Vietnam is actively and strategically advancing efforts to build a high-quality science and technology workforce capable of mastering critical strategic technologies, a central objective under Resolution No. 57‑NQ/TW issued by the Politburo.
One year into its implementation, the Central Steering Committee on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation has identified persistent gaps that require urgent attention.
The shortage of highly skilled personnel in strategic technology sectors remains a major bottleneck, limiting the country’s capacity to achieve technological independence and competitiveness in critical areas, while also constraining opportunities for innovation-driven economic growth.
Since the Đổi mới (renewal) reforms nearly four decades ago, Vietnam’s science and technology workforce has expanded steadily, but it still falls short in scale and expertise to support a growth model driven by innovation and technology.
While research teams in many fundamental disciplines have approached regional standards, the pool of top-tier experts, particularly in high-tech fields, remains small. Official estimates indicate that Vietnam has roughly 1,300 researchers per million people, a modest figure compared with regional peers.
Moreover, the number of senior scientists is limited relative to the strategic needs of the country’s development agenda, especially in emerging industries such as biotechnology, space and quantum computing.
Domestic universities and research institutions have made notable progress in improving training and research quality. The University of Science and Technology of Hanoi has expanded programmes and partnerships that integrate students into cutting-edge research initiatives, enhancing both their skills and exposure to practical applications.
The Graduate University of Science and Technology, affiliated with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, offers doctoral and master’s programmes that encourage students to produce internationally published research.
These efforts have increased the quality of scientific training and brought more students and scholars into fields such as semiconductors, aviation, space technology and advanced materials, creating a foundation for the next generation of strategic technology experts and fostering stronger international collaboration.
Nevertheless, significant challenges remain. Enrollment in science and technology disciplines is still too low to meet the country’s demand for talent. Domestic training capacity has not kept pace with the rapid growth in need for experts in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced materials and other critical fields.
Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem is still underdeveloped, with weak links between education, research and commercial application. Consequently, some of the country’s most skilled talent is lost to overseas opportunities or absorbed by the private sector and research outputs often struggle to translate into commercial or societal impact, limiting both technological progress and economic competitiveness.
Structural and governance issues compound the shortage of high-quality personnel. Limited institutional autonomy, particularly in managing research assets, intellectual property and facilities, reduces the attractiveness of scientific careers and hampers efforts to retain and deploy talent effectively.
Funding mechanisms, remuneration policies and working conditions in research environments remain areas in need of improvement to create a supportive and motivating environment for scientists and innovators.
Experts emphasise that without decisive, coordinated reforms across education, research and enterprise, Vietnam risks continuing to face the paradox of high demand for skilled personnel but insufficient domestic capacity to produce and retain them.
To achieve mastery of strategic technologies and drive sustainable growth, the nation requires stronger alignment of training with national priorities, deeper cooperation between the state, academia and industry and institutional reforms that empower research organisations and scientists.
Developing a high-calibre science and technology workforce is central to Vietnam’s ambitions under Resolution 57. Overcoming current human resource constraints will be critical for realising the country’s long-term goals in innovation, strategic technologies and technological self-reliance, ensuring Vietnam can compete in high-value industries, attract global investment and contribute meaningfully to regional and global technological advancement.
