On the sidelines of the Vietnam R&D Forum 2025, co-organized by AVSE Global (Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts) and the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province, VietNamNet spoke with Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Tra, Deputy Executive Director of Research at CNAM (France), and Director of the ETNet Advanced Training Network, AVSE Global, about the importance of human resource development in research and development (R&D).

Human capital is the foundation of all R&D efforts

"Human resources are the decisive factor," said Dr. Tra. "No matter the amount of investment, policies, or infrastructure in place - ultimately, everything hinges on people. Without a well-trained workforce, policies and strategies will remain on paper."

At the Vietnam R&D Forum 2025 in Ninh Binh, many discussions highlighted a persistent issue: the shortage of qualified talent - not just in quantity but in adaptability, creative thinking, and research capacity.

Dr. Tra believes that building R&D capabilities must begin in early education. At the primary and secondary levels, students should be introduced to basic research concepts - asking questions, developing curiosity, and learning analytical and critical thinking. This early exposure fosters a foundation that allows students to develop scientific inquiry skills.

Without early education in research thinking, students will struggle to adapt at the university or postgraduate levels. At the tertiary level, students should systematically learn research methods to prepare for master's theses or doctoral work. However, research education should not be limited to those pursuing academic careers - professionals in all sectors need research skills to solve real-world problems.

Creating a sustainable innovation culture

Developing high-quality R&D talent requires a holistic approach involving government, academia, scientists, businesses, and the broader community. Dr. Tra emphasized fostering a cross-disciplinary innovation culture, referencing speakers at the forum like Hamilton Mann (INSEAD, HEC Paris, Thales Group), who advocated for a multi-sectoral platform, and Navi Radjou, a global thought leader on sustainable innovation, who promoted a "sociotech culture" - one that encourages continuous improvement with minimal resources.

Dr. Tra shared that in strategic management training, her students - many of whom are working professionals - bring actual problems from their businesses into the classroom. The class then collaborates to apply theoretical models to find solutions. "I don’t lecture. I act as a co-problem solver. Each session, I learn something new from Vietnam’s diverse business context and adapt my teaching models accordingly," she said.

She noted France's R&D model, which allocates €60 billion (approximately 2.18% of GDP) annually to research, with 66% funded by the private sector. The government supports this with tax incentives and financial assistance for industry-university doctoral collaborations, with hundreds of millions of euros disbursed annually.

In Vietnam, R&D investment rose from 0.3% of GDP in 2013 to 0.43% in 2021, with a national target of reaching 2% by 2030, according to World Bank data.

Major challenges in Vietnam's R&D ecosystem

Dr. Tra pointed out three key issues. First, Vietnam lacks a cohesive R&D ecosystem. While universities, research institutes, and businesses exist, they often operate in silos, limiting collaboration. Second, the research environment lacks long-term incentives. Talented researchers frequently lack access to major projects or financial backing and struggle to see a long-term career path. Third, current incentive systems are flawed. Domestic scientists may not receive the same support as overseas Vietnamese researchers, despite comparable capabilities.

Dr. Tra proposed equitable and transparent incentives for all scientists, regardless of their location. She also recommended developing localized R&D ecosystems by focusing on priority sectors within each region and creating a network linking universities, businesses, and research institutions.

She emphasized public-private partnerships in training and research, where the government can stimulate investment, businesses provide capital, and academia delivers talent and knowledge - a win-win-win model.

According to Dr. Tra, job security and academic freedom are vital for retaining talent. Researchers need assurance that after one project ends, they can move on to the next. Financial support must be coupled with challenging projects and trust in the system.

"To build a strong R&D workforce, we must design policies that empower people to grow - and believe in their future in science," she concluded.

Thai An