Toward a high-tech hub

Dong Nai is building a robust innovation and digital transformation ecosystem as it seeks to become a leading high-tech hub in both the region and nationwide.

Leader of the Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology (DoST) inspects the pilot operation of an AI-powered robot serving residents at the city's Public Administrative Service Center. Photo: Hai Quan

With strong foundations in digital talent development and innovation, the city is well positioned to accelerate the growth of high-tech industries while supporting its broader socio-economic development goals.

Four strategic priorities

At the National Conference reviewing 18 months of implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and national digital transformation, held in early July 2026, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee (CPC), presented a report titled "Building an innovation and digital transformation ecosystem toward becoming a national high-tech hub."

In his presentation, Duc outlined four strategic priorities aimed at transforming Dong Nai into a leading center for logistics, high-tech industries and innovation.

The first priority is to further improve institutional frameworks and mobilize resources for innovation. The city will continue refining legal mechanisms while introducing policies to attract major technology corporations specializing in semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and other strategic industries.

The second priority focuses on developing an integrated strategic infrastructure network, making digital infrastructure a new pillar of economic growth. Dong Nai has identified the development of digital infrastructure in tandem with nationally significant transport networks as a strategic priority. These include Long Thanh International Airport, regional expressways, the national railway network, future high-speed rail lines and metro systems. The integration of digital and transport infrastructure is expected to create new growth momentum while significantly enhancing national competitiveness.

The third priority is to develop high-tech parks, data centers, research institutes and innovation hubs integrated with modern, smart and eco-friendly urban areas. This represents one of Dong Nai's key competitive advantages over densely urbanized localities, enabling the city to develop a new hub for science, technology and innovation that can meet the living, working and research needs of scientists and experts from around the world.

The fourth priority is to promote AI-First governance while developing a comprehensive innovation ecosystem capable of attracting global talent. The city is committed to developing digital data infrastructure based on the principle of being accurate, complete, clean, continuously updated, unified and shared, while integrating AI into public administration, governance and policymaking. Dong Nai also plans to strengthen its innovation ecosystem by positioning the city's Innovation and Digital Transformation Center as a core platform connecting government agencies, businesses and universities and research institutes. The city is working with Lac Hong University to establish an innovation center that will serve as a catalyst for collaboration. At the same time, synchronizing digital infrastructure with urban development, education, healthcare, culture and public services is expected to create favorable conditions for attracting research and development (R&D) centers and the world's leading technology companies.

In recent years, the Dong Nai City People's Committee has signed cooperation agreements with several major telecommunications and technology corporations, including Viettel, MobiFone and VNPT, to accelerate digital transformation across the city. The expanded partnerships are expected to support the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW while helping Dong Nai achieve breakthroughs in the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Many experts believe Dong Nai has strong advantages for advancing digital transformation and innovation, thanks to its young and dynamic workforce and the well-established collaboration among government agencies, businesses and universities. Meanwhile, improvements in the policy environment and digital governance, together with continuously updated innovation strategies and the city's rising Digital Transformation Index (DTI), indicate that the digital government and digital data foundations are being steadily strengthened. These improvements are expected to support the deployment of public services, regulatory sandbox mechanisms and enterprise data integration.

Associate Professor Dr. Tu Diep Cong Thanh, Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Center (IPTC) at the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that sustainable innovation requires long-term planning and strategic investment in startup and innovation ecosystems, with particular attention given to developing and transferring strategic technologies. Such an approach would enable local authorities to introduce more flexible pilot initiatives, including regulatory sandboxes for emerging technologies, preferential policies for innovative enterprises and venture capital funds. These mechanisms create an environment where new ideas can be tested, risks can be managed appropriately, and startup and innovation ecosystems can grow more rapidly.

According to Pham Van Trinh, Director of the DoST, 2026 has been designated as a year of acceleration for science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Under the direction of the CPC and the City People's Committee, the department is working closely with other agencies to implement a series of urgent and breakthrough measures, including institutional and policy reforms, strategic infrastructure development, data integration, smart governance and pilot applications of emerging technologies.

As part of its institutional reforms, the department will propose the issuance of resolutions providing state budget support for innovative startup projects, electronics manufacturing, semiconductor industries and AI data centers. It is also preparing a pilot technology commissioning mechanism together with a co-funded R&D model based on the "triple-helix" model involving collaboration among government agencies, businesses and universities, with the aim of sharing risks and encouraging greater private-sector investment in research and innovation.

Advancing high-tech industries

As one of Vietnam's leading industrial hubs, Dong Nai has taken the lead in developing green and smart factories in line with global integration trends. This has promoted sustainable industrial development while helping mitigate the impacts of climate change. They have also laid a solid foundation for training a digital workforce, advancing the development of science and technology, promoting technology transfer and innovation, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting green growth.

Technology applications in production operations at Action Composites Hightech Industries Co., Ltd. in Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Park. Photo: Hai Quan

Dong Nai is now home to numerous green and smart manufacturing facilities operated by foreign-invested corporations, including Nestlé, Bosch, Schaeffler, Meggitt, SMC, UPM, Fleming, Coherent, Kaneko and Action Composites in industrial parks. These factories have integrated digital transformation and Industry 4.0 technologies into their management systems and production lines, exporting products to major developed markets such as the United States (US), Japan, South Korea and Europe.

The city has also attracted growing investment from major digital technology companies. In July 2025, Coherent of the US inaugurated a semiconductor manufacturing plant at Nhon Trach 1 Industrial Park. With total investment of US$127 million, the project has further reinforced Dong Nai's attractiveness as a destination for high-tech investment.

Pham Van Trinh, Director of the DoST, said the department aims to complete the proposal for establishing the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park and bringing it into operation in 2026, with the goal of attracting at least one leading global technology corporation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence or automation. The department will also establish the Dong Nai Innovation and Digital Transformation Center, which will serve as the nucleus of the city's innovation ecosystem while leading the development of a strategic technology roadmap for the 2026–2030 period.

Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the CPC, said the city is proactively creating new development space for innovation and high-tech industries. Dong Nai has issued a directive on building an innovation network and is preparing to launch more than 20 commune- and ward-level innovation spaces. It is also finalizing plans for an Innovation Park in Binh An commune, a Science and Technology Park in Dong Xoai ward, and expediting legal procedures for the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park. These projects will become key hubs for research, testing, incubation and technology commercialization in the years ahead.

By H. Quan – Translated by M. Nguyet, Thu Ha