public sector in Vietnam.

This was the first workshop to collect comments of experts and scientists for the very first concept in Vietnam, which targets local agencies, ministries, and sectors that can self-assess and improve innovation capacity.

The PII is aimed to provide an overview in conceptualising and measuring innovation in the public sector, measuring the innovation capacity of public organisations and helping policy-makers understand different levels of innovation and dynamics in different parts of public sector organisations to have solutions to promote innovation in the public sector.

Highlighting the positive impact of innovations, NIC deputy director Vo Xuan Hoai said they contribute up to 95 per cent of the national economic competitiveness, 91 per cent to the green economy, 88 per cent to new works, 86 per cent to partnership, and 66 per cent to innovation values impact people’s daily activities.

Economists shared the view that innovations are necessary for both public and private sectors, adding that they will create opportunities for the public sector to lead and orient the private one.

In the opinion of Pham Thi Thu Trang from the NIC, the PII measures the innovation capacity of public organisations, giving policymakers insights into innovation levels and momentum in agencies and organisations in the sector and serving as a basis for the agencies and organisations to promote innovations.

Ly Dinh Quan, director of the Han River Startup Incubation Centre, said that innovation in the public sector plays an important role in promoting the private sector and accelerating the economic growth of Vietnam.

Pham Ngoc Thach from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) said the PII would promote positive changes in the public sector, especially in the context of a rapidly developing digital economy.

He added that according to a recent survey of VCCI, many public units have initiatives and changes in the provision of public services and handling administrative procedures.

“It is necessary to find out which initiatives are effective in localities and ministries. If measured, it will be very useful,” said Thach.

Some said to maximise the innovation index framework, it is necessary to ensure fair development between agencies and localities.

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