Summary:

On 24-25 October 2024, the third annual International Conference on Innovation and Development (VIID) took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, under the theme of “Fostering regional dynamics for sustainable development amid global challenges”. This event brought together academics, industry experts, policymakers, and students from around the world. Co-organized by the Foreign Trade University (FTU), SolBridge International School of Business, and the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, the conference served as a platform for cutting-edge research, insightful discussions, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in sustainable development.

Launched by FTU in 2022, VIID has quickly established itself as an academic platform for exploring innovation and integration in sustainable development. The second conference, held in Daejeon, South Korea, set a high standard for international collaboration, and this year’s event in Hanoi further strengthened that legacy. For the third VIID, ACI is honored to co-organize the conference alongside FTU and SolBridge. Our team was also pleased to contribute two presentations on the ASEAN digital economy and e-commerce to the conference.

Key Highlights:

1. Though-provoking keynotes: The conference featured keynote speeches from prominent figures including Professor Pablo Brañas, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, and Mr. Allen Ng, Group Head and Principal Economist for the Regional Surveillance Group – ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). Professor Brañas addressed the topic “Strong Stability in Preferences and Tiny Gender Differences Among Teenagers: Evidence from Secondary Schools,” while Mr. Ng presented on the “ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook,” emphasizing the need to enhance resilience and cooperation in the face of rising geopolitical and external challenges.

2. Diverse international participation: The 2024 VIID conference received over 80 submissions from researchers in countries as diverse as Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam. After a thorough review process, 35 papers were selected for presentation.

3. Wide-ranging presentation topics: The VIID 2024 conference underscored the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, fostering valuable discussions on sustainable practices, technological innovations, and growth strategies across regions and sectors. The conference sessions covered critical themes such as sustainable development, economic growth, and innovation. Presentation topics included:

• Economic and environmental integration
• Innovation in post-pandemic recovery
• Sustainability and market dynamics
• Financial management and risk
• Technological advances in the digital economy
• Regional economic forecasting, and sentiment analysis
• Social and economic policies, particularly regarding regional cooperation and digital integration.

By BANH, Thi Hang