Many suggestions to perfect the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation

On June 6, in Hanoi, the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, organized a workshop to provide comments on the Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation. The workshop was co-chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Committee Nguyen Phuong Tuan and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy.

Workshop to contribute ideas to the Draft Law on Science , Technology and Innovation. (Photo: Capital Labor Newspaper)

According to the People's Representative Newspaper, in his opening speech, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Tuan emphasized the need to promulgate the Law to perfect the legal framework for science, technology and innovation activities in the new context. The draft Law has received many comments from National Assembly deputies at the 9th Session and is being absorbed and revised.

At the Workshop, many opinions expressed agreement with the amendment and supplementation of the 2013 Law on Science and Technology. However, the proposed new name "Law on Science, Technology and Innovation" is still controversial.

Dr. Pham Van Tan, former Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, said that the concept of “innovation” is already included in the content of science and technology. Therefore, adding this phrase to the name of the Law is not really necessary if the related policies have been clearly defined. He also raised the question of whether if “innovation” is added, “digital transformation” should also be included in the name of the Law in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo . The breakthrough is not in the name or title but in the policy content in the document.

Regarding the content of digital transformation, the Draft Law only mentions it in Article 18, which is related to scientific, technological and innovation activities. According to Dr. Pham Van Tan, this is an incomplete approach. He suggested that the scope of the Law should be expanded or there should be clearer regulations on the position of digital transformation in the current legal system.

“Innovation takes place not only in the production and business sector, but also in state management, culture, society, etc. Therefore, the Law needs to be more comprehensive to properly reflect the comprehensive nature of innovation activities in the knowledge-based economy,” said Dr. Pham Van Tan.

Dr. Pham Van Tan, former Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

According to Nhan Dan Newspaper, Dr. Pham Van Tan also mentioned the financial issue. He said that the Draft Law needs to clearly stipulate the allocation of a minimum of 2% of GDP annually for science, technology and innovation, instead of just stopping at 2% of total state budget expenditure as it is now. "Without strong enough financial resources, science and technology cannot become a pillar of development," Mr. Tan emphasized, while expressing concern that the actual expenditure is currently only about 1%.

He also recommended clearly defining the competent authority to allow technology testing, adding content on human resource development, especially the force doing scientific management work and high-quality human resources in the field of science, technology and innovation.

According to the Capital Labor Newspaper, Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee, noted the constitutionality, legality and feasibility of the Draft. He pointed out the shortcomings in Article 2 regarding the subject of application, when the phrase "related to scientific, technological and innovative activities" was not clearly defined, which could easily lead to ambiguous application, especially for organizations and individuals outside of Vietnam.

Regarding Article 4 of the Draft Law, it is stipulated that when there are provisions different from other laws, this Law will take precedence. Mr. Luyen said that this provision is not consistent with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents 2025. Accordingly, in case of conflict between documents of the same level, the document issued later will take precedence.

Mr. Dang Dinh Luyen, former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Law Committee. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Regarding Clause 6, Article 22, which allows the Government to issue regulations different from current laws to test new technologies, Mr. Luyen warned that this could lead to conflicts with the Constitution if not strictly regulated. "Illegal acts cannot be allowed just for the reason of testing," he emphasized.

Regarding international cooperation in science, technology and innovation, he suggested that the Draft should closely follow Article 12 of the 2013 Constitution, ensuring the principle of "respect for independence, sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs" and selectively absorb international achievements in the field of science and technology.

Concluding the workshop, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Phuong Tuan said that the comments will be received and studied by the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies to continue perfecting the Draft Law and submit it to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration in the coming time.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/nhieu-gop-y-hoan-thien-du-thao-luat-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-214059.html