Vietnam Pivots to Science Diplomacy to Drive Tech Self-Reliance

Vietnam is integrating science and technology diplomacy into its national development strategy to accelerate technological self-reliance and expand national capacity. This strategic pivot marks a transition in how the country engages with global tech hubs to secure its economic future.

As part of this push, President To Lam attended the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10. During the summit, the President engaged in discussions regarding scientific research, security, and the burgeoning space economy, signaling Vietnam's intent to participate in high-frontier technological sectors. Parallel to these high-level diplomatic efforts, the government is championing a concept known as "intellectual circulation." This initiative aims to connect Vietnamese intelligence globally to jointly build national intellectual capacity, specifically targeting the expertise of professionals abroad in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

A Shift Toward Co-Creation

This movement comes as Vietnam prioritizes digital transformation and innovation as the primary engines of its economic growth. For decades, many developing nations have relied on a model of technology transfer—essentially importing finished tools or knowledge from developed economies. However, Vietnam is now attempting to leverage "soft power" in the digital era to move beyond the role of a passive recipient.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Hoàng Long has emphasized that local diplomacy must evolve, shifting from traditional cooperation to "co-creation" and moving from mere technology transfer toward mutual development. By positioning itself as a partner in the creation process, Vietnam aims to embed itself more deeply within global tech ecosystems rather than remaining on the periphery.

Moving Up the Value Chain

This strategic shift is critical for Vietnam's ambition to ascend the global value chain. By formalizing science diplomacy, the country seeks to attract not only high-tech foreign direct investment but also the intellectual capital necessary to sustain it. Reducing dependence on foreign-owned technology is a central pillar of this strategy, as the government seeks to build indigenous capabilities in strategic sectors like AI and space technology.

If successful, this approach will allow Vietnam to transform its diaspora into a strategic asset, turning the global spread of Vietnamese scientists into a revolving door of knowledge and innovation that feeds directly back into national infrastructure.

The Path Forward

As Vietnam continues to refine its science diplomacy, the focus will likely remain on establishing concrete partnerships with space and AI hubs. Observers will be watching for the first tangible outputs of these "co-creation" agreements, such as joint research ventures or new national AI frameworks developed in tandem with international experts. While the diplomatic framework is now in place, the speed of national capacity building will depend on how effectively the government can integrate these global intellectual networks into local industry.