Promoting responsible business practices in science and technology

On October 21 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Science and Technology organized a training conference on policies and laws on responsible business practices in the field of science and technology in 2025. The conference aimed to disseminate relevant legal documents, contributing to raising awareness and responsibility of enterprises in complying with legal regulations, promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh, Director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Science and Technology . (Photo: Mai Anh)

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, said that “responsible business practices” is a topic of deep concern globally, mentioned at many sustainable development forums of the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the European Union and developed countries.

As a state management agency in the field of science , technology and innovation, the Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for perfecting policies and laws, and guiding businesses to comply with sustainable development principles. In the context of digital transformation and the rapid development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, the requirements for social responsibility and legal compliance are becoming more urgent. The conference was organized to raise awareness of businesses and the community about responsible business practices, share practical experiences and spread the message of sustainable development.

“In addition to the profit target, businesses need to balance economic development and environmental protection, between the interests of producers and the rights of workers and consumers. If we only focus on short-term growth, we will face many potential risks for society and the environment,” Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh emphasized.

Dr. Nguyen Nhu Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Legislation, Ministry of Education and Training. (Photo: Mai Anh)

According to Dr. Nguyen Nhu Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Education and Training, responsible business practices of enterprises in the field of science and technology are the activities of enterprises conducting research, development, production and trading of technology in a sustainable, ethical and socially conscious manner. The goal is to ensure a balance between innovation, application of science and technology and social responsibility, ensuring that scientific progress brings benefits to the whole society.

Dr. Ha believes that responsible business practices are an inevitable requirement in the current context, when science and technology both open up opportunities for strong development and pose potential environmental, social and ethical challenges. To develop sustainably, businesses need to focus on four key factors including ethical responsibility, social responsibility, environmental responsibility and governance responsibility. These are four pillars that help businesses orient their innovation activities in conjunction with community responsibility.

According to him, responsible business practices span many areas such as labor, investment, environment, consumer protection, protection of vulnerable groups, etc. Scientific and technological activities must originate from practical needs, serve socio-economic development, and at the same time ensure national defense and security. That also means that businesses need to recognize their role as not only profit-making entities, but also as contributors to building a civilized and sustainable society.

Dr. Luu Huong Ly, Representative of the Department of Civil and Economic Law, Ministry of Justice. (Photo: Mai Anh)

Dr. Luu Huong Ly, Representative of the Department of Civil and Economic Law, Ministry of Justice, said that responsible business does not stop at complying with legal regulations but also requires enterprises to proactively assess, prevent and overcome negative impacts of production and business activities on people, society and the environment. This is an inevitable trend of the times, when economic development cannot be separated from social responsibility and business ethics.

Vietnam has issued Decision No. 843/QD-TTg dated July 14, 2023 of the Prime Minister on the National Action Program to improve policies and laws to promote responsible business practices for the period 2023 - 2027. The Program focuses on raising awareness and capacity of management agencies, businesses and the community; ensuring national policies and laws are consistent with international commitments; encouraging businesses to exceed minimum legal standards; and at the same time, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement and perfecting sanctions for violations.

According to her, to achieve these goals, Vietnam focuses on five key areas: attracting high-quality foreign investment; building harmonious labor relations, complying with international labor standards; protecting the rights of vulnerable groups; protecting the environment and consumer rights. “Responsible business not only helps businesses develop sustainably but also contributes to building a dynamic, prestigious and trustworthy national image in the eyes of the international community,” Dr. Luu Huong Ly emphasized.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/thuc-day-thuc-hanh-kinh-doanh-co-trach-nhiem-trong-linh-vuc-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-217091.html