The government has approved a national plan to develop large-scale strategic technology enterprises between 2026 and 2030, focusing on digital infrastructure, skilled workforce development, digital data, strategic technologies and cybersecurity.
A robot integrated with artificial intelligence (Photo: Thanh Binh).
Under the plan, strategic technology companies must meet a range of criteria, including annual revenue of at least USD 1 billion and an average workforce of no fewer than 5,000 employees. They must also allocate a minimum of 3 per cent of annual revenue to research and development (R&D).
Eligible companies are required to hold at least one patent granted by one of the world's five leading intellectual property offices: the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) or the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
The government said these enterprises would play a central role in building a modern, green and interconnected national digital infrastructure capable of supporting Vietnam's digital transformation, digital economy, digital society and digital sovereignty objectives.
In digital infrastructure, Vietnam aims to bring at least six new international submarine fibre-optic cable routes into operation by 2030, including at least one route developed and owned by a domestic enterprise.
The country also plans to expand 5G coverage to 99 per cent of the population and build five large-scale data centres meeting international green standards, with the goal of positioning Vietnam as a regional data hub.
The strategic technology companies will be tasked with developing an open, interconnected and secure national digital data ecosystem, ensuring that data is standardised, shared and used responsibly to support digital government, economic growth and social development while safeguarding data sovereignty.
In strategic technologies, Vietnam aims for domestic enterprises to achieve self-sufficiency in at least 70 per cent of technologies listed under the Prime Minister's strategic technology framework.
The government also hopes Vietnam will rank among the top three countries in Southeast Asia for artificial intelligence research, development and application.
At least six AI systems based on Vietnamese data are expected to be developed to address key public needs in areas including justice, finance, agriculture and the environment, culture, sports and tourism, education and healthcare.
In addition, strategic technology firms will participate in developing digital twins for selected localities, building shared blockchain platforms and creating cybersecurity solutions capable of competing in international markets.
To support the sector, the government pledged to improve the regulatory framework and prioritise resources for major science, technology, innovation and digital transformation projects.
Authorities also committed to supporting market development, strengthening intellectual property protection, promoting international trade and encouraging local governments to establish regulatory sandboxes for new digital technology products.
