Vietnam Science and Technology Day - Strong innovations to realize big dreams

For the first time - Innovation is included in the Law and is on par with Science and Technology

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung shared that May 18th is Vietnam Science and Technology Day every year. We take to heart the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh at the first Congress of the Vietnam Association for the Dissemination of Science and Technology in 1963: “Science must come from production and must return to serve production, serve the masses, in order to increase labor productivity and constantly improve people's lives, ensuring the victory of socialism...”. Science is not only in the laboratory, on the pages of books, but must enter life, solve major national problems, bring prosperity and happiness to the people.

The 2013 Constitution affirmed: “Development of science and technology is the top national policy; playing a key role in the country's socio-economic development”. This spirit continues to be concretized and elevated in important Resolutions of the Party, especially Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. Resolution 57 has determined that science and technology, innovation and digital transformation must truly become strategic breakthroughs, the main driving force to turn Vietnam into a high-income developed country by 2045.

We are amending the Law on Science and Technology into the Law on Science and Technology and Innovation to institutionalize the new orientations, guidelines and policies of the Party and the State. The Minister shared the strong and revolutionary innovations of the Law on Science and Technology and Innovation. Firstly, science and technology are the foundation of a nation. If science and technology flourishes, then the nation will prosper. If science and technology is strong, then the nation will be strong. A country that wants to become a powerful country must be a science and technology powerful country. A country that wants to become a developed country must be a country with developed science and technology.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung and Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung visited and listened to the introduction of outstanding results of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation (Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology)

Second, science and technology must aim for innovation to enhance national competitiveness, promote socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, and improve people's quality of life. For the first time, innovation has been included in the Law and placed on par with science and technology, demonstrating a fundamental change in development thinking. Emphasizing innovation also emphasizes the role of promoting the application of science and technology in practice, contributing to increasing the value and efficiency of the economy and society. If science and technology and innovation are expected to contribute 4% to GDP growth, the contribution from innovation accounts for 3%, while science and technology accounts for 1%.

Third, strongly innovate in management thinking, from controlling processes and inputs such as invoices and detailed documents, to managing results and output efficiency, accepting risks associated with risk management. The focus of state management is no longer on the implementation method but on the results. The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for measuring the overall effectiveness of science and technology programs and tasks, and at the same time using the results as the basis for resource allocation. Increase autonomy for organizations, individuals and project managers in implementing tasks, managing the apparatus, and spending according to the spending mechanism, but this is accompanied by the requirement to improve accountability and transparency in resource use. In particular, organizations and individuals conducting research have the right to own research results for commercialization; researchers are entitled to receive at least 30% of the income from commercialization and are exempted from and have personal income tax reduced for this income, the Minister emphasized.

Fourth, shifting from a country using core technology to mastering strategic technology. “This is also the first time that Vietnam has established a clear direction on shifting from a country mainly using core technology to mastering strategic technologies that have a great impact on economic growth and national security. The state budget will invest in a focused, key area, prioritizing the allocation of about 40-50% to carry out tasks of mastering strategic technology,” the Minister shared. The implementation of these tasks will be assigned to capable and reputable enterprises and research organizations. The State has policies to invest in building key laboratories, shared laboratories, and modern technical infrastructure to serve the development of strategic technology.

A dramatic shift from pre-test to post-test

Fifth, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung presented the image that science and technology, instead of being "in the sky", "going from the sky to the ground", must have another direction, "going from the ground up", from innovation to technology development and then to scientific research. Instead of only going in one direction as before, starting from scientific research, technology development to develop new products, this time focusing on a new direction, taking the market and product orientation as the driving force, as the orientation for technology development, identifying related research problems.

Sixth, transfer basic research to higher education institutions. The State's major orientation, the transfer of basic research to higher education institutions is in line with international practice, all countries consider higher education institutions as research centers, especially basic research because this is where the most basic research human resources, especially young human resources (teachers, professors, students, and postgraduates) are concentrated. "This transfer does not mean eliminating the role of research institutes in the field of basic research. On the contrary, research institutes, especially the two Academies, can continue to carry out basic research tasks in accordance with their strengths, organizational structure, and development orientation," the Minister explained.

Seventh, shifting the focus of technology development to enterprises. Enterprises are empowered and strongly encouraged to invest in research and development, not only with their own resources but also with support from the state budget. According to Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, if previously, the state budget funded R&D for enterprises was only less than 10%, in the coming time it will be 70-80%. Enterprises are allowed to account for expenses for research and development activities of enterprises as production and business costs, and there is no longer a maximum limit (previously it was about 1% of revenue and only applied to profitable enterprises). These expenses are also tax deductible with an outstanding preferential coefficient of 150% and can be up to 200% if invested in strategic technology. Profitable enterprises are allowed to allocate pre-tax profits to establish investment funds for science and technology and innovative startups, in order to encourage enterprises, especially large enterprises, to support innovative startups in R&D of new technologies and new breakthrough business models. In addition, the State also has a policy of prioritizing the purchase of science and technology products from domestic enterprises.

Eighth, balance natural science research and social science research. Social science and humanities research has an impact on the development of the nation and humanity no less than natural science research. Social science and humanities research aims at the development of society and humanity. The interdisciplinary combination of natural science and social science ensures that technological development is associated with the protection of core ethical values ​​of humanity.

Ninth, develop science, technology and innovation in a complete and balanced ecosystem, including institutions, infrastructure, human resources and subjects such as enterprises, research institutes, universities, the state, researchers, financial institutions, intermediary organizations, innovation centers, R&D funds, technology innovation funds and venture capital funds. In this ecosystem, the state plays a creative role, through investing in the construction of key laboratories, shared laboratories, supporting information, standards, intellectual property, issuing preferential financial mechanisms, supporting innovation enterprises, and at the same time attracting and rewarding talents and experts at home and abroad. Connect with the ecosystems of other countries. Vietnam has many big problems, with a budget to implement, we must cooperate, hire, and take advantage of research facilities and global scientists. This is the fastest and most effective way to develop science and technology and develop the country.

Tenth, comprehensive digitalization of science and technology activities and management. Research and development organizations will use the national digital platform to manage science and technology topics and tasks using the state budget, and state management agencies will be responsible for monitoring the entire life cycle of tasks, even if they last 10-15 years. Strongly transform from pre-control to post-control model, reduce administrative procedures and replace them with digital management, thereby improving operational efficiency, transparency and long-term monitoring capabilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung and scientists, representatives of enterprises and research institutes were honored at the ceremony to welcome Science and Technology Day 2025 (Photo: Ministry of Science and Technology)

Will propose the Government to build a monument park of scientists and technologists

Scientists and technologists who have made great contributions to the development of the country and of humanity must be honored forever. The Ministry of Science and Technology will propose to the Government to build a park with monuments to scientists and technologists who have made outstanding research achievements and contributions to the country and the world. Just like other countries have cemeteries of famous people and scientists.

And finally, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung expressed: "When will the old days come back?" is a phrase we often say to each other. Why is it that today is worse than the old days, people today are not as good as people in the past, do not have the spirit of sacrifice like in the past... But when looking deeply, the difference between the past and today is that in the past, people's dreams and aspirations were much greater than what they had in their hands. Today, we are richer, have more things in our hands, have more tools, so the dream must be bigger than in the past, much bigger than what we have, then we will have that old spirit again, be as good and more, serve more. And so, Vietnam will develop to become a high-income developed socialist country, with a GDP/capita of 20-25,000 USD by 2045. "Now, the dream is big, the work is big enough, difficult enough, and with money, we can attract global knowledge, global scientists and technologists to participate in solving Vietnam's big problems, and through that, our country's science and technology will develop, the country will develop".

"The Ministry of Science and Technology is now "5 fingers on one hand": Science and technology, Intellectual property, Innovation, Standards, measurement and quality, Digital transformation. Science and technology is the machine that produces knowledge; IP is turning that knowledge into assets that can be traded, creating an intellectual property market, helping knowledge leave the laboratory and go far; Innovation is bringing that mind to create products and wealth for society; TDC is ensuring the shape and quality of mass products; Digital transformation is a new environment, new land, new tools for development. These 5 fingers are a comprehensive entity for science and technology to develop", Minister Nguyen Manh Hung believes.

Moonlight (recorded)

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ngay-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-viet-nam-nhung-doi-moi-manh-me-de-thuc-hien-giac-mo-lon-post548787.html