25/09/2026
The conference was attended by provincial leaders and representatives of agencies, organizations, experts and intellectuals across Thanh Hoa. Nguyen Hong Phong, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council, delivered the opening remarks. To Anh Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, briefed participants on the province’s socio-economic development, national defense and security, as well as major policies, programs, projects and schemes requiring consultation from the intellectual community.
An overview of the Conference
Nguyen Van Phat, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Union of Science and Technology Associations, presented a report summarizing recommendations and proposals from intellectuals. The consultation and dialogue session, chaired by Trinh Tuan Sinh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Hoa Province, addressed a wide range of issues related to the province’s development, including the implementation of the “Government – University – Business” cooperation model, the development of Thanh Hoa into a centrally governed city, urban drainage and irrigation, the Nghi Son Economic Zone and industrial parks, as well as the preservation and promotion of historical and cultural heritage.
In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen emphasized the increasingly important role of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources in Thanh Hoa’s new stage of development. Building on the directions and policies of the central government, Thanh Hoa Province has introduced a number of programs, plans and mechanisms to promote these areas. In particular, Official Letter No. 13098/UBND-THDT dated July 3, 2026, issued by the Provincial People’s Committee, directly calls for solutions to promote the “Government – University – Business” cooperation model across the province.
According to the presentation, Thanh Hoa has gradually established the foundations of this three-party cooperation model. The Government is increasingly moving beyond a purely administrative role toward becoming an institution builder and development enabler through policy-making, commissioning, resource support and the creation of a favorable environment for innovation. Higher education and vocational education institutions are strengthening their roles as providers of human resources, knowledge and technology while expanding their links with businesses.
At Hong Duc University, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support Center has been established to create a space connecting students, lecturers, businesses and organizations supporting entrepreneurship. The University has also collaborated with the Business Association to organize university–business engagement programs focusing on human resource needs, digital transformation, green consumption and training cooperation.
A key point highlighted by the President was the need to clearly define the responsibilities of each stakeholder. Under the proposed model, the Government serves as the enabler, providing strategic direction, commissioning tasks, improving institutions and coordinating resources. The University serves as a knowledge hub, providing human resources, research capacity, technology and innovation capabilities. The Business sector serves as the market-oriented partner, identifying practical challenges and participating in investment, testing, production and commercialization.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Hoằng Bá Huyền, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Hong Duc University, delivers his presentation at the Conference
When these three stakeholders are connected effectively, a relatively complete value chain can be established: the Government identifies and commissions development problems; universities conduct research and propose solutions; businesses co-invest, test and commercialize results; and the Government evaluates outcomes, refines policies and facilitates wider application.
The presentation also identified several bottlenecks that need to be addressed, including an incomplete legal framework, the absence of a dedicated provincial coordination mechanism for the three-party model, difficulties related to commissioning and assigning tasks, the gap between research and the market, and unclear mechanisms for investment, ownership, utilization and benefit sharing concerning research results and technological products.
In addition, barriers remain to the participation of business experts in teaching and lecturers in production and research activities at enterprises. University–business cooperation in training has also yet to reach the necessary depth.
Therefore, the presentation stressed that the focus should not simply be on increasing the number of cooperation programs or agreements. Instead, cooperation should be built around specific problems, adequate resources, clearly defined responsibilities and measurable outputs. Such an approach would help turn science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and high-quality human resources into direct drivers of rapid and sustainable development in Thanh Hoa.
To make the “Three-House” cooperation model more substantive during the 2026–2030 period, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen proposed establishing a provincial coordination mechanism or focal point for Government–University–Business cooperation, together with corresponding focal points at higher education and vocational education institutions and key enterprises.
He also proposed selecting and implementing at least five major tasks in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, prioritizing interdisciplinary and inter-regional challenges that have the potential to generate new products and services and contribute to the province’s key development pillars.
In scientific research, technology and innovation, the proposed model calls for the Government and businesses to identify and commission research tasks based on socio-economic development requirements and actual production and business needs. Universities and research institutions would then organize research, testing, refinement and technology transfer, while businesses would participate throughout the process, from identifying needs and providing funding to testing, receiving and commercializing research outcomes.
The President also proposed a model for joint investment in training, research and innovation infrastructure. Under this approach, the Government would invest in strategic infrastructure such as laboratories, research centers, digital infrastructure and innovation spaces. Universities would manage and operate these facilities, while businesses would contribute additional equipment and technologies and participate in shared use. Such shared infrastructure could serve training, research, testing, technology transfer and innovation activities, helping improve efficiency and avoid fragmented investment.
HDU Board of Management Poses for a Commemorative Photo with Party and Provincial Leaders at the Conference
For human resource training and development, the presentation proposed stronger commissioned training and greater participation by all three stakeholders throughout the process, from forecasting labor demand and developing curricula to training, internships, assessment, recruitment and retraining.
Universities and businesses would jointly design curricula and learning outcomes, while businesses would participate in training, assessment and recruitment. Practical training and internships would be expanded at enterprises, enabling students to access machinery, equipment, production lines, laboratories and real-world working environments. Internships would therefore become more closely connected with competency assessment and employment opportunities.
Another notable proposal was to establish an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubator at Hong Duc University and other qualified institutions. The incubator would receive, select, nurture and develop innovative ideas and startup projects.
Under this model, the Government would provide mechanisms, resources and commissioned challenges; the University would provide research, mentoring and incubation; and businesses would contribute practical challenges, experts and technologies, participate in testing, connect projects with markets and provide investment.
The presentation also proposed connecting applied research with the Provincial Innovation Center, with the aim of establishing a value chain encompassing commissioned challenges, applied research, technology development, testing, refinement, incubation, investment and commercialization.
Under this proposed mechanism, the Provincial People’s Committee would provide strategic direction and coordination; Hong Duc University would contribute knowledge, human resources, facilities and intellectual property; the Innovation Center would connect technologies, capital, investors and markets; and businesses would participate in commissioning, co-investment, testing and commercialization.
To facilitate implementation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Ba Huyen recommended that the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People’s Council and Provincial People’s Committee consider directing the development and issuance of a plan entitled “Implementation of the Government – University – Business Cooperation Model in Thanh Hoa Province for the 2026–2030 Period.”
He further proposed selecting several major interdisciplinary challenges and priority tasks with strong potential for broader impact for pilot implementation. The results could then serve as a basis for evaluating and refining mechanisms before scaling up successful models across the province.
The President also recommended that provincial departments and sectors review and improve economic and technical norms and public service prices in relevant fields; develop proposals for controlled testing mechanisms for new technologies, products, models and solutions; and facilitate shared access to research infrastructure, databases, laboratories, scientific and technological equipment and other common resources across the province.
Alongside Hong Duc University’s presentation, experts and scientists at the conference contributed recommendations on a wide range of issues related to Thanh Hoa’s development. Le Duc Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, delivered the concluding remarks.
The 2026 conference between provincial leaders and the intellectual community created an important forum for consultation, dialogue and the exchange of scientific and practical solutions to development challenges facing Thanh Hoa.
Through its presentation, Hong Duc University proposed a substantive approach to Government–University–Business cooperation, emphasizing practical development challenges, clearly defined responsibilities and measurable outcomes. The proposed solutions aim to strengthen the connection between education, research and real-world needs, promote technology transfer and commercialization, and mobilize knowledge, science and technology, and innovation resources to contribute to the province’s socio-economic development.