Hanoi leads Vietnam's 2026 Provincial Innovation Index

The Ministry of Science and Technology held the 2026 National Innovation Day in Hanoi, centered on the theme ‘Innovation - The Driver of Development for All of Society’. During the event, the 2026 Provincial Innovation Index (PII) results were announced, ranking Hanoi first among 34 localities with 63.80 points. Ho Chi Minh City followed in second place (58.30 points), with Hai Phong in third (56.33 points). Hanoi led in 18 of the 52 component indicators, particularly in R&D capacity and intellectual property outputs.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that innovation must be activated across the entire economy and society to create new productivity, technology, and market value. He stressed that the focus should shift from merely having innovation activities to achieving tangible innovation results, with enterprises at the center. Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan highlighted the importance of an ‘innovative mindset’—the ability to view familiar problems through new perspectives to create real value.

The forum also addressed the need to transition from research to commercialization, ensuring that scientific and technological breakthroughs become practical products and economic drivers. Discussions focused on mastering core technologies, particularly AI and digital transformation, to enhance national competitiveness and integrate Vietnamese enterprises more deeply into global value chains.