Supplementing regulations on high-tech urban development in the draft Law on High Technology (amended)

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of October 31, authorized by the Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung submitted to the National Assembly the draft Law on High Technology (amended), with many important new points, aiming to perfect the institution for developing high technology, strategic technology and comprehensive digital transformation.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung presented the Government's Report on the Draft Law on High Technology (amended)

The draft Law is designed with 6 major policy groups, including: Perfecting the concept and criteria of high technology; redesigning the incentive and investment support system; encouraging the development of the high-tech ecosystem; supplementing regulations on high-tech zones and urban areas; perfecting the management and supervision mechanism; requiring comprehensive digital transformation in high-tech activities.

According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, the draft Law completes the concept and criteria of high technology to ensure efficiency and updates compared to world technology trends, in line with the context and goals of socio -economic development and national security and defense of Vietnam.

The definition of high technology is revised to emphasize the breakthrough, diffusion and fundamental role of modern manufacturing and service industries. High-tech products are not only products but also include services created from high technology.

The draft also adds a separate chapter on strategic technology development, regulating everything from research, testing, application, commercialization, transfer to attracting and developing high-quality human resources.

Notably, the draft adds regulations on the development of high-tech urban areas (tech city, smart tech zone) where a high-tech zone is the core, planned, invested in synchronous technical and social infrastructure, and has a modern management mechanism to ensure modern and sustainable living, working and creative conditions to develop a high-tech ecosystem.

Along with that, the draft stipulates comprehensive digital transformation of high-tech activities, including digitizing data, infrastructure, and related policies to operate on digital platforms and smart management systems.

The draft also adds regulations to encourage domestic enterprises, small and medium enterprises, and innovative startups to participate in investment, research, and commercialization of high technology. Research institutes and universities with R&D activities will be encouraged to develop high-tech enterprises and promote commercialization of research results.

Presenting the review report, Chairman of the Committee on Science , Technology and Environment Nguyen Thanh Hai highly appreciated the draft's concretization of many policies to support high-tech development, but requested to clarify more the resources for implementation and the coordination mechanism between agencies.

The Committee also believes that it is necessary to stipulate that incentives for high-tech manufacturing activities should only be applied during the time when enterprises meet the prescribed criteria. For high-tech projects in ethnic minority, border, and island areas, etc., it is necessary to study and supplement policies on corporate income tax exemption and reduction, support for 0% interest loans for investment in digital infrastructure development, and prioritize land allocation for high-tech zones.

Regarding high technology and strategic technology criteria, the Committee proposed adding quantitative criteria such as added value, patents, infrastructure standards, and human resource qualifications; and at the same time, building a list of high technologies prioritized for investment, as a basis for supporting and encouraging development.

Regarding technology research and development, it is necessary to add incentives for core technology research activities and open technology, funded by the Science and Technology Development Fund, while avoiding overlap with budget allocation regulations in the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

Regarding high-tech zones, the Committee noted that the draft has removed the regulation allowing mass production, only allowing testing. This regulation may affect businesses currently producing in high-tech zones, so it is necessary to clearly explain the reason for the change and the transitional handling.

As for high-tech urban areas, this is a new model in Vietnam, but it already exists in a number of countries around the world with quite diverse scales, forms, and management methods.

To ensure feasibility, suitability and avoid policy exploitation, the Committee recommends considering additional regulations on the percentage of area between urban areas and high-tech zones of the project; housing ownership in high-tech urban areas by experts, scientists, workers, etc. or only using it according to the official housing regime...

The Committee also proposed to retain the regulation on high-tech agricultural zones because this content has been stated in Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW in 2022, as well as in accordance with the Land Law 2024 and related laws.

Thu Giang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/bo-sung-quy-dinh-ve-phat-trien-do-thi-cong-nghe-cao-trong-du-thao-luat-cong-nghe-cao-sua-doi-102251031121108822.htm