Attending the conference were Mr. Le Xuan Dinh - Deputy Minister of S&T; Mr. Nguyen Van Loc - Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the PPC; Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hang - Chairwoman of Provincial Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee; together with leader representatives of units under the Ministry of S&T; representatives of the Department of S&T of 07 provinces and cities in the Southeast region; enterprises, research institutes, universities, experts, scientists, and management agencies. 
Mr. Nguyen Van Loc (left) - Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council presents flowers to congratulate the conference to Mr. Le Xuan Dinh - Deputy Minister of S&T
Science and technology support socio-economic development
According to the report, by 2022, the Southeast region contributed 30.8% of the country's GDP. The average GDP per capita of the entire region reached 6,900 USD, higher than the national average (4,110 USD), of which Binh Duong reached 7,139 USD, Ho Chi Minh City reached 6,770 USD.
The economic structure of the Region continues to shift in a positive direction, focusing on developing industries and services with comparative advantages, creating a high rate of added value. Scientific research and technological development activities of provinces and cities in the Southeast region have shifted according to the economic structure of the Region and each locality. In addition to paying attention to ordering tasks based on needs and practical applications, localities have focused on research to improve product value, productivity, and quality of goods, which are the strengths and key products of each locality on a large scale. Localities have focused on developing a number of high-tech industries such as precision mechanics, food processing industry, electronics - information technology, production of automation equipment, medical equipment, energy, production of new materials, development of shipbuilding, oil and gas, and software industries.
Overview of the conference
According to Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Loc Ha, over the past time, Binh Duong has issued many investment regimes and policies, encouraging the development of science and technology (S&T) potential. In addition, focusing on attracting and using talents and high-quality human resources, supporting the development of intellectual property and innovative startup ecosystems; supporting enterprises in technological innovation; improving the business environment, improving productivity and quality of products and goods; promoting the application of S&T transfer to production and life; developing key products, products with local strengths, etc. Thereby, the S&T branch has made significant contributions to the province's socio-economic development achievements. Specifically, the increase in technology application and innovation in industries, industrial production activities, high-tech agriculture, innovation, technology application in construction, healthcare and service industries, etc. has helped the province's economic growth rate remain stable.
Need more policy mechanisms for science and technology
At the conference, Mr. Le Xuan Dinh - Deputy Minister of S&T commented that although S&T has made positive contributions to the Region's socio-economic development, however, the technology level of localities in the Region is still low, and technological innovation activities have not met development requirements. The results achieved in S&T activities over the past time have not been commensurate with the Region's potential and available advantages, and have not really become a driving force to maintain and develop socio-economic development. Therefore, there needs to be policy mechanisms for S&T.
Mr. Le Xuan Dinh - Deputy Minister of S&T discusses at the conference
Discussing solutions to overcome difficulties and obstacles, as well as new problems that have arisen in S&T and innovation activities in localities during the past time, many discussion topics were presented by delegates at the conference such as: Local level innovation index in 2023; Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City's Innovation to promote socio-economic development, production and business in the Southeast region; applying scientific and technical achievements to create high-quality agricultural products and bring products from farm to table; Binh Duong wood enterprises in the development process of Viet Nam's wood industry and in the context of changing global wood consumption and trade trends.
Mr. Nguyen Liem - Chairman of Binh Duong Furniture Association presents a presentation with the topic "Binh Duong Wood Enterprises in the development process of Viet Nam's wood industry and in the context of changing global wood consumption and trade trends"
Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of S&T discusses at the conference
In reality, implementing S&T and innovation activities still has problems and shortcomings. According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of S&T, the promulgation of Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies to develop Ho Chi Minh City has created favorable conditions for the city's S&T and innovation activities to become increasingly in-depth and make positive contributions to the city's development. Through that, the city's innovation startup ecosystem is increasingly developing. However, Ho Chi Minh City is currently facing a number of difficulties and obstacles in the implementation mechanisms of policies such as: Tax exemption policy; transfer tax exemption policy for investors; preferential policies on salaries and wages for leadership positions in public S&T organizations and remuneration for performing S&T tasks, etc.
Entering a new phase, Binh Duong identifies S&T as an urgent means to support the province in overcoming the "middle income trap". Therefore, the province will continue to invest heavily in S&T and innovation, creating motivation for the province to develop towards a smart city, digital economy, and knowledge economy, meeting the new needs of people and enterprises. Mr. Nguyen Viet Long - Director of Binh Duong Department of S&T shared that currently the S&T field is in dire need of support for human resources and payroll in the context of the branch's rather complex financial mechanism. The mechanism of S&T is a very abstract mechanism. Therefore, it is very necessary for the State to issue policies that are very specific and authentic to reality so that the policies truly bring necessary values to localities, organizations, and enterprises.
Representative of the Directorate of Standards, Metrology and Quality answers difficulties and problems of localities
Opinions and suggestions from localities were answered by representatives of relevant agencies at the conference. Deputy Minister of S&T Le Xuan Dinh requested leaders of units to proactively coordinate with localities to grasp difficulties and problems, continue to research and advise Ministry leaders on support and handling plans. In addition, localities need to have detailed and specific comments and propose solutions so that the Ministry of S&T can have a basis for research and propose policy amendments that are most appropriate to practice.
Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Member of the Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Binh Duong PPC speaks at the conference
As for Binh Duong, Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Loc Ha said that in the coming time, the province will mobilize and concentrate intelligence, continue to promote internal resources, take advantage of the support and coordination of relevant agencies, organizations, units and localities in the application of S&T and innovation to create a breakthrough in growth towards a green, sustainable economy. "Binh Duong wishes to promote the development of cooperative relationships and linkages within the Region in particular and the country in general in the fields of economics, culture and society, especially the S&T to make this field one of the positive driving forces for regional economic growth" - Vice Chairman of the PPC emphasized.
At the conference, the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the Departments of S&T in the Southeast region took place in linking and sharing data and operational information of the technology trading platform.
Signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the Departments of S&T of the Southeast Region in linking and sharing data and operational information of the technology trading platform
According to the plan, the 17th Conference in 2025 will be hosted by Binh Phuoc Department of S&T. Mr. Nguyen Viet Long - Director of Binh Duong Department of S&T handed over the role of conference's host to Ms. Bui Thi Minh Thuy - Director of Binh Phuoc Department of S&T.
Mr. Nguyen Viet Long - Director of Director of Binh Duong Department of S&T hands over the role of 2025 conference's host to Ms. Bui Thi Minh Thuy - Director of Binh Phuoc Department of S&T