Enabling Dong Nai’s science and technology to “take off”

Dong Nai possesses significant potential and advantages to develop science and technology (S&T), innovation, and digital transformation (DT) across government, the business community, and society as a whole.

Notably, when Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational in the near future, Dong Nai City will not only serve as an international aviation transit hub and a center for logistics and trade–industry development, but also gain advantages as a data transit and connectivity hub, laying the foundation for the development of the digital technology industry and an innovation ecosystem.

Driving force for the development of the digital technology ecosystem

With its important strategic location, especially when Long Thanh International Airport comes into operation, it will open up many opportunities for Dong Nai to develop a digital technology ecosystem and implement high-tech projects associated with airport urban development.

Officials from the Public Administration Service Center of Thuan Loi Commune (Dong Nai City) assist  residents with online administrative procedures. Photo: Hai Quan

Dong Nai aims to mobilize, allocate, and effectively utilize all resources; develop the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, and knowledge economy; and take the lead in aviation economics, high-tech industry, and high-tech agriculture. In particular, S&T, innovation, and digital transformation are identified as key pillars for the city’s sustainable development in the new era. The city is oriented toward building a digital industrial ecosystem based on strategic technologies such as semiconductors, data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, and blockchain.

Dong Nai is focusing on attracting investment and establishing technology zones, particularly projects in semiconductors, AI, and renewable energy. Key projects include the Long Thanh Concentrated Digital Technology Park and the Dong Nai Innovation Zone. In mid-March 2026, Dong Nai approved the 1:2,000 zoning plan for the Long Thanh park in An Phuoc and Binh An communes, covering over 119 hectares. The project aims to form an information technology hub, build infrastructure for digital technology applications and development, and promote the growth of the information technology industry in the city.

At the conference to deploy, propose, and order S&T tasks to serve the construction of research plans and practical summaries in Dong Nai for the 2026-2030 period, organized by the Department of Science and Technology in late March 2026, City Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Science and Technology Pham Van Trinh emphasized: The strategic goal of the locality is to build Dong Nai into a strategic gateway city, a center connecting economic regions in the South, with the characteristic of an "airport city" as a leverage for global connection. To achieve that goal, Dong Nai has identified: S&T, innovation, and DT are important drivers of the new economic growth model.

Associate Professor Dr. Tu Diep Cong Thanh, Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Center (IPTC), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, commented: Becoming a city, Dong Nai has many conditions to invest synchronously in S&T infrastructure, including research infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and innovation centers. This is an essential foundation for the formation and development of the S&T market, where activities of buying, selling, transferring, and commercializing technology take place in a practical way. In terms of strategic role, becoming a city, Dong Nai has many conditions to be positioned higher in the national S&T development strategy. This not only helps attract high-quality resources but also enhances the value of research, innovation, and technology transfer activities in the area.

Accelerating the digital transformation process, innovative innovation

Dong Nai has been making strong efforts to promote comprehensive digital transformation, focusing on the pillars of digital government, digital society, and digital economy, contributing to its goal of achieving double-digit economic growth. Notably, 2026 is a pivotal year for accelerating the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in S&T, innovation, and DT. Accordingly, Dong Nai aims for comprehensive digital transformation of all sectors and state agencies in the area.

Dr. Luu Hue Tien, General Director of SunEdu International Education Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City), commented: Dong Nai is facing a historic opportunity to transform from a traditional industrial center into a leading high-tech growth pole in Vietnam. The locality has all the fundamental elements to break through and implement strategies for DT and innovation. Therefore, Dong Nai needs to identify priority directions and actions for DT based on feasibility, widespread impact, and the ability to create a foundation to promote the development pillars of DT and innovation in the coming time.

One of the nine major S&T, innovation, and DT challenges identified by Dong Nai is the application of these fields to convert traditional industrial parks into smart industrial parks, ecological industrial parks, and industrial parks integrating technology services - innovation - green logistics in Dong Nai.

As a major industrial center of Vietnam, Dong Nai has pioneered in investing and building green, smart factories in line with global integration trends. Dong Nai has many industrial parks and businesses operating, with a large human resource scale... These are the foundations for training digital human resources, promoting the development of science and technology, technology transfer, innovation, and digital transformation associated with green growth.

Vo Hoang Khai, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said: Innovation and DT are increasingly spreading into life, production, and business. In Dong Nai, many businesses are applying digital technology and transforming management; digital infrastructure systems, high-tech zones, and innovation centers are being oriented for construction. This opens up great opportunities for smart logistics, Industry 4.0, e-commerce, smart manufacturing... The proactive role of the State and the synergy from all four parties (State - schools - businesses - investors) will create strong momentum for Dong Nai to apply science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Thereby, it will promote sustainable economic growth in the new period.

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

Abraham Nguyen Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the National Startup Association, Chairman of 9S UNION (Global Economic Union), shared: Dong Nai has the foundation to break through in innovation activities. Dong Nai boasts strong industry, developed logistics, good regional links, a large market size, and the ability to absorb high technology. Moreover, Dong Nai is entering a new strategic phase. When Long Thanh International Airport operates synchronously, Dong Nai will not only have more transportation infrastructure but also a new development space for aviation economy, logistics, technology, creative services, and startup models capable of connecting regionally and globally.

By Hai Quan-Translated by Mai Nga, Minho