Vietnam is entering a pivotal development phase in which science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation serve as the foundation for national competitiveness and long-term adaptability.

In response, Resolution 57-NQ/TW has quickly captured the attention of Party leadership, government agencies, scientists, and the business community.

Speaking at the National Conference on Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation on January 13, 2025, General Secretary To Lam emphasized: “Resolution 57 of the Politburo sets strategic directions embraced by officials, scientists, and businesses alike - like a ‘Khoán 10’ for science and technology.” He added: “Developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation is not a choice - it is a matter of survival.”

To realize the resolution’s ambitious goals, a comprehensive, strategic action plan is required, with strong inter-sector coordination to overcome fragmented initiatives and structural challenges.

To address these needs, the Central Steering Committee for Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation issued a strategic action plan for Resolution 57.

The plan clarifies the Central Steering Committee’s guiding role, mandates systemic and feasible implementation, links national and local efforts, integrates existing programs, and offers a framework to mobilize resources and foster innovation, scientific application, and digital transformation.

Implementation must be systemic, tiered, and adaptable. It clearly defines responsibilities, ensures inter-agency coordination, avoids duplication, and integrates performance monitoring for timely adjustments.

System structure aligned with modern governance

The action plan is structured into six systems, including five strategic pillars for long-term development and one critical system for large-scale, high-impact projects requiring focused national coordination and investment.

Each system comprises guiding initiatives that offer flexible implementation pathways for agencies, organizations, localities, businesses, and the scientific community. The structure supports both horizontal (inter-sectoral) and vertical (central-to-local) integration - reflecting modern governance.

System 1: Institutional reform and national governance – improve institutional frameworks, build digital government, enhance high-tech national defense and security.

System 2: Industrial development and tech autonomy – master core technologies, promote endogenous industry, and digitize businesses.

System 3: Social welfare and inclusion – apply science, tech, and digital tools in healthcare, education, agriculture, environment, labor, and housing to improve quality of life.

System 4: Information and data infrastructure – develop next-gen digital infrastructure with safety, connectivity, and national data revolution.

System 5: Innovation capacity and culture – build a people-centered innovation ecosystem, attract talent, promote academia and creativity.

System 6: Critical national projects – implement large-scale strategic initiatives like national AI, genomics, and the North-South high-speed railway.

All systems are concretized through a portfolio of breakthrough initiatives and performance indicators (KPIs), with defined outputs, timelines, responsible agencies, and evaluation criteria.

Coordinated, effective implementation

To ensure effective execution, the Central Steering Committee outlined key focus areas, including:

Strengthening centralized coordination;
Establishing a modern governance model with clear accountability;
Integrating the plan into socio-economic programs;
Implementing real-time evaluation systems;
Improving policy frameworks and testing new models;
Mobilizing diverse funding with priority for key initiatives;
Enhancing international cooperation and learning from global best practices.

The plan follows three phases aligned with medium-term (to 2030) and long-term (to 2045) goals:

2025–2026: Launch and foundational setup
2026–2030: Full-scale deployment and mid-term evaluation
2030–2045: Expansion and consolidation

This strategic action plan serves as a national blueprint, setting out long-term vision, structured systems, and clear goals to realize Resolution 57. It is a guiding framework for breakthrough growth in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Hai Phong