Universities and Inclusive Innovation for Development: Concepts and Practices in Vietnam

Abstract

This chapter looks at the landscape for inclusive innovation in development in Vietnam. It offers an overall conceptual framework used in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, and discusses how it is applied in the Vietnamese context. Despite different specific nuances of inclusive or social innovation, the philosophy for inclusivity of innovation activities is evident in the development process of the country. The author analyzes the Vietnamese overall practice for inclusiveness of innovation actors and shows that there are a number of policies adopted in university system that promote inclusive development. Still, this is not sufficient, nor specific enough; financial mechanisms, incentive systems as well as re-organization of the university structure remain to be improved. At the same time, as the cases of Hanoi Pharmaceutical University, Hanoi Architecture University, and Hoa Sen University in HoChiMinh city amply illustrate, even in a very nascent context, universities in agriculture and healthcare sectors engage in social and inclusive innovation in addressing development needs. This points to the need for more a conducive government policy environment to spearhead this process.