Improving the operational efficiency of the National Science and Technology Development Fund

Overview of the Workshop.

Organizational restructuring: Lean, efficient and integrated

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of the Executive Agency of the National Science and Technology Development Fund, said that, implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, national innovation and digital transformation, on April 8, 2025, the Minister of Science and Technology issued Decision No. 489/QD-BKHCN on transferring the status quo of tasks, human resources, finance, assets and related contents from the Office of State-level Key Programs and the Office of National Science and Technology Programs to the National Science and Technology Development Fund under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Accordingly, the Fund becomes the sole executive agency of national-level science and technology tasks, undertaking both basic research, applied research and production. The new model helps to streamline focal points, unify management, reduce administrative procedures, increase flexibility and efficiency in management.

Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien said that in the context of the draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation being considered and commented on by the National Assembly and expected to be passed at the 9th Session, with new requirements, restructuring and improving the operational capacity of the Fund is a task of special importance, associated with the mission and long-term development vision of the Fund in the coming period. Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien also expected that the delegates attending would actively contribute their opinions, contributing to perfecting the development orientation of the Fund in the new period, meeting the requirements of comprehensive and strong innovation of the national science and technology system.

Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of the National Science and Technology Development Fund Executive Agency, delivered the opening speech at the Workshop.

Sharing about the current status of the National Fund for Science and Technology Development, Mr. Pham Dinh Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Fund's Executive Board, said that in recent times, the quality of basic research, applied research, and technology development has tended to increase; the number of scientists presiding over national-level research tasks has also increased and become younger; many tasks continue to be funded by businesses and international organizations... In particular, there has been an improvement in the Global Innovation Index (GII), contributing to solving practical problems in Vietnam. However, there are still some shortcomings such as the connection between basic research - application - commercialization is not tight; some excellent topics have not received adequate support due to barriers in evaluation mechanisms, funding, implementation time...

In the coming time, the Fund expects to put Vietnam in the top 3 ASEAN countries in terms of international publication index/billion USD; H-index in the top 4 ASEAN countries; increase the number of patent applications and protection certificates by 15% each year. It is expected that the Fund will support 40-50 ranked S&T organizations, and the tasks funded by the Fund will make practical contributions to the growth target of 8% in 2025, towards double-digit growth in the period of 2026-2030... Thereby, forming a high-quality research ecosystem, improving funding efficiency, making positive contributions to the socio-economy, national security and defense, and enhancing Vietnam's scientific position.

Mr. Pham Dinh Nguyen, Deputy Director of the National Science and Technology Development Fund Executive Agency, reported at the Workshop.

Removing financial and administrative "bottlenecks" for the Fund to promote its strategic role

In his speech at the Workshop, Dr. Hoang Van Cuong, Institute of Economic and Financial Strategy and Policy, Ministry of Finance, said that the current financial management mechanism for national-level S&T Funds in Vietnam is not consistent with the regulations on budget management under the State Budget Law (NSNN) effective from 2017. Accordingly, in order for the Fund sources to be effective and contribute more to the common goal of the country's socio-economic development, especially supporting the private sector and S&T organizations to access and use the Fund sources effectively, it is necessary to: clearly define the organizational type of the fund to apply a suitable system of documents; perfect the organizational apparatus; unify the organizational structure of the funds in accordance with their nature and type; increase the independence of some funds to move towards self-balancing, limit funding from the State budget; strengthen financial supervision and transparency.

Dr. Hoang Van Cuong, Institute of Strategy and Economic and Financial Policy, Ministry of Finance reported at the Workshop.

From a scientist's perspective, Mr. Pham Ngoc Diep, Head of the Department of Astrophysics and Space, Vietnam Space Center, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, highly appreciated the role of the Vietnam Science and Technology Development Fund in supporting systematic and long-term research; promoting the culture of international publication in Vietnam. Mr. Pham Ngoc Diep proposed that the Fund should approach international practices, improve the quality of scientific review and criticism; determine priority strategies, balance between basic research - applied research - technology development; develop young science and technology human resources, encourage new research groups, increase support for female scientists; invest in information technology systems, simplify administrative procedures, improve the effectiveness of monitoring - evaluating the impact of funding programs, etc.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Diep, Head of Astrophysics and Space Department, Vietnam Space Center, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology reported at the Workshop.

At the workshop, delegates focused on sharing and exchanging about difficulties and obstacles and discussed many solutions to improve the efficiency of the Fund's operations in the new context, aiming to perfect the operating mechanism; enhance funding capacity; promote research - application - commercialization linkage of scientific results; play a strategic role in guiding the country's scientific research activities, and promote integration.

The Presidium conducts the discussion.

Concluding the workshop, Mr. Pham Dinh Nguyen , Deputy Director of the Executive Agency of the National Science and Technology Development Fund, emphasized the need to restructure and innovate the Fund's operating model. This is not only an internal requirement of the science and technology sector but also an inevitable step in the journey to turn science and technology into a new, sustainable growth driver for the Vietnamese economy.

As the financial pillar for national research activities, the Fund is facing an important "transformation" moment - towards a more professional, integrated and effective operating model. The Fund will fully absorb the comments contributed at the Workshop, promptly complete the document system, build unified funding programs and effectively implement them, continuing to affirm its central role in the national ecosystem of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/nang-cao-hieu-qua-hoat-dong-cua-quy-phat-trien-khcn-quoc-gia-197250515170020448.htm