Resolution 57 - Institutional motivation to promote increased intellectual property protection in Vietnam

In the context of globalisation and the 4.0 industrial revolution, knowledge and innovation have become important resources to promote socio-economic development. Vietnam has made many efforts in recent years to build an innovation ecosystem, but the amount of intellectual property (IP) protection is still not commensurate with its potential. In order to create a breakthrough, on December 22, 2024, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW on breakthrough in developing science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. This is considered a new "guideline" to improve creative capacity, promote commercialisation of research results and encourage increased domestic IP protection.

Our Party and State always identify science, technology and innovation as the foundation and key driving force for sustainable development. Many important Resolutions have been issued such as: Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW (2012) on science and technology development; Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW (2013) on fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training, associated with scientific and technological development; or Resolution 52-NQ/TW (2019) on proactively participating in the fourth industrial revolution. These resolutions have created a premise and brought many positive results. However, as General Secretary To Lam pointed out, viewed overall and objectively, the implementation has not yet achieved the expected goals and has not met the development requirements in the new period.

In that context, Resolution No. 57/NQ-TW is considered a "Resolution of Action", "Resolution to liberate scientific thinking" with specific goals, innovating ways of thinking and do, to remove barriers, liberate creative capacity to promote breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and comrades of the Central Steering Committee pressed the opening button, launching 3 digital platforms to serve monitoring the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW. (Source hcmcpv.org.vn)

In particular, the Resolution focuses on institutional bottlenecks and provides perspectives and mechanisms to resolve long-standing shortcomings in science - technology development, innovation, and digital transformation. The Resolution defines investment in science and technology as a long-term investment, accepting risks, accepting delays, instead of only looking at short-term effectiveness. This is new thinking, especially important in the context of digital transformation and patent research; The resolution affirms: Investment in science and technology is mandatory, associated with the strategic goal of turning Vietnam into a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030; and become a developed, high-income country by 2045. At the same time, emphasize promoting public - private cooperation, linking institutes - schools - businesses to mobilise all resources for research and innovation; Identify data as a new resource, consider digital transformation as a way to innovate production forces.

It is these perspectives that have created the corridor and motivation for science and technology and breakthrough innovation. When investment in research is considered long-term, when businesses are encouraged to participate with institutes and schools, and when data and digital infrastructure become the foundation, creative capacity will be unleashed, highly applicable and valuable.

One of the biggest previous bottlenecks in science and technology management in Vietnam was the budget mechanism. Most research tasks, large or small, are segmented according to a 12-month financial cycle. This leads to some topics being divided, lacking comprehensiveness and continuity in progress; Before completing the research, the funding source ran out, and the next year a new document had to be created, leading to interrupted results. As a result, many research products are interrupted, and the products have not reached the level of completion necessary to transfer, apply or register for protection of intellectual property rights, especially for inventions and utility solutions.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW fundamentally changed this thinking, when for the first time, science and technology was posed as a field that operates according to the process of knowledge, not according to the fiscal year. In that spirit, research budgets can be designed and allocated on a 3-5 year cycle for strategic, long-term tasks. At the same time, it is allowed to transfer funding sources when research results have not been accepted, ensuring continuity and sustainability in investment.

This is an important institutional breakthrough, creating conditions for research projects to have enough time to accumulate and develop to the point of producing truly valuable products, capable of registering for patent protection and commercialisation. Typical fields that can benefit from this mechanism include: long-term research and development programmes on genetic technology, nuclear energy, renewable and new energy, semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence, or smart manufacturing,... which require time, large funds and continuity to achieve breakthroughs.

Not only changing the budget management mechanism, Resolution 57 also sets specific, clear quantitative goals. Accordingly, funding for research and development (R&D) must reach 2% of GDP, with at least 3% of the total annual budget spent on developing science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. Investment is increased, stable and has a long-term roadmap not only to improve research capacity but also promote commercialisation of scientific results, form an effective innovation ecosystem, thereby creating a boom in the registration and exploitation of intellectual property assets. Resolution 57 also sets criteria for human resources and research quality that by 2030, human resources for scientific research, technology development, and innovation will reach 12 people per ten thousand people; Form 40-50 science and technology organisations of sufficient regional and world rank; The number of international publications increases by an average of 10% per year; The number of patent applications and patent protection certificates increased by 16-18%/year, with the commercial exploitation rate reaching 8-10%. These are not only reference numbers, but also political commitments demonstrating the determination to make inventions the main output product of science and technology research activities.

It can be said that Resolution 57 has created a new institutional corridor, overcoming shortcomings that have existed for many years, and at the same time establishing a new driving force to promote the increase of inventions. When research is no longer constrained within a short-term fiscal framework, when investment resources are guaranteed long-term, and individuals, research organisations, and businesses are closely connected, the path from scientific ideas to inventions/GPHIs is shortened and made more efficient. This not only contributes to enhancing Vietnam's position on the world map of science and technology, but also directly transforms into a driving force for growth, serving the goals of sustainable development and international integration.

In order for Resolution 57 to truly come to life, in recent times many agencies, research institutes and universities have actively organised seminars and in-depth training courses on IP to raise awareness and skills for research staff, lecturers, students and startups. In particular, the National Office of Intellectual Property (an agency under the Ministry of Science and Technology, responsible for state management and implementation of specialised IP activities in Vietnam), regularly coordinates with localities to deploy an annual training series on patent search and registration for local S&T and IP management staff. In 2024, the Department organised an in-depth knowledge training class for 70 officers; At the same time, chair and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities to organise more than 30 conferences, seminars and training classes to foster knowledge about aspects of IP for different groups of subjects, from basic to advanced; Closely coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City University of Law to organise an in-depth training programme on IP. At training sessions, students are equipped with skills to use international databases (WIPO, USPTO, EPO...) to look up information on inventions, industrial designs, trademarks, as well as how to draft invention descriptions and filing procedures domestically and internationally; Experts and appraisers also shared many practical situations and typical examples of exploiting patent information in research, innovation and commercialisation of scientific results.

At Ho Chi Minh City, in order to further promote intellectual property activities, many coordination programmes, seminars and training courses have been implemented with the participation of universities, research institutes, businesses and state management agencies. In addition to periodic online training classes, the NOIP also coordinates with training institutions and businesses to share experiences in strategies for protecting, exploiting and commercialising intellectual products. On March 28, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry coordinated with the National Office of Intellectual Property to organise the Workshop "Improving intellectual property management capacity", focusing on effective management and exploitation mechanisms of intellectual property in the educational and research environment. Next, on June 27, 2025, the National Scientific Conference with the topic "Effective exploitation of intellectual property rights to serve socio-economic development in the era of Vietnam's advancement" attracted a large number of experts, researchers and businesses, becoming an important forum to connect theory with practice and share good models and experiences. in commercialising research results and building Vietnamese brands. At the same time, on April 25, 2025, the Department of Science and Technology Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with the Intellectual Property Association Ho Chi Minh City and the College of Economics Ho Chi Minh City to organise a series of rich activities such as seminars, legal advice, and a creative video clip contest for students, to arouse awareness of protecting creativity and spreading culture. IP in the business community. Some universities such as the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (National University Ho Chi Minh City); Ho Chi Minh City University of Law,... has also included IP in the curriculum, considering it a mandatory skill for students, graduate students and lecturers.

Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Nhung (Deputy Head of the Department of Intellectual Property Management and Innovation, Department of Science and Technology Ho Chi Minh City) spoke at the event. (Source: dost.hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

These activities not only improve IP capacity for science and technology and IP managers, scientists, lecturers, students and businesses, but also contribute to the formation of IP culture in the academic, research and business environment. This is an important foundation for Resolution 57 to truly spread, creating a breakthrough in increasing both the quantity and quality of Vietnamese inventions in the coming time.

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It can be seen that Resolution 57-NQ/TW has affirmed the Party's long-term vision in investing in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, with the spirit of accepting risks and encouraging cooperation and nurturing creativity. Not only does it increase investment in R&D, the Resolution also directly promotes the goal of improving both the quantity and quality of IP protection in Vietnam. With breakthrough mechanisms on budget management, clear orientations on human resources, infrastructure and public-private cooperation, the Resolution has laid a solid foundation to turn knowledge into wealth and invention into a driving force for development. This is not only an innovation in management thinking, but also a fundamental shift to improve national competitiveness, making science and technology truly become the pillar of socio-economic development and international integration.

Van Anh

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Main References

[1] Intellectual Property Office. (2024). Annual report on intellectual property activities. Hanoi: Hanoi Publishing House. [2] Introduction to the National Scientific Conference "Effective exploitation of intellectual property rights to serve socio-economic development in the era of Vietnam's advancement". (2025). https://www.hcmulaw.edu.vn/vi/hoat-dong-khoa-hoc/gioi-thieu-hoi-thao-khoa-hoc-cap-quoc-gia-khai-thac-hieu-qua-quyen-so-huu-tri-tue-phuc-vu-phat-trien- Kinh-te-xa-hoi-trong-ky-nguyen-vuon-minh-cua-viet-nam [3] Hà Linh. (2025). A breakthrough in thinking about scientific and technological development, innovation and digital transformation. https://nhandan.vn/buoc-dot-pha-trong-tu-duy-phat-trien-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-chuyen-doi-so-post854921.html [4] Workshop "Improving intellectual property management capacity" of the Department of Intellectual Property at IUH. (2025). https://iuh.edu.vn/vi/tin-tuc-su-kien-fi11/hoi-thao-nang-cao-nang-luc-quan-tri-tai-san-tri-tue-cua-cuc-so-huu-tri-tue-tai-iuh-a2444.html [5] Minh Nha. (2025). Ho Chi Minh City: Spreading the rhythm of creativity in the digital era, responding to World Intellectual Property Day 2025. https://dost.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/hoat-dong-so-khcn/tphcm-lan-to-nhip-dieu-sang-tao-trong-ky-nguyen-so-huong-ung-ngay-so-huu-tri-tue-the-gioi-2025/ [6] Nguyen Quan. (2025). Powerful breakthroughs of Resolution 57. https://baochinhphu.vn/5-dot-pha-cua-nghi-quyet-57-ve-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-102250122165526123.htm [7] The state ensures finance for long-term research. (2025). https://sohuutritue.net.vn/nha-nuoc-bao-dam-tai-chinh-cho-nghien-cuu-dai-han-d294307.html [8] Full text of General Secretary To Lam's speech at the National Conference on breakthrough development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. (2025). https://www.sggp.org.vn/toan-van-phat-bieu-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tai-hoi-nghi-toan-quoc-ve-dot-pha-phat- science-learning-cong-listening-new-creation-and-study-so-quoc-gia-post777618.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com [9] Tra My and Quang Huy. (2025, 4 26). Lesson 1: Need breakthrough from human resources and investment in R&D. https://nhandan.vn/cung-co-noi-luc-de-but-pha-trong-ky-nguyen-so-can-dot-pha-tu-nhan-luc-va-dau-tu-cho-rd-post875370.html

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Source: CESTI – Centre for Science & Technology Information and Statistics Ho Chi Minh City. Original article: https://thongke.cesti.gov.vn/an-pham-thong-ke/thong-tin-chuyen-de-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-and-doi-moi-sang-tao/1475 -question-rule-57-dong-luc-the-cheating-day-increasing-how-so-huu-tri-tue-o-viet-nam