HÀ NỘI — To ultilise the advantages of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), citizens must quickly be equipped with knowledge, Trần Văn Tùng, deputy minister of Science and Technology spoke at a forum titled “Innovation in the 4.0 era” in Hà  Nội this week.

Tùng said that the fourth industrial revolution is developing rapidly around the world and influencing the economic development of Việt Nam and other countries.

"To apply new technologies into production and socio-economic development, Vietnamese youth should equip themselves with a lot of knowledge,” the deputy minister said.

“The Industrial Revolution 4.0 may take a lot of work from people but it also provides opportunities for new careers and for those who equip themselves with necessary and suitable knowledge,” Tùng said.

With this revolution, the number of employees in many industries such as banking might fall in the future as these industries will be entirely computerised, said Phạm Minh Tuấn, Founder of TOPICA Edtech Group.

Artificial intelligence robots, with features that can replace humans will appear, as will durable robots with high skills and high productivity, he said.

However, Tuấn also said that even though technology threatened the work of humans it promoted the development of society. “Technology will change us and create a new world. Technology is to serve people.”

Đỗ Đăng Dương, sales director of Lumi Việt Nam added that technology was only threatening those who wouldn’t change, however, this was an opportunity for people who really wanted to capture it.

As part of the forum, 30 startups exhibited their products in artificial intelligence and big data, the Internet of Things, fintech and blockchain technology.

There are also other activities including the launch of the innovation for Vietnamese youth portal www.vietyouth.vn and the announcement of VietChallenge, a global startup competition for Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

Established in 2015, VietChallenge gives Vietnamese entrepreneurs from all over the world the opportunity to put their ideas to the test with exposure to international markets. — VNS