In this context, unlocking investment capital for innovation is expected to become a stronger policy priority in the years ahead.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation states that these areas are becoming not only prerequisites but also a historic opportunity for the country to achieve prosperity and strengthen national competitiveness in a new era of development.

Speaking at the recent Vietnam–EU business forum on innovation and sustainable investment, Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, commended the Southeast Asian nation’s progress in building its innovation, science and technology, and digital transformation ecosystem. She noted that these fields are increasingly becoming the foundation of long-term national competitiveness, including for Vietnam.

According to Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam is actively advancing science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation while continuing to improve its investment and business environment to make it more transparent, stable and aligned with international standards.

In October last year, the Prime Minister issued Decree No. 264/2025/ND-CP governing national and local venture capital funds. The policy is designed to encourage investment in science, technology and innovation development.

The framework enables participation by financial institutions, venture capital funds, startup investment funds, corporate science and technology development funds, and both domestic and international individual investors in supporting Vietnam’s national and local innovation ecosystems.

The policy also encourages businesses to contribute capital to venture funds using state budget resources to invest in innovative start-ups, while creating favourable conditions for corporations and enterprises to establish start-ups and develop innovation projects aimed at producing new products, services and business models capable of attracting venture capital.

Supported by these policy incentives, foreign venture capital funds have increasingly expanded investment into Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.

Aditya Kamath, founding partner of Argor Capital, said the fund has actively invested in Vietnam’s technology and start-up ecosystem and remains strongly committed to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

At a meeting with an international investor delegation led by Argor Capital in May this year, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam said attracting foreign venture capital plays an important role in encouraging Vietnamese enterprises to adopt new technologies and enter emerging sectors. He added that such investment also supports improvements to the legal framework and creates new momentum for economic growth.

Tam further stated that, to sustain double-digit growth over the next two decades, Vietnam will continue to maintain political and macroeconomic stability while developing a transparent legal environment that ensures equal treatment for domestic and foreign investors and simplifies administrative procedures to attract private and high-quality foreign investment.

Notably, the National Assembly adopted a new Law on Investment in 2025, introducing reforms aligned with international practices and expanding decentralisation to create a more open and competitive business climate. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has reviewed 30 years of FDI attraction policies to prepare proposals for a new Politburo resolution featuring more distinctive and forward-looking mechanisms suited to current conditions.

In addition, a national one-stop investment portal for foreign investors is being developed to streamline procedures through an integrated digital platform connecting relevant state agencies. The initiative is expected to support Vietnam’s efforts to attract more capital into science, technology and innovation in the years to come./. VNA