No need for favoritism or privileges – just a transparent environment and belief in Vietnamese intellect. That is what Dr. Luong Viet Quoc emphasizes in his conversation with VietNamNet about the journey to bring “Made in Vietnam” UAVs to the world.

Resolution 57 has been hailed as a major orientation in encouraging technology and innovation. As a UAV inventor, what is your perspective?

Dr. Luong Viet Quoc: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been identified as one of six strategic technology sectors to be prioritized starting in 2025. The Steering Committee of Resolution 57 is currently reviewing and assessing where Vietnam’s UAV industry stands globally, and what areas need investment and supplementation to avoid falling behind.

Recently, I was invited to join an expert advisory group for the Ministry of Science and Technology, chaired by Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan. What made me optimistic was how genuinely the Ministry listened to those in the field. Those directly involved in research, production, and innovation were invited to sit with regulators to discuss how to develop the industry. This is a very encouraging shift.

I believe that if the entire system – from regulatory bodies to enterprises, media, and scholars – speaks truthfully and responsibly, the impact will be immense. When society unites in the belief that global advancement depends on innovation and open institutions, policies will be driven to progress faster and deeper.

Vietnam started later and is still economically disadvantaged. How do you propose the science and technology sector can leapfrog to the global stage?

To develop nationally through technology, three factors are essential: funding, human resources, and institutions.

First, funding. Vietnam currently invests only 0.42% of GDP in R&D, compared to a 2% target. This is far below international standards. Israel spends over 6%, South Korea 5%, and China 2.68% of GDP. Our financial resources are 3–4 times less, our workforce has less experience, and our regulatory framework is less open. So how do we rise? The answer lies in efficiency.

If we use the full 2% GDP effectively, we could achieve results equivalent to 6% in the West. It's like the simple yet mighty cargo bicycles used during the Dien Bien Phu campaign – inexpensive and rugged, yet astonishingly effective.

Regarding human capital, while we still lack top-tier experts, Vietnamese engineers learn quickly. In the U.S., it would be difficult to recruit a team like mine. In Vietnam, I’ve recruited 200 engineers.

Our advantages lie in numbers, learning speed, and creative spirit.

As for institutions, they are the easiest to reform. Resolution 66 captures this spirit: “Turn institutions into a competitive advantage.” That means we must leap from a weak position to an equal footing. A more open regulatory environment enables innovative businesses to thrive. Take UAV regulations: why should companies need complex permits to inspect power lines or spray crops? Authorities can reference leading nations’ regulations to standardize ours.

Money takes time, people need training, but institutions can be reformed with a single well-written decision.

When I presented these ideas to leaders at the Ministry of Science and Technology, they were surprised. I had to explain using visual analogies to highlight the correlation: with the same challenge, Vietnamese using ‘cargo bikes’ can still reach the finish line – as long as policy doesn't restrict them. And in practice, I found this to be true: if left to operate freely, Vietnamese businesses can achieve 80% success.

From my experience, the formula is: funding - human capital - institutions. Among these, institutional reform is the fastest lever. If we get that right, we can rise to compete globally, even with limited resources.

How do you see UAVs positioned in Vietnam’s science and technology strategy today?

Most countries see UAVs as a strategic sector due to their dual-use nature – serving both civilian and defense purposes. A device used for surveying, mapping, photography, or rescue operations in peacetime can also be repurposed for reconnaissance or combat in wartime. It's the same technology and platform, with only the application differing.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has proven this clearly. Major powers are racing to develop UAVs. But they’ve also learned a costly lesson: overreliance on a single supplier is a major risk.

As the world diversifies its supply chains, this opens a window for Vietnam to join the game. If our products meet international standards, we can participate in global supply chains – even as a substitute source.

There is opportunity, but what is the most crucial requirement to enter the global market?

I always tell the Ministry of Science and Technology that high-tech products must be designed for global markets. That means products should be used worldwide, not just displayed or kept within our borders.

To do that, we must have inventions and breakthrough designs that meet international standards. If we rely solely on domestic protection, we limit ourselves. When foreign goods are cheaper and better, consumers will choose them. Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements, so long-term protectionism is no longer viable. The only path forward is to compete on real quality.

The UAV industry's goal is not merely to produce – but to sell globally. When we succeed in peacetime markets, we gain the technological autonomy to defend our nation in wartime.

So where should Vietnamese tech companies begin?

There is only one answer: breakthrough inventions. Mere copying or imitation will always leave us trailing. South Korea and China succeeded through their own technological breakthroughs – in batteries, materials, control systems. It was these inventions that gave them long-term competitive edges, not their manufacturing capacity.

With inventions, we can obtain patents, create proprietary value, and price our products accordingly. In the industrial value chain, the most profit lies in design and innovation, not assembly. Even small companies that own core technology can go global.

From a policy perspective, does Resolution 57 have what it takes to produce a generation of Vietnamese inventors?

I think Resolution 57 is on the right track – it provides the “necessary conditions,” but not yet the “sufficient conditions.” It outlines a path and defines goals, but achieving results requires long-term investment in human capital.

Engineers, researchers, and inventors are the decisive factors. To develop them, we need an ecosystem – from education and training to incentives, testing environments, and acceptance of risk. If we rely only on short-term programs or movements, we will not build real capacity.

We must establish true innovation centers where engineers are allowed to try – and fail. We need policies that encourage failure in research, because only through failure can true invention emerge. A good policy doesn’t eliminate mistakes, it permits trial and error to foster the new.

Your UAV journey started from scratch. What has that experience taught you?

I started almost entirely alone. The first three years were just about “learning the trade”: buying components, dismantling and reassembling them, documenting every detail to understand how they worked. The next three years were about “catching up”: we could build our first UAVs – rough in some ways, but ahead of rivals in others.

Once I had accumulated enough knowledge, I realized there were problems the world hadn’t solved – but Vietnamese could find their own ways. That was the moment I moved from “learning” to “inventing.” And invention is the highest benchmark of creativity.

Frankly, there are no shortcuts in science. China took more than a decade to make breakthroughs. Since 2010, they’ve targeted 10 strategic sectors – including UAVs, electric vehicles, AI, and new materials. At the time, Tesla dominated EVs, but China still committed to mastering the field. And they did – with long-term investment, the right people, the right goals – and succeeded.

I believe Vietnamese people can do the same. We are smart, quick learners, and resilient. With the right policies and the freedom to work, we can create real miracles.

But Vietnam’s tech environment still poses many challenges, right?

Absolutely. In the U.S., if I need a new component for research, I can get it within hours. In Vietnam, it might take a week or two…

But the reason I chose to work in Vietnam is the people. Vietnamese engineers are talented, creative, and hardworking. A tech firm in the U.S. would need USD 3–5 million a month to pay 80 skilled engineers. In Vietnam, the same workforce costs just a few billion dong.

We rent a small workshop in an alley, no separate meeting rooms, plastic chairs – all our money goes to R&D. That’s why our efficiency is many times higher.

If I worked in the U.S., my company would need USD 300 million instead of USD 15 million. Vietnamese generate “optimal productivity” simply through thrift, ingenuity, and creative ambition.

In your view, for tech enterprises, which matters more: money or institutions?

At the company level, lack of funding is a constant challenge – but we can adapt. At the national level, institutions are decisive.

Open institutions attract investors and private funds. They also determine how effectively budgets are used. With a transparent mechanism, selecting the right people and the right jobs, a 2% GDP investment in R&D could yield the results of 6–8%. If the mechanism is inefficient, that 2% could be worth only 1%.

Institutions can be changed the fastest. Just one right decision can transform the whole system. That’s exactly the spirit of Resolution 66: “Turn institutions into a national competitive advantage.”

What kind of regulatory framework should Vietnam have for UAVs?

Look at the U.S. UAVs can fly within 5 miles of airports, under 125 meters, and outside residential areas without requiring permits. Even a country that prioritizes safety like the U.S. still leaves room for innovation because they know excessive restriction kills creativity.

For Vietnam, small adjustments – like easing test permissions or creating a sandbox mechanism – can open big doors. The simplest way to foster new tech is to cut unnecessary red tape.

The recent floods in northern provinces are an example. UAVs helped identify submerged areas and locate stranded people quickly. If the regulatory environment allowed more flexible use, UAVs could become not just high-tech products but essential tools for community service.

Some worry that public R&D funds could be misallocated. What’s your approach to ensure efficiency?

I see two possible methods.

First, input-based: using quantifiable indicators like the number of R&D engineers, research expenditures, patents registered. This helps identify serious investors and suits Vietnam's early stage – with R&D spending only 0.42% of GDP.

Second, output-based: using market standards. Whoever can sell UAVs or strategic tech to the U.S., Europe, or Japan – the most demanding markets – has effectively been validated by a global jury. Support them strongly. Firms stuck in domestic markets with subpar products should receive less aid. The global market is the fairest measure.

What invention are you most proud of?

Globally, gimbals – devices that stabilize cameras – often only support horizontal panning, with limited vertical movement due to joint constraints.

I drew inspiration from a gecko’s eye – capable of 360-degree motion – to design a camera system with double the viewing range of global competitors. It can pan skyward, look vertically, and scan landscapes – especially useful in rescue missions. While foreign devices take 60 minutes to scan an area, ours does it in 30.

Three weeks ago, I presented this to a group of recent engineering graduates from HCMUT who work at major U.S. firms like General Atomics and Tomahawk Robotics. They were amazed. I told them: “We did this with just USD 15 million. Some American companies spent USD 700 million and still haven’t achieved this breakthrough.”

Vietnamese people are resourceful, frugal, and most importantly – fearless in the face of difficulty. When every dollar goes into innovation, results naturally follow.

Can you share more about your UAV factory project and your vision for the product in the coming years?

We’re currently building a UAV manufacturing facility at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City, spanning over 9,000 square meters. It will serve both as a production site and testing ground for new UAV models, both civilian and dual-use.

I believe that within three years, Real-time Robotics will rank among the most innovative UAV companies in the world outside of China – especially in the U.S. and European markets.

If policy moves in the right direction – choosing the right people, funding, and institutions – Vietnam can absolutely achieve a technological miracle. Not just catching up, but creating a new industry where Vietnamese intellect shines on the global stage.

Dr. Luong Viet Quoc is a U.S.-trained engineer and PhD who previously worked in robotics and automation in Silicon Valley. Instead of staying in a high-paying research environment, he chose the reverse path – returning to Vietnam to launch a tech startup.

He founded Real-time Robotics (RtR) with the goal of developing UAVs branded “Made in Vietnam” for both civil and dual-use applications. Under his leadership, RtR became the first Vietnamese company to export UAVs to the U.S. and sell them to the U.S. military. The company is currently building a world-class UAV factory at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park – a pioneering move for Vietnam’s robotics industry.

From his early days as a young inventor sketching hand-drawn designs, Dr. Luong Viet Quoc has been seen as a trailblazer for Vietnam’s UAV industry. With patents registered in the U.S., he has proven that Vietnamese creativity can compete in core technology. His vision for Real-time Robotics goes beyond manufacturing UAVs – he aims to build a global tech company where Vietnamese intelligence stands shoulder to shoulder with the world.

Tu Giang - Lan Anh