Within the framework of the Vietnam Global Innovation Connect (VGIC 2025) held recently in Singapore, Prof Dr Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy emphasized that Singapore is a vivid example of harnessing synergy for rapid development.

In the country, synergistic power is present in every aspect of life: from urban planning that optimizes utility and enhances citizens' living experiences to administrative governance that centers on convenience combined with the sustainability of clean, green spaces. The field of technology and innovation in the country is no exception.

"They don't do things in isolation but always find ways to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ – top tech corporations – to grow together," Khuong noted. 

This could be a significant lesson for Vietnam - highlighting the need to collaborate with major enterprises to establish its own position.

Though Singapore is just a bit larger than Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, has few natural resources, and a small population (6 million), the country has emerged as one of the leading economies in the world.

With a multicultural community of over 70 percent Chinese, 20 percent Malay, and several other communities, including over 10,000 Vietnamese, the nation turns its differences into a unifying strength.

“When you come to Singapore, you are surprised to see people of different religions sitting together, having friendly conversations,” Pro. Khuong said.

Singapore focuses investment on knowledge, inviting world-class experts to solve specific challenges of the country. The approach of standing on the shoulders of giants is also a common trend in the tech world.

DeepSeek has helped China, within a short time, narrow a 3-5 year gap with the US in the GenAI race by exploiting leading language models from the US and the West.

"Being ready to share innovations and breakthroughs with other countries, while valuing all valuable contributions, embodies the true spirit of innovation," he said.

Singapore currently makes up more than 10 percent of global semiconductor production, 20 percent of the industry equipment, and 5 percent of the wafer manufacturing capacity, affirming its important position in the international supply chain.

Samuel Ang, a consultant to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), noted that success comes from the tight synergy between three pillars: government, education and business.

The Singapore government plays an important role by issuing policies to attract talent and develop semiconductor resources through initiatives like the Singapore Industry Scholarship (SgIS) and the Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP).

In the 2021-2025 period, the country committed to invest $13.6 billion in R&D, infrastructure, and tax incentives to boost the semiconductor industry.

Ngo The Vinh