Setting new standards for science and technology task management

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology , the system was developed by a team of Vietnamese engineers, fully integrating the functions of managing scientific and technological tasks from the stages of proposal, appraisal, contract signing to monitoring, acceptance, and evaluation of results. The core technology is designed according to international standards, and can be connected to co-fund with foreign funds. Mastering the platform allows the system to be continuously updated, ensuring both international standards and suitability to the actual conditions of Vietnam.

The shift from “ask-give” management to data-based management

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized: “To innovate science and technology, we must innovate science and technology management. We move from management to motivation, from administrative control to data-driven and transparent operations, from decentralization to integration and standardization.”

The Minister said the system will help improve appraisal quality, shorten review time, reduce errors and risks, and accurately assess the contribution of each task. More importantly, the platform will contribute to the formation of a science and technology market.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung spoke at the ceremony.

“This digital system will help NAFOSTED – a fund with a reputation for transparency and standards – take those standards to a higher level. This is a testament to the spirit of managing less, leading more, controlling less, creating more,” the Minister emphasized.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, 309 scientific topics were signed electronically directly on the system. These are the first tasks signed in the spirit of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation 2025: Shifting from input management to output management; from document control to research result management; from budget spending to product-based contracting. Accordingly, research results belong to the host organization for commercialization, and the research team is entitled to at least 30% of the commercialization value.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said the new approach will push tasks to focus more on products, revenue and contribution value. Research results must be brought to businesses to create commercial products, generating revenue that contributes to GDP growth. After 3 to 5 years, revenue needs to reach 5 to 10 times the research cost.

Delegates inaugurated the Real-time Online Management System for Science and Technology Tasks.

The Minister also said that in this signing, the average value of each task has doubled, and more than 50% of the topics belong to the strategic technology group. This is a positive sign showing the process of shifting from scattered research to focused, oriented research.

Create positive pressure for scientists

Speaking at the event, Professor, PhD, Tran Dai Lam, Director of the Institute of Materials Science (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) affirmed that NAFOSTED is one of the most skillful "midwives" of Vietnamese scientists. Every year, the Institute of Materials Science is assigned 15-20 topics, including many basic and applied topics.

“The Fund's resources not only maintain regular research activities, but more importantly, create positive pressure for scientists to move towards international standards,” said Professor, Dr. Tran Dai Lam.

Professor, Dr. Tran Dai Lam said that he has experienced the NAFOSTED system in all three roles: applicant, reviewer and council member. In any position, he sees professionalism and continuous improvement. The closed, objective review process creates a quality 'filter', helping to select truly worthy topics.

Professor, Dr. Tran Dai Lam highly appreciated NAFOSTED's pioneering implementation of online management many years ago, and the new system brings digital transformation in scientific research to a higher level. The Institute's leaders also expressed their hope that international cooperation programs and training of young human resources will continue to be expanded, in line with the Institute's long-term development strategy.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the online management system not only serves the NAFOSTED Fund but is also oriented to become a component of the national digital infrastructure. At that time, ministries, branches and localities can jointly manage scientific and technological tasks, ensure data synchronization and improve budget efficiency.

At the ceremony, Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of NAFOSTED Fund, said that he will continue to improve the system in the direction of national openness, standardization, and connection, ready to integrate programs and tasks of ministries, branches, and localities; ensure safe, stable, and transparent system operation; consider the platform as a new, more effective, and more modern working method.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said he expects the new system to become a new standard for research management in Vietnam - a real digital transformation model with data, processes, standards and efficiency.

At the end of the ceremony, the Minister sent his best wishes to the scientists and research groups implementing the 309 topics that had just been signed, and hoped that the research results would be put into practical application, creating commercial products, contributing to the country's economic growth goals.

Ha Linh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thiet-lap-chuan-muc-moi-cho-quan-ly-nhiem-vu-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-post926332.html