01/11/04

Vietnam seeks a high-tech strategy

By: Nguyen Dang Vu Long

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<h1>Vietnam seeks a high-tech strategy</h1>
<h4>By: Nguyen Dang Vu Long</h4>
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<p><P>[HANOI] Vietnamese progress in science and technology is lagging and heavy investment in both fields is urgently needed to ensure the country’s economic growth and competitiveness, says a report released last week by the Vietnamese National Assembly.</P><br />
<P>The report highlights challenges in the fields of biotechnology, automation technology and materials science. It says Vietnam lacks a viable biotechnology industry based on research leading to commercial applications, and that the country needs to launch a nanotechnology programme by starting work immediately on the relevant research and development.</P><br />
<P>“Nanotechnology should be part of a general strategy for developing materials science,” said Ho Duc Viet, head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, adding that specific steps such as training and improving technical infrastructure and facilities are needed.</P><br />
<P>The report says that some economically important industries need more input from research. The growing steel industry, for instance, primarily produces steel for the construction industry. According to the report, steel plants have yet to produce tool-grade steel, despite the fact that the country is rich in the necessary raw materials.</P><br />
<P>The report also reveals that several government ministries and departments still find the application of information technology (IT) complicated and confusing, and that local IT businesses were wastefully making big investments in developing hardware but not in software.</P><br />
<P>Viet said that although the country had made considerable progress — for instance, increasing the number of Internet users from 1.9 million in June 2003 to 5.4 million in September 2004 – this has taken place at a slower pace than in many other countries.</P><br />
<P2>In 2003, Vietnam was ranked last out of 53 countries in the Information Society Index compiled by IT analysis company IDC, and 122 out of 178 in the International Telecommunication’s Union’s Digital Access Index. Both measure access to and use of information and communication technologies.<BR><BR>To help address the situation, Vietnam is developing ‘high-technology zones’ in which hi-tech business growth is encouraged by tax breaks and other benefits. Currently, two such zones are being created in Vietnam – one in Ha Tay province near Hanoi and one in Ho Chi Minh City.</P></p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/news/vietnam-seeks-a-hightech-strategy-seaap/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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[HANOI] Vietnamese progress in science and technology is lagging and heavy investment in both fields is urgently needed to ensure the country’s economic growth and competitiveness, says a report released last week by the Vietnamese National Assembly.

The report highlights challenges in the fields of biotechnology, automation technology and materials science. It says Vietnam lacks a viable biotechnology industry based on research leading to commercial applications, and that the country needs to launch a nanotechnology programme by starting work immediately on the relevant research and development.

“Nanotechnology should be part of a general strategy for developing materials science,” said Ho Duc Viet, head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, adding that specific steps such as training and improving technical infrastructure and facilities are needed.

The report says that some economically important industries need more input from research. The growing steel industry, for instance, primarily produces steel for the construction industry. According to the report, steel plants have yet to produce tool-grade steel, despite the fact that the country is rich in the necessary raw materials.

The report also reveals that several government ministries and departments still find the application of information technology (IT) complicated and confusing, and that local IT businesses were wastefully making big investments in developing hardware but not in software.

Viet said that although the country had made considerable progress — for instance, increasing the number of Internet users from 1.9 million in June 2003 to 5.4 million in September 2004 – this has taken place at a slower pace than in many other countries.

In 2003, Vietnam was ranked last out of 53 countries in the Information Society Index compiled by IT analysis company IDC, and 122 out of 178 in the International Telecommunication’s Union’s Digital Access Index. Both measure access to and use of information and communication technologies.

To help address the situation, Vietnam is developing ‘high-technology zones’ in which hi-tech business growth is encouraged by tax breaks and other benefits. Currently, two such zones are being created in Vietnam – one in Ha Tay province near Hanoi and one in Ho Chi Minh City.