Austria is recognized globally for its leadership in technology innovation, digital transformation strategies, and high-tech applications. In this edition of Digital Life, VOV discussed with Dr. Patrick Horvath, Secretary General of the Vienna-based Foundation for Scientific Economic Policy, potential for Vietnam-Austria cooperation in improving digital infrastructure and capabilities, smart city development, and green technology.
Bao Tram: Welcome, Dr. Horvath, to VOV24/7’s “Digital Life”. Austria is one of global leaders in core technology research and development, innovation, and application. Does Austria have strategies or policy models that Vietnam can refer to in its efforts to scale up the country’s digital infrastructure and capabilities?
Dr. Horvath: Austria can definitely inspire Vietnam. We are a few steps ahead with strategies for digital development. In Austria we have an artificial intelligence strategy and also a cyber security strategy. Vietnam can optimize its own strategy process by looking at the European possibilities and also at the Austrian discussion results. Austria has created many innovative platforms. For instance, there’s a platform called Industry 4.0. This is a platform that tries to connect the government with science and the private economy to identify needs for digital transformation. The research results are very interesting but also the form of such a platform for dialogue could be very interesting for Vietnam and very inspiring.
Bao Tram: Which are the high-potential areas for Vietnam-Austria collaboration?
Dr. Horvath: Austria hosts many innovative universities and research institutes, especially the Technological University Vienna. Another field besides the semiconductor industry and companies like Infineon is smart city development. The Austrian Institute of Technology is a leading research institute for smart city development. It can optimize to help develop Vietnam's intensely growing cities. Vietnam's cities are growing, and they should be organized well. Austrian expertise can certainly help in this field. Environmental technology is important for Vietnam. Vietnam is growing a lot. This is important to create wealth. But Vietnam's natural treasures should be protected. Austria has a huge expertise in the field of green technology. Austria can help with the transformation.
Bao Tram: What challenges do developing and developed countries face in digital transformation, and how can Vietnam and Austria address those challenges through joint initiatives?
Dr. Horvath: The main concern should be, in my opinion, the education of qualified young people in technology. What is also important is to create the technological infrastructure necessary for economic development. Austria tries to create 5G nets in every area of Austria. We’ve made substantial progress. Vietnam also, sooner or later, will have to provide 5G in every region. But what I think is most important is the field of culture, the field of mindset. We have not all yet understood, neither in Austria nor in Vietnam, how AI, how the possibilities of the digital world, will reshape our societies. We have got to open our minds and think more out of the box. We should address this through the media. We should have more blogs, more series about the digital transformation so that we can all see what is changing.
Bao Tram: How can research institutions and universities in Vietnam and Austria collaborate to build a skilled digital workforce?
Dr. Horvath: Human resources are Vietnam’s greatest treasure and I see vision, I see fire in their eyes. I’d like to remind you that Austria is among the top 10 countries in the world. It wasn’t like that in 1945. After World War II, Austria was one of the poorest countries in the world. Everything comes from vision. If you develop vision, and if you believe in yourself, then success will follow. The development of your young people is the key to developing wealth in Vietnam. I would like to encourage that process. I see a huge potential here.
Bao Tram: Thank you for talking with VOV24/7, Dr. Horvath. That was Dr. Patrick Horvath, Secretary General of Vienna-based think tank Foundation for Scientific Economic Policy.
Dr. Horvath: I'm so happy that you’re interested in digital development and in Austria, and I really hope Austria can help Vietnam develop. Thank you very much.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Bao Tram
Quelle/Source: VOV World, 28.052025
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