NIC breaking ground to set off new wave of innovation

MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung proposed setting January 10 as national Innovation Day

At the ceremony, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung highlighted that exactly a year ago, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned the ministry as the general authority to resolve the country's growth troubles, as well as pioneer innovation and propose breakthough policies for economic growth.

The ministry (MPI) provided advice for the building of Resolution No.52-NQ/TW on a number of guidelines and policies to actively participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the National Strategy on Fourth Industrial Revolution by 2030 (which was issued in the first days of the year), establishing the Vietnam Innovation Network that gathers 1,000 overseas Vietnamese experts, scientists, and talents with offices in five countries, and the launching of the programme to support enterprises’ digital transformation in 2021-2025 in last December.

"Innovation should be an organic part of the economy, with new activities and spillover effects promoted to create new values and breakthroughs for businesses, society, and the country," the minister emphasised.

In this framework, the Vietnam International Innovation Expo (VIIE) was set up as an annual event to highlight the innovative products and technologies of Vietnam. "Launching the VIIE and breaking ground on the NIC are the first major events in 2021, signalling a new era of innovation for Vietnam," added Dung.

The NIC was established in Decision No.1269/QD-TTg dated October 2, 2019. “Establishing the NIC is a significant step by the government to realise the Politburo's Resolution No.52-NQ/TW on guidelines and policies for the nation's proactive involvement in Industry 4.0,” said the MPI minister.

The newly begun NIC building will be a house of innovation for all in Vietnam

The operation of the NIC, as well as innovation activities like the very first VIIE in 2021 and the Vietnam Venture Summit over the last two years, are not only indicative of the government and the MPI's determination to improve the resilience of businesses against crises and pandemics, they also enable Vietnam to become one of the smartest production and service centres in the region.

The minister proposed to set January 10 as national Innovation Day. "I believe that the NIC will be an ideal place for innovation activities in Vietnam and will serve to inspire all people, as well as enable innovation to become an unlimited resource for the country's development," said Dung.

The NIC building represents a total investment capital estimated at VND754 billion ($32.8 million) across an area of 36,800 square metres, divided into six areas: integrated service centre; working space for large domestic and foreign technology companies; coworking spaces for venture capital funds and innovative businesses; laboratory and prototype-manufacturing workshop; and event centre, exhibition, and showroom area.