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Promoting innovation among Vietnamese intellectuals in the spirit of the 13th Party Congress Resolution

(PTOJ) - Intellectuals play an essential role and are a decisive factor in the development of each country. As intellectual laborers, intellectuals contribute to social development with innovative products which are new scientific knowledge, creating fundamental and positive social changes. In the current context, promoting intellectuals’ creativity has become a condition for Vietnam’s development. The article helps to clarify the theory of innovation and discusses the conditions for promoting innovation among Vietnamese intellectuals in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress.

The intellectuals, with their social labor position, are the force that plays a role in both designing and implementing national innovation - Photo: dangcongsan.vn

1. The term innovation has been discussed in the economic field since the beginning of the 20th century. Innovation is known as a process starting from invention, through production, to market and ending with commercial success. Currently, the concept of innovation is understood in a broader sense. Innovation is a process of transforming an idea into a new product or creating a new product, a new process, a new model or a new service by updating the existing ones. 

The 2013 Law on Science and Technology of Vietnam defines innovation as the creation and application of achievements, technical and technological solutions and management solutions to improve socio-economic development efficiency, productivity, quality and added value of products and goods. Innovation has two essential characteristics, i.e., novelty and value.

The first manifestation of innovation is new ideas that create changes. These ideas have never existed or been known within the confines of an activity, a field or a country. The novelty of innovation is reflected in the creation of new products, processes, methods, and services... or in the improvement or change of existing ones in a better and more effective direction. Globally, innovation is the change, or the process of change that has never been carried out in any other place or country. The novelty of innovation is also reflected in the level of a specific industry or field. Over time and according to social awareness, the novelty of innovation goes through the process of being new, popular and then becoming obsolete. The “longevity” of innovation can vary, depending on the degree of novelty and social development.

Innovation is about coming up with new and different ideas, and these ideas also have to bring about positive changes and progress, creating fundamental benefits for the human community and society. It can be understood that new ideas and products that are not intended to meet the needs and interests of society and lead to social progress and development are not considered products of innovation activities. Of course, such an activity is not considered an innovation activity. The values of innovation can be those of the economy (such as revenue creation, cost savings, increase in labor productivity, etc.) or of society (such as satisfaction, experience, belief, etc.).

It can be said that innovation is the process of realizing each organization’s values, which can be growth or development values. Value - the attribute of innovation is determined differently by different subjects and objects. This difference is due to such factors as different worldviews, cultures, social goals, etc. Realizing a value is the goal and reason for subjects (individuals, organizations) to create innovation and participate in the innovation process.

Innovation is a holistic activity, a process containing various stages, from accumulating knowledge; identifying ideas; applying knowledge, methods, means, etc., to transform ideas into new products, processes or new services which are better and more developed. Innovation is considered in two stages: innovation in ideas and innovation in implementation. Innovation is implemented in numerous fields, including technical innovation and management innovation. In each activity, innovation is carried out by both leaders, managers and executors. In terms of levels, there are fundamental innovations, breakthrough (or radical) innovations, and improved (or sequential) innovations. In terms of mobilized resources, there are internal innovations and collaborative innovations.

2. Vietnamese intellectuals are a large group of people with diverse occupations, expertise, ages, ethnicities, religions and value orientations. The intellectual contingent has a close relationship with and has a strong influence on social classes and has an overall impact on social development. With the basic characteristic of being creative labor, which is mainly mental creativity, the creative role of the intellectuals is reflected in the following key aspects:

Firstly, the intellectuals contribute to building the Party’s leadership lines, the State’s policies and laws on innovation and promoting innovation; providing scientific arguments and participating in consulting and criticizing the State’s policies and laws, as well as solutions and ways of organizing the implementation of the lines and policies to promote innovation.

Secondly, the contingent of Vietnamese intellectuals is the direct subject to create scientific and technological knowledge and implement innovation. They determine the quality and efficiency of scientific and technological activities and innovation in scientific research, production and social management. This is their basic task and their performance contributes significantly to the sustainable development of the country. The results of scientific research and innovation of the intellectuals create a solid foundation for innovation activities in all fields and at all levels. It can be considered that the innovation activities of Vietnamese intellectuals have created the premise and conditions for the creative activities of the society.

Thirdly, the intellectuals are the fundamental force absorbing world scientific and technological achievements, actively approaching, receiving and transferring scientific and technological research results into Vietnam. The process of globalization and international integration in the field of science and technology has been offering opportunities for Vietnam to keep pace with the world’s science and technology development. Those opportunities will only be taken when the intellectuals play an active role in absorbing and inheriting the world’s achievements, mastering, spreading, popularizing and replicating new technologies in Vietnam. The inheritance of the world’s scientific-technological achievements and innovations must be selective. This process is based on promoting Vietnamese intellectuals’ intelligence and responsibility.

Fourthly, through information dissemination activities, training and fostering activities, etc., the intellectuals spread scientific knowledge, raise the people’s intellectual level, build high-quality human resources and foster talents. It can be said that the information dissemination and training activities of the intellectuals have a dual role: on the one hand, these activities raise social awareness, and on the other hand, they establish, foster and develop the qualities and capacities of creativity for upcoming generations.

Fifthly, the intellectuals play an essential role in building an innovation culture and developing an innovation ecosystem.

Culture is the spiritual foundation of society. Innovation cannot be promoted if it is not regarded as a value standing at a high level in the hierarchy of social and spiritual values. With their qualities and personalities, the intellectuals contribute to spreading the spirit of innovation, building new social standards, and gradually creating a society that honors creativity and innovation. They hence contribute to a progressive and developed society.

Thus, the intellectuals, with their social labor position, are the force that plays a role in both designing and implementing national innovation. Their contribution is reflected in almost all stages and aspects: from knowledge creation - a prerequisite for social awareness innovation, to technical and technological innovation - creating ways to improve the world; from innovation in the process of influencing the nature to innovation in managing society and promoting human potential; from radical innovations to groundbreaking innovations; from the innovation of the contingent itself to creating the innovative capacity of everyone in society.

Vietnam has earned various achievements in the development process, including those in science and technology, production - business and in many other fields of life, to which the intellectuals have contributed significantly to. However, it can be seen that, in order to promote the formation of an innovation ecosystem and achieve the development goals, there remain numerous problems in promoting Vietnamese intellectuals’ role: the quantity and quality of the intellectuals, the quality and operational capacity, the requirements and capabilities, the issues belonging to the intellectuals themselves and the social issues, etc..

3. Advantages and challenges in promoting innovation among Vietnamese intellectuals in the current context.

Firstly, Vietnamese intellectuals have favorable opportunities in developing and innovating. Specifically, the policy on science-technology development and innovation promotion has been clearly and consistently defined in the Party’s congress documents, considering innovation promotion (along with/based on science-technology development) to serve as the premise for the country’s rapid and sustainable development in the current period. In addition, the perspective on developing, using and promoting high-quality human resources, focusing on the intellectuals, is creating many advantages for these intellectuals’ activities.

The national socio-economic development goals both set requirements to promote innovation among the intellectuals and motivate them to promote their roles and responsibilities.

Policies on startups, science-technology and innovation, digital transformation, and socio-economy, which are currently being implemented have laid favorable conditions for Vietnamese intellectuals’ activities.

The vigorous and comprehensive integration process is creating opportunities for the development of Vietnamese intellectuals as well as the promotion of these intellectuals’ innovation activities. The rapid global scientific and technological development and the innovation achievements gained by global intellectuals, have generated and brought knowledge and experience in innovation methods to Vietnamese intellectuals. The process of exchange and cooperation not only helps Vietnam mobilize human resources for development but also helps its intellectual contingent integrate with those from overseas. This condition not only develops Vietnamese intellectuals but also promotes their innovation capacity.

Vietnamese intellectuals have high social responsibility. They have always had a strong sense of building a prosperous Vietnam. The millennial history of national construction has further fostered national pride, self-reliance, etc., among Vietnamese intellectuals. Obviously, appropriate guidelines and policies of the Party and State, together with the intellectuals’ sense of responsibility, will create endogenous strength and increase Vietnamese intellectuals’ dedication to the national development process.

Besides the aforementioned essential advantages, the process of promoting innovation among Vietnamese intellectuals also faces a variety of difficulties and challenges. First and foremost, Vietnamese intellectuals are generally weak in innovation capacity. The weakness of not meeting the requirements set forth is due to many factors, of which the training, retraining, distribution and use of the intellectuals are the leading cause.

Secondly, in addition to the aforementioned advantages, the process of globalization and international integration also brings about various challenges for Vietnamese intellectuals. That is the fierce competition in terms of scientific and technological products and innovation. In such competition, the difference in qualifications, means and cost of production has posed difficulties and disadvantages to the innovation process of the intellectuals. Also, these include high requirements on the legality of intellectual property, copyright, trademark, etc.

4. Promoting innovation, especially innovation activities of the intellectuals, is an urgent requirement of Vietnam today. This is confirmed to be the fundamental condition for rapid and sustainable development. The synchronous implementation of solutions will promote Vietnamese intellectuals’ innovation activities.

Firstly, the intellectuals are deeply aware of the importance of promoting innovation for Vietnam’s development. Raising awareness of leaders of party committees and authorities at all levels and public awareness about the position and role of the intellectuals is the first step taken to promote the intellectuals’ creativity and dedication in the current context. Their innovation activities are carried out in many fields: scientific-technological research, production - business and management. Each field in which the intellectuals participate has specific requirements. However, they all make fundamental and significant contributions to the sustainable development of Vietnam.

Secondly, from the inseparable relationship between scientific-technological research and innovation and the overall relationship between innovative ideas and the implementation of innovation in practice, it is vital to identify the viewpoint to promote innovation and creativity among the intellectuals in the current context in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress. Science and technology development supports the innovation process. Promoting innovation must be based on the development of scientific research and technology. Promoting innovation is equal to enhancing the formation and implementation of innovative ideas among the intellectuals.

Thirdly, building Vietnamese intellectuals and promoting their innovation must start from the fundamental and comprehensive reform of education and training to comprehensively develop quantity and quality. Implementing education and training reform at all levels is essential, from innovating contents and methods to acquiring a team of talented and dedicated intellectuals. This is considered a condition for promoting development in Vietnam at present.

It is compulsory to have reasonable policies in the selection, use and evaluation of the intellectuals. The intellectuals’ positions and jobs have special requirements. Only when selecting, arranging and using the intellectuals according to the principle of choosing people based on job requirements can Vietnam promote the intellectuals’ creativity. In addition, qualified intellectuals with professionalism and sufficient management capacity should be employed, whereas the management and using method should be effective and suitable to their characteristics.

The assessment of scientific-technological knowledge and innovation has a significant impact on the level of development of the intellectuals’ operational capacity. Objective evaluation will generate great motivation for the intellectuals’ dedication and vice versa. It is obligatory to ensure the following principles when assessing the intellectuals: attaching importance to the dedication, ensuring continuity, ensuring comprehensiveness regarding virtue and talent, attitude and qualifications, individual and collective contributions, short-term and long-term contributions, etc. Based on evaluation, policies on remuneration and reward praising the intellectuals’ creativity and dedication should be made. 

Fourthly, ensuring working conditions, including facilities, information, materials and operating funds to promote the intellectuals’ creativity. In particular, it is required to increase their access to scientific-technological information and innovation of countries in the region and the world through developing information infrastructure and building a national science and technology information system that is smooth, quick and effective in the process of digital transformation. Strengthening cooperation activities and information exchange between Vietnamese intellectuals and other countries.

Concentrating financial resources on promoting scientific-technological research and innovation among the intellectuals in the direction of identifying key investments, both fundamental and long-term, to make sure that the fields of science - technology and innovation can survive and develop in a global and highly competitive environment.

Fifthly, building a healthy social environment in general and a healthy working environment in particular to promote the intellectuals’ creativity is essential. In order to promote the role of the intellectuals in science-technology and innovation, it is necessary to create a favorable social and working environment in which political - social, cultural, scientific factors, etc. have a substantial impact on dedication. The spirit of democracy and transparency in management are requirements and conditions for innovation. It is needed to respect and listen to opinions, including social criticism, and at the same time have a mechanism to filter and absorb criticisms properly. In the current context, it is essential to better the legal framework, institutions and policy systems to ensure the effective implementation of the Law on Science and Technology and create conditions to promote innovation activities in Vietnam.

Sixthly, to promote innovation among Vietnamese intellectuals, it is of great significance to maximize factors belonging to the innovation subject. “Arousing the spirit and will to develop a prosperous and happy country; a strong and enduring nation; promoting Vietnamese cultural values ​​and human strength in the cause of national construction and defense”(1). Promoting the subjectivity of innovation subjects is enhancing self-learning and self-cultivating among Vietnamese intellectuals in terms of intellectual level and professional ethical qualities.

It is the refusal to allow stagnation and corruption in labor, production and management. It is the wish, the need, the desire for innovation. More than anyone else, the intellectuals are aware of their roles and responsibilities, they make continuous efforts and tirelessly dedicate themselves to society. These factors make up the internal strength of the intellectuals themselves.

The intellectuals’ thinking and practical operation capacity should be highly appreciated. In addition to social impacts, the intellectuals should consider the development of critical thinking and practical capacity as a condition for innovation. Therefore, it is the intellectuals who need to constantly practice logical thinking, scientific reasoning, professional competence, observation, management capacity etc. They are also asked to regularly foster and enhance professional qualifications, broaden knowledge, and develop professional and social skills, etc. These are the decisive factors for Vietnamese intellectuals’ innovation and creativity.

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Received: April 1, 2022; Revised: April 19, 2022; Approved for Publication: April 22, 2022.

 

Endnote:

(1) CPV: Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, vol.I, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, p.46.

References:

1. Nguyen Van Son: Vietnamese higher education intellectuals in the period of accelerating industrialization and modernization, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2002.

2. Nguyen Dac Hung: Vietnamese intellectuals and the national development requirements, Truth National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005.

3. Dong Thi Thu Huyen: Young cadres with innovation and capacity improvement in Industrial Revolution 4.0, Vietnam National University Publishing House, Hanoi, 2018.

Assoc.Prof., Dr. PHAM MINH SON

Dr. PHAN THI THANH HAI

Academy of Journalism and Communication

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