Making intellectual contribution to Dong Nai’s development

Over the past five years, the Dong Nai Union of Science and Technology Associations (the Union) has affirmed its position as the province’s “intellectual home,” while increasingly demonstrating its role as a key companion to the authorities in policy formulation and in creating momentum for Dong Nai’s sustainable development.

The Organizing Committee of the 2025 Dong Nai Provincial Technical Innovation Contest presents first prizes to collectives and individuals.

Following the provincial merger, a new Union of greater scale has taken shape, bringing together 34 member associations and seven organizational members, with more than 55,000 members active across almost all science and technology fields in the province. This represents the largest intellectual force ever assembled, a “valuable asset” enabling the Union to enter a new stage of development.

A bridge between the Party, the State, and the intellectual community

Over the past five years, the Union has effectively played its role in gathering intellectuals, inspiring dedication, and fostering a healthy academic and creative environment, thereby helping to bring scientific knowledge into service of the province’s development. In parallel, the Union has strengthened its advisory and social critique functions, proposing numerous practical solutions for the economy, agriculture, environmental protection, and social welfare. Many models and scientific research projects have delivered clear results, supporting enterprises in innovation and helping people apply technology in production. Since 2021, the Union has conducted reviews and provided feedback on three major provincial projects: the drainage and wastewater treatment system for Long Thanh Township; Gia Ui 2 Reservoir (Xuan Loc District); and the research project on a sustainable development economic model for Dong Nai. The Union has also participated in the Social Advisory and Critique Council of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province. These outcomes affirm the role and contributions of the intellectual community to the province’s socio-economic development.

As a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, the Union serves as a bridge between the Party, the State, and intellectuals. Each year, it organizes the dissemination of resolutions, communicates policies and guidelines, provides current affairs information, and convenes numerous conferences to collect feedback on documents for the Provincial Party Congress, the Provincial Fatherland Front Congress, and the National Party Congress. During regular working sessions with the Provincial Party Standing Committee, many of the Union’s recommendations on mechanisms and policies for intellectuals and science and technology activities have been accepted and implemented.

A bridge of knowledge

Disseminating scientific and technological knowledge has been a core mission of the Union and has been pursued over the past five years with a strong spirit of innovation. The Union’s website has recorded more than 1.17 million visits, becoming a trusted source of knowledge on clean agriculture, environmental protection, new technologies, healthcare, and education. In addition, 20 issues of the Science and Life Bulletin, with a total print run of 10,000 copies, have been distributed to grassroots units, member associations, rural areas, and schools, contributing to improved public awareness and spiritual life.

The Union has also coordinated with Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television to produce the program Bridge of Knowledge, creating a forum for experts to share solutions applicable to production and daily life. Numerous training courses and seminars at schools, cooperatives, and new-style rural communes have helped disseminate knowledge on cultivation techniques, biotechnology, food safety, and digital transformation, bringing science closer to the people.

Another notable highlight is the strong spread of the scientific and technical innovation movement across the province. The Youth and Children’s Creativity Contest has attracted large numbers of students, with 14 solutions winning national awards during the 2021–2025 period. The Dong Nai Provincial Technical Innovation Contest for intellectuals and technical staff has also grown in prestige, with nine projects winning national prizes and being applied in automation, high-tech agriculture, environmental protection, and education.

The Union has actively promoted the Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Award (VIFOTEC) and the Vietnam Creativity Golden Book, contributing to the recognition of valuable scientific works. From STEM movements in schools to research conducted by experts, creativity has become a mainstream current in Dong Nai’s intellectual life.

Dr. Phan Nhu Quan, Head of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology Department at Lac Hong University, shared:

“Without the role of the Union, research and creative activities by lecturers and students would find it difficult to spread as widely as they do today. The Union creates a connecting environment among universities, enterprises, and science and technology organizations, enabling valuable research to be applied in practice and motivating us to continue contributing to the province.”

Aspiration to rise

Five years may not be a long journey, but it is sufficient to affirm the role, position, and contributions of the Union to overall development. From consolidating its organization, connecting intellectuals, disseminating scientific knowledge, organizing research, promoting innovation movements, to providing advice and critique on major policies, the Union has become a core force in building and developing the local science and technology ecosystem.

“In the 2025–2030 term, the Union will continue to promote the role of the intellectual community in mobilizing and implementing activities in accordance with its Charter, in the context of Dong Nai Province implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation, as well as striving to achieve the targets and objectives of the First Provincial Party Congress of Dong Nai for the 2025–2030 term,” emphasized Dr. Hoang Thi Bich Hang, Chairwoman of the Union.

“The Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations is a socio-political organization of the scientific and technological intellectual community, entrusted by the Party and the State with the mission of uniting and harnessing the intellect of scientists and technologists both inside and outside the province, contributing to the successful realization of industrialization, modernization, and sustainable local development.”

Entering a new stage, the (new) Dong Nai Province faces numerous opportunities and challenges, including digital transformation, green technology, the knowledge economy, and the demand for rapid yet sustainable development. These challenges require the intellectual community to innovate more strongly, think more boldly, and contribute even more. With the spirit of “Unity – Creativity – Breakthrough – Development,” together with the close attention of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Committee, the support of departments and sectors, and the trust of more than 55,000 intellectuals, the Union has a solid foundation to move confidently into a new phase, contributing to the building of a prosperous, innovative, and sustainably developing Dong Nai Province: “Today’s Knowledge – Tomorrow’s Dong Nai Future.”

By Hien Luong – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Thu Ha