Party General Secretary Tô Lâm chairs the meeting of the national steering committee on this mission on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Removing institutional bottlenecks is the top priority in Việt Nam’s science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm said as he chaired a meeting of the national steering committee on this mission on Wednesday, underlining the urgency of creating strategic breakthroughs and new growth frameworks for the country.

In December last year, the Politburo issued Resolution 57-NQ/TW to boost progress in this field. The document has already yielded noticeable results in governance, socio-economic development, welfare and quality of life for the people.

Party chief Lâm said that implementing this official document is crucial for transforming the country’s development model in line with the direction outlined at the 13th National Party Congress.

Recognising the efforts of authorities, sectors and the people, he stressed that strategic directions in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must align with the principles of discipline, resources and results as agreed at the recent Party Central Committee meeting.

This requires strict compliance with directives and timelines, ensuring sufficient resources to avoid wastefulness, and measuring all efforts by tangible, specific and practical results.

Emphasising the importance of leveraging data to innovate thinking, he highlighted focus areas including intellectual property frameworks, commercialisation frameworks for research outputs and public-private partnership frameworks.

In addition to supportive mechanisms for pioneering public officials, measures must mobilise private resources and place businesses at the centre of progress in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, which he said is key to capitalising on the state-academia-business cooperation model.

The Party leader stressed that citizen and business trust and satisfaction must be the ultimate measure of success. Comprehensive digitalisation and effective public services based on interconnected data systems are essential.

He called on all units and their leaders to set an example and take full responsibility before the Party, the State and the people for implementing assigned tasks. They must ensure timely completion, meeting practical demands and delivering effective results.

Party organisations, from central to local levels, must implement the national digital transformation plan effectively within their authority, following the established roadmap, said Party chief Lâm. He added that the Government’s Party Committee must resolve outstanding issues related to delayed implementation of legal guidelines.

By March 31, 2026, all decrees and circulars guiding the enforcement of new laws related to science, technology, innovation and digital transformation must have been issued and taken effect.

The Party Committee of the National Assembly must focus its oversight on three core issues: the progress and quality of national database development, the effective disbursement and use of State budget resources, and tangible results of commercialising scientific and technological products under the state-academia-business cooperation model.

The Việt Nam Fatherland Front’s Party Committee must ensure its digital transformation plan is implemented effectively and organise independent, practical oversight and feedback programmes on research quality, public service delivery and national database progress that directly affect citizens.

Party General Secretary Lâm emphasised the critical importance of leadership responsibility, stating that officials must fully understand the mission of developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in line with the nation’s progress. He warned that ‘short-term thinking,’ ‘clinging to vested interests,’ or a lack of courage for innovation and bold action will not be tolerated.

Underscoring proactiveness, decisiveness and effectiveness, he said upcoming tasks demand that every unit and official act swiftly and propose initiatives that bring comprehensive benefits. — VNS