Understanding digital concepts to enhance results

Vu Quoc Huy, director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC)

A 5G ecosystem needs a lot of supportive policies for development. Can you tell us about the role of the NIC in helping enterprises participate in the 5G ecosystem?

The NIC was established in 2019 to support and develop the startup and innovation ecosystem of Vietnam. The centre enjoys special incentives backed by preferential mechanisms and policies issued by the government.

Thereby, the centre is conducting general support for businesses and individuals related to innovation activities, including research and development of new high-tech products, providing cutting-edge business models and processes, and generating more value. In Vietnam, strengthening the application of 5G will develop applications in a variety of sectors, which will be supported by the NIC.

For large partners, the centre is building a facility in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park over 35,000 square metres, which will offer them space to work, research, and connect and cooperate under the support of the NIC.

The government has provided numerous policies to promote innovation as well as develop IT and infrastructure for digital transformation. However, what are the biggest obstacles to innovation with businesses?

There are some policies for innovation and digital transformation, especially in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Resolution No.52-NQ/TW, Resolution No.50/NQ-CP, and other national programmes and strategies. So, the directions and policies related to innovation and digital transformation are enough.

However, improving the awareness for digital transformation and 5G development of businesses and authorities remains troubling. Amid the digital transformation, the focus lies not only on IT but also on a change of mindsets and the way of operating. So, both businesses and authorities should adapt to these changes to enhance their performance.

To support businesses in the digital transformation, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development, is consulting with and directing around 100 businesses in their transformation, not only by focusing on digitalising information but also establishing processes like database handling and analytics.

Meanwhile, the NIC focuses on training and awareness-raising for both businesses and young entrepreneurs. The centre, in collaboration with Google and some business associations, offers training on digital transformation and international practices. In partnership with Siemens and Hitachi, the NIC has been building a digital experience centre in the building of the MPI and the NIC in Cau Giay district of Hanoi to introduce new technologies to local and foreign businesses. Thus, business representatives can experience and carefully understand the digital transformation before applying included concepts to their models.

How important is the 5G ecosystem for the innovation activities of the NIC in Vietnam?

At present, the task of the NIC is to boost the innovation activities of enterprises. International consultants have proposed to concentrate on smart manufacturing and cities, network security, digital communications, and agricultural and environmental technologies. These sectors require a modern, stable, and high-speed infrastructure.

Therefore, developing a modern 5G ecosystem in synchronisation with international standards will be an important element in implementing digital transformation effectively. Based on this, factories in Vietnam can connect quickly and stably by using the 5G ecosystem.

Such development is also in line with Vietnam’s strategies to seize as many opportunities as possible amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and strengthen the development of major economic sectors, which have advantages and great room to serve as a driving force for growth to catch up and progress with other countries in the region and, ultimately, all over the world.