Speaking at the opening of the Vietnam Global Innovation Connect 2026 (VGIC 2026) forum in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, Thai said technology is truly meaningful only when it stems from real-world challenges and translates into tangible value for citizens, businesses, and the economy.

Therefore, he expressed a desire for the global intellectual community - including scientists, startups, and technology enterprises - to bring innovative ideas to Vietnam, including to MB, to collaboratively research, pilot, and implement solutions for practical problems.

Thai said MB's own digital transformation began nearly a decade ago as the lender sought to compete with larger rivals that had broader branch networks and greater financial resources.

Beginning in 2018, the bank adopted a digital-first strategy aimed at building a lean operating model capable of serving a rapidly expanding customer base around the clock while improving productivity.

"The key is identifying the right problems and combining them with the right ideas and technologies," he said.

The MB chairman noted Vietnam continues to face significant challenges in areas including data, artificial intelligence, automation, digital ecosystems and labor productivity, creating opportunities for researchers and technology firms to develop new solutions.

With nearly 40 million customers, MB processed around 15 billion transactions in 2025 and expects transaction volume to reach about 20 billion this year, providing a large-scale environment for testing and deploying new technologies, not only in the finance and banking sector but also in "Beyond Banking" services.

Thai said Vietnam could serve as a proving ground for innovative technologies before they are expanded into regional and global markets.

"Solutions that are successfully validated through real-world applications in Vietnam and within the MB ecosystem will have greater opportunities to scale internationally," he said.

The MB leader said the bank plans to expand cooperation with research institutes, universities, technology companies and startups to accelerate the commercialization of new technologies by providing access to data, financial resources and implementation capabilities.

He noted its technology platform and customer base could help shorten the path from research to commercial deployment, supporting productivity gains and broader economic growth.

VGIC 2026, held on July 29-30 at the Saigon Innovation Hub (SIHUB), brings together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and members of the global Vietnamese innovation community to promote technology collaboration and innovation.

A key highlight of the program is the "Smart Nation" model, which focuses on four pillars - Smart Data, Smart People, Smart Business Processes, and Smart Technology - while fostering collaboration across five strategic sectors: semiconductors, mobility, AI, robotics, and telecommunications. This initiative aims to generate new growth drivers for the digital economy.

Guided by the vision of becoming a leading digital financial group, MB stated it would continue to invest in developing its technology platforms, data capabilities, and digital ecosystem.

The group will also expand partnerships with research institutes, universities, technology firms, startups, and expert communities - both domestically and internationally - to harness innovation resources and co-develop scalable solutions, thereby contributing to the creation of an innovative, rapidly growing, and sustainable Vietnam.