Domestic and international experts propose initiatives for Vietnam’s Digital economy and technology  

On June 21, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in collaboration with Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM) held the conference on Digital Economy and Technology – ECOTECH 2025 with the theme “Initiatives for Vietnam’s Digital Economy & Technology”.  

The conference was implemented in accordance with Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, issued by the Political Bureau, focusing on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation (NQ57).  

ECOTECH 2025 consists of two discussion sessions: Digital Economy – Digital Technology and Digital Finance. As part of the event, the Finals of the Hack <CX> Together 2025 competition were also held. 

Attendees of the conference included Dr. To Hong Nam – Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Technology and Information, Ministry of Education and Training; Assoc. Prof. Huynh Quyet Thang – President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof. Le Minh Ha – Executive Director of VIASM; representatives of government ministries, agencies and departments, representatives of business partners and hundreds of domestics and international scientists.  

The collaboration of 3 pillars to promote the development of Digital Economy – Digital Technology and Digital Finance 

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Huynh Quyet Thang – President of HUST, emphasized the significant importance of the conference, not only in training and research but also as a key role in promoting the development of “Made in Vietnam” intellectual products. It aligns with Resolution 57 and responds to the expectations of establishing financial centers, as outlined in Conclusion Notice 47 – TB/TW of the Political Bureau dated November 15, 2024.  
  In the new era following its restructuring, HUST has cultivated the idea of establishing an interdisciplinary research unit, leveraging the foundation of Mathematics and Information Technology to support economic development. This serves as a steppingstone towards the foundation of the Institute of Technology and Digital Economy (BK Fintech), established in December 2022. The institute unites staffs and faculty from HUST schools including School of Information Technology and Communications (SOICT), the Faculty of Mathematics – Information Technology and the School of Economics to work together on research and real-world applications. 

Through the activities of BK Fintech in particular and HUST in general, the innovation and determination of HUST students are continuously nurtured. These initiatives – including the collaboration between the Government, the University and the enterprises – serve as tangible proof of the successful implementation of the “3 pillars” cooperation, to transform ideas into activated results.  

Representing for government agencies in educational management, Dr. To Hong Nam – Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Technology and Information, Ministry of Education and Training, remarked: “The digital economy cannot do without the digital technology. However, for digital technology to develop, it requires a coordinated effort involving the institutional framework, infrastructure and human resources.” 
  Dr. Nam stated the “3-pillars” cooperation model as a key approach to addressing the challenges: “The government needs to establish a safe legal environment to foster the development of enterprises and scientists. Universities should not only focus on education but also engage in research and practical applications. Enterprises should collaborate with universities to commercialized products, transfer technology and nurture research environment.” 

According to Assoc. Prof. Le Minh Ha – Executive Director of VIASM, implementing the National Key Program for Mathematics Development for the period of 2021 to 2030, VIASM has clearly defined the direction for applied research and encouraged the interdisciplinary collaboration between mathematics experts and other fields experts. To successfully conduct national and strategic missions, Assoc. Prof. Ha agreed the necessity of an ecosystem for “3 pillars”.  
  Drawing lessons from developed countries such as Japan and United Stated, Assoc. Prof. Ha emphasized that mathematics plays a crucial role in the advancement of science and technology, serving as a key factor in the success of the 4.0 Industry Revolution. 

In his speech note, Dr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Social Security Management Board and Chairman of the Council of BK Fintech at HUST, cited the major directives from the Party and the government regarding digital economy development. The documents of the 13th National Party Congress and Resolution 52-NQ/TW identify digital economy development as a pillar, a key task and a strategic component in the national digital transformation process. It sets a target for Vietnam’s digital economy to constitute 20% of GDP by 2025 and increase to 30% by 2030. To achieve this goal, Resolution 57 targeted the need to enhance investment in science, technology and digital transformation. 
  Dr. Cuong stated: “In the context of rapidly developing technologies such as AI, blockchain and IoT, we must shift from traditional way of thinkings to a technology driven mindset, and from a culture of tradition to a digital culture.” The conference is a platform for sharing practical solutions and mutual learning among participants, aiming to transform strategic objectives into concrete actions. 

08 pioneering mindsets – 01 journey to build digital future 

At HUST, strategic initiatives for Vietnam’s Digital Economy and Digital Technology were developed in 02 key discussions with the participation of domestic and international experts, scholars and businesses. The presentations not only reflected the breakthrough mindset but also outlined the foundation pillars of Vietnam’s digital future.  
 
The first discussion session on Digital Economy – Digital Technology had opened macro and strategic perspectives on technology innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), the role of enterprises in digital transformation, and the link between technological infrastructure and sustainable economic growth. The session featured 04 presentations: 

1. Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy to Catalyse Breakthrough Development in Vietnam – Prof. Vu Minh Khuong, National University of Singapore; 

2. Reflections on Vietnam's Science and Technology Path – Prof. Ho Tu Bao, VIASM; 

3. SHBFinance - The Journey of Transformation & Digitalization – Ms. Olena Khlon, General Director SHBFinance; 

4. Leveraging AI and LLMs for Business – Mr. Hoang Nam Tien, Vice Chairman of the University Council at FPT University; 

Following the previous discussions, there were presentations focusing on innovation in the field of Digital Finance, featuring practical examples from both Vietnam and international contexts: 

5. Innovation and Sustainability in U.S. SMEs: Practical Insights for Vietnamese Business Development – Assistant Professor. Dr. Bao Hoang, Southern Arkansas University; 

6. Leveraging IoT Data for Insurance Innovation - Mr. Dau Khac Cuong, Managing Director of Lead Consulting company; 

7. What If Your Money Was Programmable? - Victor Luong, Host at DeFi.vn, Uniswap; 

8. Optimizing Financial and Banking Operations through BPM Solutions - Mr. Dong Xuan Quang, Deputy CEO of TNTech. 

08 presentations reflecting 8 different perspectives converged into a continuous mindset, collectively shaping the digital future through knowledge, technology and interdisciplinary collaboration. From strategic analyses of AI, digital economy, digital finance to practical solutions in insurance, banking, IoT data and decentralized finance, the speakers not only introduced new technologies but also challenged conventional thinking, opening new approaches for development. The spirit of national progress was clearly reflected in the synergy of academia, policy and business – directing toward a proactive, innovative and sustainable digital Vietnam on the global stage. 
 

Hack <CX> Together 2025 Champion named Hanoi University of Science and Technology students     On the same afternoon, the ECOTECH 2025 Conference was more exciting than ever, culminating in the Final of the Hack <CX> Together 2025 competition. Six outstanding student's teams, chosen from 118 teams with 170 innovative ideas, presented their groundbreaking technology concepts to a panel of judges as well as experts.   The first prize went to G.Tech team from Hanoi University of Science and Technology for their project “Optimizing physical contact points through space analysis”. The solution addressed the challenge of identifying the optimal physical contact points, effectively covering behaviors and needs of different customer groups, while also ensuring operational and financial efficiency for Techcombank.     G.Tech team consists of 5 students: Pham Hung Phong and Nguyen Hoang Phuong – Cohort 67 of SOICT, Mai Luu Ly – Cohort 67 of Faculty of Mathematics – Information Technology and Nguyen Thi Quynh – Cohort 68 of School of Economics.   In the Final, students from National University of Singapore, Vietnam National University Hanoi, FPT University, National Economic University, Open University... also showcased a diverse range of impressive projects, including detecting financial frauds, decentralized credit passport for Web3 applications, automating loan approval processes,...