VietNamNet Bridge – Domestic firms’ ability to develop and apply new technologies is far behind that of companies in regional countries, according to a recent review report of the General Statistics Office (GSO) on Vietnam’s socio-economic performance in 2011-2015.

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The GSO quoted another report of the Ministry of Science and Technology as saying that a majority of local enterprises, especially in the private sector, are using technologies two to three generations older than the world’s average, with 76% of imported equipment and production lines made in the 1960s and 1970s.

The percentage of enterprises producing items using low and medium technologies accounted for 88% in 2012 and only 12% of firms used high tech for production.

The proportion of high-tech products in the country’s industrial output rose from 12.74% in 2011 to 17.22% in 2012 and 18.37% in 2013, but was far below the target of 30% for 2015. The rate in regional countries was higher, such as Thailand with 31%, Malaysia with 51% and Singapore with 73%.

The GSO report showed the proportion of technological innovations increased by 10.68% per year in the 2011-2015 period, below the average of 13% set in the five-year plan.

The application of new technologies is important to improve the competitiveness of an economy. However, Vietnam scored 102 in the 2014 ranking of the World Economic Forum (WEF) with a very low level of technological application.

Vietnam’s willingness to apply new technologies fell sharply from 71 out of 134 countries in 2008-2009 to 134 out of 148 nations in 2013-2014, far behind Malaysia (37), the Philippines (47), Indonesia (60), Thailand (75) and Cambodia (82).

According to the GSO report, local firms’ ability to perceive new technologies plummeted from 54th in 2008-2009 to 135th in 2013-2014, lower than Malaysia (33th), the Philippines (40th), Indonesia (46th), Thailand (50th) and Cambodia (82nd).

In terms of innovative efficiency, Vietnam ranked 86th in 2013-2014, dropping from 41st in 2008-2009, while Malaysia ranked 15th, Indonesia 24th, the Philippines 48th, Thailand 87th and Cambodia 71st.

The country’s quality of scientific and technological research ranked 89th, down four notches after five years, while Malaysia ranked 27th, Indonesia 46th, Thailand 60th, Philippines 91st and Cambodia 101st.

As for the Government’s spending on new technological products, Vietnam ranked 30th in 2013-2014, down nine notches from five years earlier. In this regard, Singapore led in ASEAN with 2nd, Malaysia 4th, Indonesia 25th, Cambodia 46th, the Philippines 85th and Thailand 105th.

Regarding cooperation in technological development between firms and universities, Vietnam ranked 87th in 2013-2014, sliding 17 notches after five years. Malaysia ranked 16th, Indonesia 30th, Thailand 51st, the Philippines 69th and Cambodia 105th.

Vietnam ranked 88th worldwide in terms of scientist and engineer numbers, down 37 places compared to 2008-2009, while Malaysia’s ranking was 19th, Indonesia 40th, Thailand 56th, the Philippines 87th and Cambodia 110th.

The ranking of patents per one million Vietnamese was 92nd in 2013-2014, dropping four places after five years, while Malaysia ranked 31st, Thailand 71st, the Philippines 84th, Indonesia 103rd and Cambodia 126th.

SGT