15 comments to help perfect the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation

On the morning of June 6, 2025 in Hanoi, the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations jointly organized a workshop to provide comments on the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation (KH,CN&DMST). Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy co-chaired the workshop.

Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science , Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan spoke at the Workshop.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan said that the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, when submitted to the National Assembly for comments at the 9th Session, received the attention of National Assembly deputies, with many comments contributed in groups and halls. Immediately after that, the Draft Law was received and revised according to the comments of the deputies.

To have more basis to complete the Draft Law, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment asked delegates to contribute frank opinions on the contents, such as accepting risks in science, technology and innovation activities; special mechanisms in research, access, purchase of technological know-how, learning, decoding technology; supporting enterprises to invest in developing strategic technology...

Need to continue to improve the content and structure of the Draft

At the workshop, many delegates acknowledged the initiative and efforts of the drafting agency in developing the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and said that amending and supplementing the Law on Science and Technology in 2013 is necessary, meeting practical requirements in the new context, especially when Science, Technology and Innovation are becoming a key driving force for national development.

Dr. Pham Van Tan, former Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations , gave comments on the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

One of the issues that delegates are concerned about is the name of the Draft Law. According to Dr. Pham Van Tan, former Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, innovation is already part of the concept of science and technology. Therefore, adding this phrase to the name of the Law is not really necessary, if the content of the Law has fully and clearly regulated policies to promote innovation. In addition, if "Innovation" is added, is it necessary to add "Digital transformation" in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo? The breakthrough is not in the name or title but in the policy content in the document.

Regarding the structure of the Law, Dr. Pham Van Tan suggested adjusting the order of content in Section 1, Chapter II to ensure logic, arranged from macro to micro level: Strategy - plan - program - task. He also noted that the concept of "planning" should be considered to be added to this content to ensure consistency with the current Law on Planning.

Regarding the content of digital transformation, the Draft Law only mentions it in Article 18, associated with science, technology and innovation activities. According to Dr. Pham Van Tan, this is an incomplete approach. "Digital transformation is not limited to the field of science and technology, but is a common requirement of the whole society," and at the same time, it is recommended to expand the scope of the Law or have clearer regulations on the position of digital transformation in the current legal system.

It is not enough to focus only on promoting innovation in enterprises and the economy. "Innovation takes place not only in the production and business sector, but also in state management, culture, society... Therefore, the Law needs to be more comprehensive to properly reflect the comprehensive nature of innovation activities in the knowledge economy.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy answered and clarified some issues of concern to delegates regarding the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

Another highlight also mentioned by Dr. Pham Van Tan is the financial issue. According to him, the Law needs to clearly stipulate the allocation of a minimum of 2% of GDP annually for science, technology and innovation, instead of just stopping at the current 2% of total state budget expenditure. "Without strong enough financial resources, science and technology cannot become a pillar of development," he emphasized, while expressing concern that the actual expenditure level is currently only about 1%.

In addition, he also recommended clearly defining the competent authority to allow technology testing, as well as adding content on human resource development, especially the force working in scientific management and high-quality human resources in the field of science, technology and innovation.

Ensuring constitutionality and clarity in legal regulations

Sharing the same viewpoint of contributing to the construction, Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee, said that the early promulgation of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation is necessary but needs to be carefully reviewed to ensure its constitutionality, legality and feasibility in practice. He first mentioned Article 2 of the Draft on the subjects of application, in which the phrase "related to science, technology and innovation activities" is not clearly defined, especially for organizations and individuals outside of Vietnam.

Overview of the Workshop

Another important legal issue is the order of application between legal documents. The draft Law stipulates in Article 4 that when there are provisions different from other laws, this Law will take precedence. However, Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen emphasized that this provision is not consistent with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents 2025. Accordingly, in case of conflict between documents of the same level, the document issued later will take precedence.

Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen also suggested clarifying the responsibility for state management of science, technology and innovation, especially the role of the Ministry of Science and Technology. "Clause 2 of Article 12 needs to be more specific, avoiding general provisions," he suggested, and also proposed moving Article 12 on state management right after Article 11 to make it logically reasonable.

The issue of testing new technology and handling it differently from current law has also received many concerns. Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen said that the regulation allowing activities "different from current law" could contradict the Constitution. "Illegal acts cannot be allowed just for the reason of testing," he emphasized, and at the same time recommended reconsidering the regulation in Clause 6, Article 22 on the Government's detailed regulations on handling it differently from the law, because this has no solid legal basis.

Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen, former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee, gave comments on the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

Another important content mentioned by Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen is the principle of international integration and cooperation in science, technology and innovation. The draft needs to closely follow the provisions of Article 12 of the 2013 Constitution, ensuring the principle of "respecting independence, sovereignty, rights, non-interference in internal affairs" and "selectively absorbing" international achievements.

The workshop recorded 15 enthusiastic opinions from experts and delegates, focusing on many important contents, from the scope of regulation, the name of the Law, to the structure, content of specific provisions and the issue of ensuring constitutionality and feasibility in practical implementation.

At the workshop, Deputy Minister Bui The Duy directly answered and clarified a number of issues raised by delegates.

In his concluding remarks, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan stated that the comments of delegates and experts will be reviewed and finalized by the Committee in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology as well as relevant agencies before being submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee for comments./.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/15-y-kien-gop-y-giup-hoan-thien-du-thao-luat-khcndmst-197250606164715206.htm