The Government issues special mechanisms and policies to attract experts in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

The Decree stipulates the attraction mechanism and policies, including: criteria; selection process; rights and obligations; responsibilities; assessment; policies for experts in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

The Decree stipulates the subjects to which the policy applies, including:

Individuals who are Vietnamese residing abroad and foreigners who meet the expert criteria prescribed in this Decree may be nominated, run for election, and selected as experts.

Agencies, organizations, and units of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, central and local socio -political organizations, armed forces, and enterprises are assigned to preside over the implementation of programs, tasks, and projects on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Other relevant agencies, organizations, units and individuals.

Experts specified in this Decree are people with knowledge, qualifications, and research experience in one or more fields of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation that meet the following criteria:

General criteria:

Preside over or participate in implementing scientific, technological, innovation and digital transformation tasks, prioritizing strategic technology sectors in the list of strategic technologies and strategic technology products issued by competent authorities, making practical contributions to the development of the country, region and the world;

Have a clear background and good moral character;

Desire to contribute to the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam.

Also meet one of the following specific criteria:

Being the author or co-author of an invention that has been granted a certificate of intellectual property protection and has been applied and transferred to create a product of practical value; or having in-depth expertise and rich experience in the industry or field appropriate to the task performed in Vietnam and currently working in the research department of a research institute, university or reputable enterprise abroad;

Be the author or co-author of an outstanding scientific and technological research work that has won international awards or has been widely applied, bringing practical results and being suitable for the program, task, project of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation that the applicant plans to participate in;

Have a doctorate degree from a university in the top 200 universities in the world according to prestigious international rankings and have at least 5 years of teaching, scientific research, and technology development experience at a prestigious research and training institution abroad in a major suitable for the program, tasks, and science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation projects expected to participate in;

Have a doctorate degree and have at least 5 years of experience working in a scientific research position in an international cooperation program or project on science and technology or in the research department of a reputable enterprise abroad;

Have at least 10 international articles published in prestigious journals or be a member of the scientific council of prestigious journals or successfully supervise at least 02 doctoral students;

In case the candidate does not meet the criteria specified in points a, b, c, d and dd above, the agency, organization or unit in need of selecting experts shall decide on the selection of experts to implement programs, tasks, projects on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation and shall be responsible for that decision.

The Decree stipulates that experts have the rights and obligations of individuals engaged in science, technology and innovation activities as prescribed in Articles 51 and 52 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation. In addition, based on the requirements of the assigned position, experts are entitled to exercise a number of rights and obligations stated in the labor contract:

Decide on technical and technological issues and resolve technical problems within the assigned scope of duties;

Proactively select and propose competent authorities to mobilize scientific and technological human resources; scientific and technological organizations to participate in performing tasks; proactively select and use human resources within the scope of assigned tasks;

Proactively decide on the use of assigned funds and resources, including the use of funds to directly purchase necessary foreign technology, products, equipment, and technological know-how at agreed prices;

Facilitated and supported with funding for scientific surveys and exchanges with foreign scientists to update new technologies;

Other rights and obligations (if any).

Experts are responsible for complying with Vietnamese law and relevant international law; protecting information and data on programs, tasks, science, technology, innovation and digital transformation projects within the scope of assigned tasks as prescribed by law. They are personally responsible for violating the obligations of the signed labor contract, causing financial loss, loss of property, damage to products or disclosure of confidential state information and documents.

At the same time, it is necessary to respect Vietnamese culture, customs and practices; comply with professional ethics, professional requirements, honesty, objectivity and responsibility in scientific and technological activities, innovation and digital transformation.

The Decree stipulates that salaries are agreed upon in labor contracts for experts, ensuring that they are commensurate with the assigned tasks and consistent with the salary level in the fields of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in the labor market.

Annual bonuses are decided by the agency, organization, or unit assigned to preside over the implementation of programs, tasks, and projects on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation based on the results of the assessment of the performance of assigned tasks, up to a maximum of 4 months' salary stated in the labor contract.

Bonuses earned from leasing, selling, transferring, assigning the right to use, self-exploiting, using the results of scientific, technological, innovation and digital transformation tasks; results of scientific, technological, innovation and digital transformation tasks when contributing capital, cooperating, joint venture, association, providing services or establishing an enterprise are implemented according to the provisions at Point a, Clause 3, Article 28 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

The Decree clearly states that the State supports employees with one month's salary stated in the labor contract to stabilize their accommodation, travel, and essential purchases; is supported with house rent, transportation, or is provided with a standard apartment and transportation during their time as experts; is paid for research and scientific exchange expenses abroad when assigned by agencies, organizations, or units in charge of programs, tasks, and projects on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation according to task requirements.

Regarding health care, vacation and annual leave: Provided with annual voluntary health care package not exceeding 01% of annual salary stated in the labor contract.

Every year, enjoy 7 days of domestic vacation and receive financial support of up to 1 month's salary stated in the labor contract for yourself and family members (including wife or husband, children under 18 years old).

Get leave according to labor law regulations, round-trip airfare paid once a year for experts and family members (including spouse and children under 18 years old) to return home.

Regarding honor and reward: To be honored or recognized for the contributions of experts when officially taking up their duties in Vietnam and when they finish and complete the duties stated in their labor contracts; to be met, praised, and listened to reports, recommendations, and proposals by senior leaders of the Party and State; to participate in forums to exchange experiences on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; to be rewarded according to the provisions of the Law on Emulation and Commendation; to receive titles and awards on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation domestically and internationally, in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law.

The Decree stipulates that foreign experts who wish to have their conditions reduced when considering granting Vietnamese nationality according to the provisions of law.

Experts with Vietnamese nationality who want to work as civil servants or public employees in agencies, organizations, and units of the Party, the State, and socio-political organizations but do not meet the standards and conditions prescribed by law on civil servants and public employees shall be considered and decided by competent authorities to accept them into the job position; they shall be considered for appointment to leadership and management positions in agencies, organizations, and units of the Party, the State, and socio-political organizations without necessarily ensuring the conditions on age, planned title, political theory level, and consecutive tenure.

In addition to the policies enjoyed with experts according to regulations such as: Annually, enjoying 7 days of domestic vacation and receiving financial support of up to 1 month's salary; taking leave according to labor law regulations, being paid for round-trip airfare once a year, family members of experts (including: Wife or husband, children under 18 years old) when in Vietnam also enjoy the following policies:

Get support in finding schools and tuition support for children under 18 years old in public educational and training institutions.

Provided with a voluntary annual family health care package not exceeding 01% of the annual salary stated in the specialist's labor contract.

Supported with introductions and facilitated access to suitable job opportunities in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code and other relevant legal provisions.

Multiple entry visas and temporary residence cards corresponding to the expert's working period (if any) are granted.

The Decree stipulates that after 12 months from the date of signing the labor contract, if the expert meets the requirements of the program and assigned tasks, the agency, organization or individual that nominated the expert will be awarded 01 month's salary stated in the expert's labor contract.

The Decree takes effect from September 19, 2025.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/nhip-song-so/chinh-phu-ban-hanh-co-che-chinh-sach-dac-biet-thu-hut-chuyen-gia-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-chuyen-doi-so-169354.html