On December 24, 2025, the College of Economics and Public Management at National Economics University (NEU) organized a scientific conference on “Public Sector Innovation in Vietnam,” attracting a large number of scholars, lecturers, researchers, and managers.

An overview of the conference

Attending the conference from outside the University were Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Labor Sciences; Dr. Nguyen Huu Xuyen, Deputy Director in Charge of the Academy of Science and Technology Strategy and Policy; and Dr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center.

Representing NEU were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management and Dean of the Faculty of Management Science; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Vice Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management and Dean of the Faculty of Planning and Development; Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council; and Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Van Hoa, Member of the Central Theoretical Council and former Vice President. Also attending were representatives of the leadership of the University’s colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, schools, and centers; the University’s experts, scholars, faculty and staff; economic experts, researchers, policymakers, and business representatives.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers remarks

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, emphasized: “In a rapidly changing world marked by considerable uncertainty, innovation has become essential for the public sector in every country. For Vietnam, it is not only a strategic choice but also an important prerequisite for strengthening national governance capacity and ensuring sustainable, inclusive development and adaptability in the face of the increasingly complex challenges of our time.”

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vietnam’s public sector has achieved notable results in recent years in administrative reform, improving the institutions of the socialist-oriented market economy, and advancing digital transformation. Initiatives in e-government, digital government, online public service delivery, and improvements to the investment and business environment have helped enhance the quality of services for citizens and businesses. In practice, however, the public sector continues to face numerous limitations. These range from an overly administrative management mindset and uneven innovation capacity across levels and sectors to shortcomings in intersectoral coordination mechanisms and the underutilized potential of science, technology, and data in policymaking.

Against this backdrop, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu noted that public sector innovation must go beyond applying new technologies and adopt a more comprehensive approach encompassing innovation in governance thinking, institutions, processes, tools, and modes of interaction between the State and society. The public sector needs to make a decisive shift from a reactive management model to proactive governance with the capacity to anticipate developments, drawing on scientific evidence, data, and the participation of multiple stakeholders, including the private sector, the academic community, and citizens.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Quoc Dung, lecturer at the Faculty of Planning and Development, presents a paper on “Regulatory sandboxes: A fundamental solution for promoting public sector innovation in Vietnam”

Dr. Nguyen Huu Xuyen, Deputy Director in Charge of the Academy of Science and Technology Strategy and Policy, presents a paper on “Experience in public sector innovation”

Dr. Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, presents a paper on “Public sector innovation and policy recommendations”

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Labor Sciences, presents a paper on “Innovation in administrative decentralization and the devolution of authority in Vietnam today”

During the conference, numerous scientific papers and discussion contributions explored international models, tools, and experience in public sector innovation while analyzing how they could be applied appropriately to Vietnam’s practical circumstances. Participants also emphasized the role of high-quality human resources, flexible institutions, and public sector innovation ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council, and Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Van Hoa, Member of the Central Theoretical Council and former Vice President, moderate the conference discussion session

In his concluding remarks, Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council, emphasized that public sector innovation in Vietnam requires a substantive, focused approach closely linked to institutional reform, rather than being limited to technology applications or short-term campaigns.

Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Science and Training Council at NEU, delivers concluding remarks at the conference

According to Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, innovation must begin with governance thinking and institutions, making a decisive shift from control-oriented management to modern public governance centered on citizens and businesses, with effectiveness, public service quality, and social impact as benchmarks. At the same time, innovation must be balanced with discipline and accountability through mechanisms for controlled experimentation and protections for officials willing to think boldly and act for the common good. Innovation must also be linked to data-driven digital transformation, with data and evidence-based decision-making serving as its foundation, without being equated with mere digitization. In addition, people and organizational culture play a decisive role, requiring reform of mechanisms for deploying and evaluating officials and the creation of an environment that encourages learning and accepts mistakes within permissible limits.

Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat affirmed that innovation must be pursued through a systems approach with clear priorities, linked to the goals of rapid, green, and sustainable development, while strengthening public-private cooperation and learning from international experience by internalizing that knowledge. Innovation can only be truly sustainable when it is “rooted” in the policy system and the day-to-day operations of the state apparatus.

Conference delegates pose for a commemorative group photo

The scientific conference on “Public Sector Innovation in Vietnam” not only contributed additional scientific evidence to inform policy refinement but also affirmed the central role of higher education institutions, including NEU, in research, human resource development, and policy advice. Through in-depth academic activities, NEU continues to affirm its standing as a trusted partner, working alongside the public sector in advancing national governance reform toward sustainable and effective development.

Additional photos from the conference:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.