Vietnam’s amended High Technology Law expands support for strategic technologies
Vietnam’s amended High Technology Law took effect on July 1, widening support for strategic technologies. The law, approved by the National Assembly in December 2025, has six chapters and 27 articles and resets the policy framework across the technology development chain. It covers the definition of priority high technologies and strategic technologies, research and development, product development, and the formation of a high-technology ecosystem.
The law introduces “strategic technology” as a legal category for the first time, placing it alongside priority high technology. Both categories must serve national development goals, raise total factor productivity, support a shift in the growth model, strengthen national defence and security, and fit Vietnam’s science, technology and innovation priorities. Priority high technology must also show potential for research, mastery, improvement or localization; provide a foundation for new industries, new value chains or internationally competitive services; attract investment with technology transfer; or support socio-economic development in especially difficult regions.
Strategic technology must meet at least one separate test, including a breakthrough impact on socio-economic development, a long-term national competitive advantage, the creation of new production methods, new industries or new value chains, or the ability to emerge from core technologies researched and mastered by domestic organizations and individuals. The Ministry of Science and Technology will lead periodic reviews and assessments and submit updated technology lists to the Prime Minister for each stage of development. The law defines high technology and strategic technology development as a national strategic breakthrough and applies the highest incentives allowed under investment, tax, land and related laws.
The incentive package covers strategic technology research and development centres, organizations and individuals engaged in high-technology activity, and companies producing high-technology or strategic-technology products. Eligible parties may receive priority funding from science, technology and innovation programmes and funds, the highest tax incentives under personal income tax, corporate income tax, export tax and import tax rules, training support, and funding support for investment, operation or shared use of laboratories and high-technology research facilities. Projects producing strategic-technology products may receive special investment incentives, while high-technology product manufacturers may receive corporate income tax incentives; high-technology enterprises will also be divided into two groups based on product localization and R&D spending.
The law also creates a legal basis for high-technology ecosystems, with high-technology enterprises at the centre and links to regulators, research organizations, universities, start-up and innovation support bodies, service providers and users. It adds the concept of high-technology urban areas, which must have technical infrastructure, digital infrastructure, an innovation ecosystem and mechanisms for developing, testing and applying new high and strategic technologies. By adding rules on technology transfer, commercialization, technology exchanges, digital supply-demand platforms, incubators, innovation centres, testing support and priority placement for strategic technologies in public investment programmes, the law could shorten the route from laboratory work to market deployment and strengthen Vietnam’s technological self-reliance in fields including UAVs, aerospace-related systems and other advanced industrial products.