Creating a new economic space The low-altitude economy is emerging as a new growth driver around the world. China has identified it as a strategic economic sector, while the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and many European countries are also stepping up the development of business models based on low-altitude flight technology. Notably, these countries are not only focusing on developing aerial vehicles but are seeking to build comprehensive economic ecosystems that combine technology, infrastructure, data, and application-based services. Under this approach, aerial vehicles are merely means of transport, while the core economic value lies in the service ecosystem built on digital technology. This is also the direction being studied by the Ministry of Science and Technology in developing the low-altitude economy in Viet Nam. According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, a new “economic space” is currently emerging between the ground and the airspace used by conventional aviation. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, data, sensors, telecommunications and smart operating platforms, this space is no longer merely an area for aerial vehicles to operate but is becoming a new development infrastructure. The low-altitude economy is therefore not simply about drones or aerial vehicles, but an economic ecosystem based on data, digital technology, and application-based services. From logistics, agriculture, resource management and infrastructure monitoring to emergency healthcare, search and rescue, and smart cities, a wide range of sectors can generate added value and new growth momentum. The biggest challenge in bringing the low-altitude economy into practice is currently not technology but institutions. According to Nguyen Van Thuat, Deputy Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Society under the Ministry of Science and Technology, waiting until the legal framework is fully developed before implementation could mean missing development opportunities. Conversely, large-scale deployment without a full assessment of potential