Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology is considering financial support of up to VND15 billion (about $570,000) for each “unprecedented” digitalization project.

According to the ministry’s draft decree guiding the 2025 Law on Digitalization, the State budget would fund experimental development of digital systems, platforms, and services that are not yet available on the market. State authorities will assess the necessity and feasibility of proposed projects before granting approval. The experimental phase would last no longer than one year.

Under the draft, the State budget would cover up to 5% of the total testing costs for each approved project, with funding capped at VND15 billion per mission.

Once the technical solutions and associated costs are verified, government agencies may proceed with formal procurement or investment procedures to deploy the services.

The ministry noted that only 5% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam have fully digitalized their operations, such as integrating data systems or using AI. Meanwhile, 69% of SMEs use non-integrated tools such as email and accounting software, while 16% have adopted comprehensive solutions like ERP, CRM, or IoT systems.

SMEs account for 97.3% of all businesses in Vietnam, contributing roughly 45% of the country’s GDP and 60% of total employment.

The draft decree, subject to the government’s approval, may become effective on July 1, 2026.

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