The Role of Science and Engineering in Achieving a Prosperous and Sustainable Future for Vietnam

1. The Role of Science and Engineering in Achieving a Prosperous and Sustainable Future for Vietnam Dr. E. William Colglazier Science and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State March 26, 2014

2. Highest Priority Topic in All My Diplomatic Engagements • How Science and Technology Can Stimulate Innovation and Economic Development • Every Country has Ambitious Plans to Compete on a World-Class Level • Willing to Modify Policies and Investments to Build a Knowledge-Based Society and Innovative Nation • Fundamental Pillars are Well-Known, but Challenging to Implement and Sustain

3. Building a Knowledge-Based Society • Strengthen Educational Systems from Grade School to Graduate School • Provide More Support for Students Pursuing STEM Careers • Provide More Support for (and Link) Research and Development in Universities, National Laboratories, and Private Companies • Strengthen Government Policies and Investments to Facilitate Bottoms-Up Innovative Ecosystem and Compete in Global Innovation Environment

4. STI Progress in Vietnam • Ambitious Plans and Priorities as explained by Dr. Mai Ha • HEEAP Public Private Partnership is a Key Component • My Assessment is Vietnam is Poised to Make Considerable Progress in this Decade • Lessons from Other Countries can be Instructive on What to Do and What to Avoid

5. “S&T Strategies of Six Countries” • U.S. National Academies Study requested by U.S. Government (2010) • Assessed Indicators to Help Predict Which Countries Might Be Most Successful • Emphasized Surprisingly the Role of Culture • Every Country has Aspects of its Culture that Can Stimulate or Retard Innovation • Most Successful Countries Are Likely Those Willing to Make Cultural Changes and Reforms

6. Lessons for the U.S. • U.S. National Academies Study “Rising to the Challenge: U.S. Innovation Policy for the Global Economy” (2012) • Assessed Innovation Policies from Other Countries to Recommend What the U.S. Needs To Do to Remain World Leader in STI • Provides Excellent Overview of U.S. Innovation Ecosystem • Assesses Its Strengths and Weaknesses and Changes U.S. Policy-Makers Should Consider

7. Secretary Kerry’s Advice(HCMC Dec. 2013) • To Create High-Paying Jobs and Economic Opportunity, A Country Needs: • Free Market and Free Marketplace of Ideas • People Able to Express Their Thoughts • People Able to Dare to Fail and to be Creative • People Able to Talk and Promote New Ideas about Trade and Development • People Able to Create New Products

8. Looking at Innovation from Business Perspective • Listening to Private Sector Views about Problems and Challenges is Very Informative • Reports from International Organizations Compare Innovative Capabilities of Countries • World Bank “Doing Business 2013” Report, WIPO’s “Global Innovation Index 2013,” and the World Economic Forum’s “Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014” • Insights on Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Country’s Innovation Ecosystem • Every Country Can Benefit from Reviewing and Strengthening its Innovation Policies and Investments

9. Difference Between Science and Engineering • Dr. Dan Mote, new President of U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Chaired “Six Country Study” • How He Explains the Difference between Science and Engineering to Children • NAE Report “The Engineer of 2020” (2004) • NAE Report “Grand Challenges in Engineering” (2008)

10. Critical Role of Universities • Educating the Next Generation, Carrying Out Fundamental Research, and Producing New Ideas and Innovations with Commercial Potential • Most Important Message of My Talk: Conducting Research at Universities is Essential to Building Quality Engineering Education Programs • Universities Must Recruit and Mentor Faculty Who Can Conduct High-Quality Research with Involvement of Their Students

11. Critical Role of Universities (continued) • Linking Education and Research is Best Way to Encourage Creativity in Students and Bring Forth New Ideas and Discoveries • Faculty and Students with Good Ideas with Commercial Potential Should Be Permitted to Explore Entrepreneurship and Startups • Engineering Research Centers at U.S. Universities Focusing on Multi-Disciplinary, Emerging Fields Are Especially Creative

12. “Research Universities and Future of America” • U.S. National Academies Study Examined Health and Competitiveness of U.S. Research Universities (2012) • Recommended Ten Actions for Key Stakeholders Including National and Local Governments • For Universities, Reforms Are Needed to Increase Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Societal Value

13. Role of Private Sector in R&D and the Innovative Ecosystem • Its Importance in U.S. Cannot Be Overestimated (70% of Funding for R&D in U.S.) • Big Challenge for Emerging Economies is Stimulating More R&D in Private Companies and Encouraging Them to Develop Relationships with Universities • Governments Must Provide Stable Policies (e.g. IPR) for Private Sector to Assess Risks and Plan Long-Term Investments Appropriately

14. “Global Trends 2030” (2012) • Unclassified Study Produced Every Four Years by U.S. Intelligence Agencies with Input from Many Countries • Examines Megatrends, Game Changers, and Potential Worlds out to 2030 • Biggest Megatrend: Individual Empowerment Accelerated by IT Revolution and Other Tectonic Shifts • Growth of Global Middle Class with Drop in Poverty and Rapid Urbanization • Widespread Exploitation of New Enabling Technologies that are Transformational and Disruptive

15. “Global Trends 2030” (continued) • Demand for Sociopolitical Change by the Growing Middle Class • Shift of Economic Power to East and South • Unprecedented and Widespread Aging • Food and Water Pressures • Impact of New Energy Technologies (Including Unconventional Oil and Gas) • Impact of Climate Change

16. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) • Effort Underway at UN to Produce SDGs for World’s Post-2015 Development Agenda • Will Be Negotiated by Governments in 2014 • Possible Guidance from Report of High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons (2013) • Illustrative Set of 12 Universal Goals and National Targets and Metrics

17. Illustrative SDGs • End Poverty • Empower Girls and Women and Achieve Gender Equity • Provide Quality Education and Lifelong Learning • Ensure Healthy Lives • Ensure Food Security and Good Nutrition • Achieve Universal Access to Water and Sanitation

18. Illustrative SDGs (continued) • Secure Sustainable Energy • Create Jobs, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Equitable Growth • Manage Natural Resource Assets Sustainably • Ensure Good Governance and Effective Institutions • Ensure Stable and Peaceful Societies • Create a Global Enabling Environment and Catalyze Long-Term Finance

19. My Personal View • Our Greatest Legacy to Future Generations, in Addition to Avoiding Wars and Conflicts, is Building Knowledge-Based Societies and Accelerating Expansion of Scientific Knowledge and Useful Technologies • Post-2015 Development Agenda will be Important for Supporting the Development of Knowledge-Based and Innovative Societies as Well as Solving Our Current Global Challenges

20. Importance of International STI Collaboration • Essential to Address Challenges Facing Our Countries and the World • Needed in Research and Development, especially in Pre-Competitive Fundamental Research • Staying at the Cutting-Edge Requires Engaging with Best Scientific and Engineering Minds Everywhere