Lesson 2: Connecting Mechanisms to Practice (Continued and Concluded) (*)

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Decision No. 2815/QD-TTg (dated December 28, 2025) of the Prime Minister approving the Science, Technology and Innovation Program...

Báo Nhân dân•11/05/2026

Scientific research at the laboratory of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. (Photo: VAN NGA)

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology , Decision No. 2815/QD-TTg (dated December 28, 2025) of the Prime Minister approving the National Science, Technology and Innovation Program for the Development of Strategic Technology Products has identified the proactive role of ministries, sectors, and localities in commissioning technology tasks linked to development needs. Based on this, the Ministry is accelerating the funding mechanism through commissioned projects, finalizing guidelines to standardize the task formation process, and creating a basis for effective implementation through national funds.

The "Three-Party" Link

Experts share the view that to maximize the role of science and technology development funds, it is necessary to innovate the funding mechanism towards greater flexibility, strengthen the linkages between research institutes, universities, and businesses, and invest in developing strong research groups to create a sustainable foundation for technological breakthroughs.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of the Nafosted Fund, stated that strategic technology development should stem from the specific needs and problems of ministries, sectors, and localities, with the proactive participation of stakeholders based on their own capabilities and advantages.

In reality, most businesses have limited capacity for in-depth research, making increased cooperation with research institutes and universities essential. When these entities are effectively connected, the State plays a facilitating role through appropriate mechanisms, policies, and resource allocation. On this basis, the Nafosted Fund can act as a bridge, promoting collaboration among stakeholders and contributing to the effective and sustainable development of strategic technologies. Following this direction, the "three-party" linkage model (State-scientists-businesses) is increasingly being affirmed as a suitable approach for the development of strategic technologies.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dinh Van Trung, Director of the Institute of Physics (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology), it is necessary to build a synchronized ecosystem in which the State not only issues mechanisms and policies but also supports resources for businesses, thereby encouraging businesses to commission research from research institutes and universities. This approach contributes to forming a close link between the "three parties," creating a foundation for the development of the technology market and overcoming the limitations of the previous model of isolated research.

Citing international experience, Mr. Dinh Van Trung stated that in the United States, through the National Science Foundation (NSF), the government entrusts the scientific community with developing long-term strategic reports, identifying priority research directions, and then specifying these into tasks and orders for businesses, research institutes, and universities. This approach creates a strong link between stakeholders and suggests a suitable approach for Vietnam in organizing and implementing strategic technology programs in a focused and targeted manner.

In reality, despite proactively investing in research and development, many businesses still face bottlenecks in the output stage; the lack of a practical implementation environment makes it difficult to perfect products and slow their entry into the market. For strategic and core technology sectors such as AI cameras, UAVs, and autonomous robots, the need for timely and sufficiently strong support mechanisms from the State becomes even more urgent.

According to Mr. Hoang Anh Tu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Engineering (Ministry of Science and Technology), technological products are difficult to perfect and commercialize if they are not implemented in practice. Therefore, the State's orientation of acting as the "first customer," ordering strategic technological products, is considered an important solution, creating a "boost" for domestic enterprises to boldly invest in and develop core technologies, gradually reducing dependence on imports.

Based on the success of its AI Camera product for intelligent recognition and surveillance, Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, General Director of MK Vision, said that what businesses need are specific orders, with the State playing the role of the "first customer," especially for dual-use products. This mechanism not only provides direct resources but also motivates businesses to continue investing and improving their technology.

Furthermore, businesses expect that science and technology funds will not only finance the research phase but also act as a bridge, strengthening links with scientists and research institutes both domestically and internationally. This connection will contribute to improving access to research with high application potential, promoting product commercialization, and thereby increasing the contribution of businesses to the development of strategic technologies.

Innovate and create a transparent mechanism.

It can be affirmed that, if effectively utilized, science and technology development funds, especially national funds, can become a unique financial tool with the advantage of flexibility and timeliness for promoting and implementing strategic technology fields.

Currently, a draft Decree on the organization and operation of the Nafosted Fund is being developed. This draft defines its core role in linking with funds from ministries, sectors, and localities to form a synchronized and seamless funding ecosystem from the central to the local level; building mechanisms and a team to connect scientists, businesses, and management agencies; and promoting the formation of joint tasks and projects, especially in the field of strategic technologies.

According to Professor, Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the fund needs to be restructured according to three pillars. First, the fund should focus on breakthrough funding for basic research and pre-competitive technologies, high-risk areas with long payback periods that the market struggles to handle. Next, the fund should act as "seed capital" to support commercialization and technology transfer, bridging the gap from laboratory to product and preventing many research results from being halted midway. The fund needs a mechanism to attract and retain scientific talent, especially Vietnamese scientists abroad, through sufficiently attractive support packages to form and develop strong research groups. In line with these pillars, the issue of human resources for strategic technologies needs to be approached with training linked to specific research tasks, rather than the scattered approach of the past.

In order to create a breakthrough in human resources for strategic technologies, the Ministry of Science and Technology has just approved the Program to support outstanding doctoral students for the period 2026-2030, aiming to form a team with outstanding capabilities, capable of participating in strong research groups and leading cutting-edge technology directions.

By 2030, the program is expected to support approximately 1,000 doctoral students with internationally competitive funding, thereby creating sufficient appeal to retain and attract talent, helping young scientists confidently pursue full-time research domestically. Along with human resource development, the Fund will promote investment in science and technology infrastructure, focusing on specific tasks; supporting the upgrading and connection of laboratories, research centers, databases, and testing and verification equipment systems… directly serving strategic technology products and meeting the requirements for implementing strategic technology tasks in the coming period...