World Creativity and Innovation Day April 21: Making Vietnam a regional center of creativity and innovation
On the morning of April 19, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Science and Technology organized a ceremony to respond to World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024 (April 21 every year). The event was organized to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in socio-economic development, building a sustainable society and promoting all aspects of human development; propagate and disseminate to organizations and individuals to join hands in promoting innovation activities. Along with that, promote the development of the national innovation system with close connection between the public sector; production, business and investment areas; research, education, training and social areas; Launch a series of innovation activities in 2024.
In opening speech, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized that since 2017, the United Nations General Assembly has chosen April 21 every year as World Creativity and Innovation Day with the goal of The purpose is to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in economic, social and sustainable development. From 2022, with the permission of the Government leadership, the Ministry of Science and Technology has organized activities to respond to the United Nations World Day of Creativity and Innovation and received great attention, Participate in the enthusiastic and effective response of many ministries, branches, localities and organizations throughout the country.
In Vietnam, with the cooperation of ministries, branches, localities, the business community, scientists, and the support of international organizations and friends, the national innovation system is increasingly complete. In 2017, the Global Innovation Index (often referred to as GII) announced annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization was used by the Government as an important tool for reference and construction. Develop and promulgate policies to promote innovation in Vietnam. Since then, Vietnam’s GII Index has continuously improved (increasing from position 59 in 2016 to position 46 in 2023). Vietnam always maintains the second position in the group of lower middle-income countries and is one of the 7 middle-income countries that have made the most progress in innovation over the past decade.
From 2023, with technical support from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Local Innovation Index (PII) has officially been deployed nationwide under the direction of the Government in Vietnam. Resolution No. 10/NQ-CP dated February 3, 2023 aims to provide a realistic, overall picture of the current state of the socio-economic development model based on science, technology and innovation of each country. local. Thereby, providing basis and evidence on strengths, weaknesses, potential factors and necessary conditions to promote socio-economic development based on science, technology and innovation of the country. each locality.
In addition to the results achieved, Minister Huynh Thanh Dat also said that Vietnam’s innovation capacity needs to continue to be improved more strongly in the coming period, in order to directly contribute to increasing productivity. labor and product quality, environmental protection and sustainable development. Vietnam is transforming its growth model from relying on capital and labor to a growth model based on science, technology and innovation. This is a long-term goal, requiring the participation and joint contributions of departments, ministries, branches, localities, businesses and the entire society in the application and development of science, technology and innovation. Minister Huynh Dat wishes to continue to receive close guidance from the Party, Government, National Assembly and the support and cooperation of ministries, branches, localities, research institutes, universities, businesses and the whole society so that scientific research, technological development and innovation activities can make more and more practical contributions to the Vietnam’s socio-economic development tasks.
Sharing at the event, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that innovation has the potential to promote the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. United Nations. According to the national volunteer report on SDGs in 2023, Vietnam has achieved 5 out of 17 sustainable development goals. In the coming years, Vietnam needs to promote the process of achieving these goals through innovation and creativity, inspiring actions to deploy green technology, solutions to respond to new challenges, and contribute reducing carbon emissions as well as enhancing environmental sustainability, improving people’s lives, and bringing economic opportunities.
Ms. Pauline Tamesis also assessed that Vietnam can achieve its vision of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045. The United Nations wishes to accompany and support this journey of Vietnam. The theme of World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024 is “Inspire”, and at the same time, reflects the role of education and awareness in nurturing creative intelligence for the young generation. , especially empowering youth and young generations in STEM fields, she said, the United Nations as well as Vietnam attach great importance to the development of these fields.
Innovation is not limited to high-tech fields with scientists but needs to be inclusive by facilitating innovators at the grassroots level; especially youth, teenagers and other groups. “The aspiration for Vietnam to become a high-income developed country by 2045 depends heavily on liberating and creating conditions to promote creativity and innovation. These will be the core tools to bring Vietnam Nam becomes the creative and innovation center of the region,” Ms. Pauline Tamesis affirmed.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched and guided ministries, branches and localities; Research institutes, universities, businesses and individuals organize activities to respond to World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024, including: National Innovation Start-up Festival 2024 (Techfest 2024); Deploying the PII Innovation Index; Vietnamese women with innovation and creative startups.
Immediately after the Response Ceremony, a scientific conference on innovation activities took place. The reports presented at the Conference focused on the following contents: Overview of innovation in businesses in Vietnam, policies and orientations for developing the national creative startup ecosystem; Industry-level innovation measurement tools; innovation activities and creative startups./.
Thu Phuong