Expanding autonomy, creating a push to attract science and technology talents

The issuance of Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP marks an important step forward in innovating the operating mechanism of public science and technology (S&T) organizations. This Decree not only expands the autonomy of S&T organizations but also creates a strong "push" in attracting, promoting and developing domestic and international talents.

Robot welding line at THACO Mazda factory. (Illustration photo).

New mechanism – opening the door to welcome high-quality talent

According to the Department of Organization and Personnel ( Ministry of Science and Technology ), one of the highlights of Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP is to empower public science and technology organizations to decide on the recruitment, management and use of civil servants and employees according to regulations when the organization has a department, division or official in charge of organization and personnel work (Article 8 of Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP). This new regulation helps public science and technology organizations to be completely proactive in removing bottlenecks in the recruitment, management and use of civil servants and employees of the organization.

When financial barriers are removed, Vietnamese science and technology organizations can compete to attract overseas Vietnamese and foreign experts. This mechanism allows for the introduction of "remuneration packages" (salary, housing, working conditions) attractive enough to convince famous scientists to work in Vietnam. Only "over-frame" remuneration mechanisms, according to agreements, can access this elite group of human resources.

Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP allows public science and technology organizations to proactively attract foreign experts and scientists to participate in research, technology development, technology transfer, innovation (I&T), human resource training and other professional activities at the organization; and to hire experts and scientists who are Vietnamese residing abroad or foreigners to hold leadership and management positions at public science and technology organizations.

R&D engineer designs THACO buses. (Illustration photo).

Breakthrough in salary and income mechanism according to job position

Decree 263/2025/ND-CP brings about fundamental and groundbreaking changes in the salary and income payment mechanism at public science and technology organizations, different from current regulations for public service units. Specifically:

Firstly, give autonomy to decide on salaries and incomes within the organization by democratically developing its own regulations on salaries and incomes, and must publicly disclose specific regulations in the organization's internal management regulations.

Second, remove the "salary ceiling" barrier. Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP does not limit the salaries and incomes of public S&T officials and employees to double, triple,... the salary levels prescribed by the State. Public S&T organizations are autonomous and responsible for using revenue sources from the state budget, from labor costs of S&T and innovation activities, and from legal sources to pay salaries and incomes to officials and employees of the organization.

Third, pay salaries and income according to job position, assigned tasks, and work efficiency to ensure income commensurate with quantity, quality, and efficiency instead of calculating salaries according to fixed "ranks and levels". In addition, income from commercializing the results of scientific research, technology development, and innovation of the organization is also paid to officials and employees publicly and according to agreement.

Fourth, the "agreement" mechanism on salary and many outstanding preferential policies such as: Bonus; support for accommodation, transportation, essential purchases; support for relaxation, health care, etc. have been stipulated in Decree No. 263/2025/ND-CP to attract and promote domestic and foreign talents to participate in implementing S&T tasks.

Attracting and promoting science and technology talents, especially young intellectuals and Vietnamese scientists abroad, is an important and strategic factor for Vietnam to enhance its science, technology and innovation potential, and integrate more deeply and widely into the value chain and global scientific research, technology development and innovation network. The new mechanisms and policies detailed in Decree 263/2025/ND-CP and related documents are a breakthrough, demonstrated by outstanding preferential policies such as: "Agreement" mechanism on salary; bonuses; support for accommodation, travel, essential purchases; support for recreation, health care... for science, technology and innovation talents; preferential policies on recruitment, additional allowances, priority for forming strong research groups, priority for sending and paying internship and short-term work abroad... for talented young scientists and talented young engineers.

According to the Department of Personnel Organization, the above-mentioned breakthrough and preferential policies recently issued by the Government aim to attract young intellectuals and Vietnamese scientists abroad to participate in science, technology and innovation tasks, solve strategic problems of the country, and contribute to helping Vietnam develop more strongly in the current period of development./.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/mo-rong-quyen-tu-chu-tao-cu-hich-thu-hut-nhan-tai-khcn-197251106091922132.htm