Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong: “Technology & Design is the new growth engine of the economy”

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong – Chairman of the Council of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) as Honorary President of the International Scientific Conference “Resilience by Technology and Design RTD 2022” evaluated the important role of technology solutions, design and innovation. in creating new impetus for economic recovery and growth.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong – Chairman of the University Council, Honorary President of the International Scientific Conference RTD

Reporter: After nearly a year of the Covid-19 pandemic, how do you assess the recovery signals of the Vietnamese economy? What is the driving force for the development of the economy in the new context?

GS. Nguyen Dong Phong:We see that, 2022 is an important time for the process of adaptation and recovery of the global economy after a period of being seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam is considered as one of the few Asian countries that has not been severely affected by the post-pandemic economic downturn. The World Bank (WB) forecasts our GDP growth rate at around 5.5% in 2022.

In fact, up to now, GDP growth rate has reached 5.03% in the first quarter of 2022 and 7.72% in the second quarter of 2022 – higher growth than the same period in 2020-2021. That growth momentum will be a positive rebound for the economy in the remaining quarters of the year. I think it’s a natural happening, inherent in socio-economic activities after a period of sudden stagnation. Therefore, after a period of repression, boom and recovery is understandable, especially in countries with good growth room before, like Vietnam.

However, the pandemic is also an important test to clearly see the risks, challenges and weaknesses of the economy, and help us see the potential and opportunities for development in the new context.

But the most important thing that I want to emphasize is that it is innovation, associated with design thinking, and the application of new technologies that is the driving force for the recovery and growth of the economy in the next period.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dong Phong speaks at an international event organized by UEH School of Technology and Design

Reporter: Faced with the new development requirements of society and the economy, how do you assess the role of the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City? Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), in promoting research, application and proposing solutions for development?

GS. Nguyen Dong Phong:From 2020, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) has made an important transformation: becoming a multidisciplinary and sustainable university, promoting its advantages in training and research, in which “Research for the benefit of the community – Research Contribution for All” is the mainstay of the multi-sector and sustainable UEH development strategy.

UEH sets out a new mission of developing technology-oriented, innovative and smart solutions for the community and creating high-quality human resources, mastering economic knowledge and being knowledgeable about technology, as well as innovative thinking.

The establishment of UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD) is a solid foundation to help UEH realize its research and proposals to contribute and develop to the economy – society in Vietnam. Especially, in this 2022, UEH School of Technology and Design for the first time organized an International Scientific Conference “Resilience by Technology and Design – RTD” with the theme “Smart Living”, expecting not only bring scientific value but also practicality and high application.

Scientists, experts from many different fields related to technology, lecturers, companies, domestic and foreign enterprises will present and share new research results, exhibit solutions and technology, design and innovation products revolve around core issues that are the driving force for sustainable development in the future, such as: Resilience design in architecture and smart cities; Recovery technology; Design and technology for unity and Innovation – driving the transition to resilient communities.

Based on these research findings, I believe that only technology, design and innovation are the engines of recovery and growth in the new era.

The founding event of UEH . School of Technology and Design

Reporter: Can you introduce a little bit about the RTD International Scientific Conference, as well as the main topics that the conference aims at?

GS. Nguyen Dong Phong:The International Science Conference “Resilience by Technology and Design”, also known as the RTD Workshop, is a scientific forum for discussion on strengthening community resilience through the applications of Technology and Design , taking people as the center, aiming to a future of sustainable development.

In addition, the conference also opened up opportunities for domestic and international scholars and businesses to exchange, cooperate, transfer science, engineering – technology and develop technology solutions and design, as well as sharing research results, linking the scientific community around the world through 4 important topics: Sustainable design in architecture and cities; Scientific and technological solutions to support recovery and sustainable development; Design and technology towards unity; Innovation drives the transition to sustainable communities.

In addition to Vietnamese experts and researchers, the Scientific Council of the RTD 2022 Conference also has the participation of more than 30 member partners who are organizations, universities, and research institutes from many countries. in the world such as Korea, India, Australia, Thailand, Italy and France.

RTD International Scientific Conference 2022 – Smart Living makes practical contributions to the development of a civilized, modern, smart and sustainable community

Reporter: What results do you expect from this RTD Conference?

GS. Nguyen Dong Phong:  With the determination of a team of scientists, researchers, scientific councils and conference organizers, I affirm that this RTD conference will not only be of international academic quality and quality. of research coming from at home and abroad, but also bring solutions and applications of technology associated with reality, towards radical and sustainable solutions to solve development problems of our country. , creating a new impetus.

I believe, this is an opportunity to spread knowledge, inspire creativity, and at the same time transfer research, tools, solutions on technology and innovation, in order to increase flexibility, ability adaptive, towards a smart life and a sustainable community in the context of a changing world.

Reporter: Thank you, Professor!

News, photos: Marketing – Communication Department