Vietnam and Laos promote cooperation in science and technology linked to technology transfer, commercialization, and human resource training.

On the afternoon of December 16th, in Hanoi, the Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam, Nguyen Manh Hung, held a working meeting with the Minister of Education and Sports of Laos, Thongsalith Mangnomek, to discuss directions and solutions to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.

A general overview of the working session.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek provided an overview of the Lao Ministry of Education and Training and the state of scientific research in Laos. Accordingly, following the restructuring of the apparatus in 2021, the Lao Ministry of Education and Training officially assumed the function of state management of scientific research; including: developing policies, managing and allocating budgets for scientific research activities nationwide, especially in universities and research institutes.

In his new role, Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek expressed his desire to strengthen exchanges and learn from Vietnam's experience, while affirming his determination to further consolidate and deepen cooperation between the two Ministries in the context of Laos merging the science and technology function into the Ministry of Education and Training.

Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek stated that Laos has issued a Science Research Strategy until 2040 and wishes to accelerate cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the fields of scientific research, technology transfer, and innovation. Highly appreciating Vietnam's outstanding achievements in this area, Laos hopes to receive support in organizational models, implementation of scientific research, application, and technology transfer to ensure these activities are more in-depth and yield practical results.

One issue of particular interest to the Lao side was the preparation for the ASEAN Ministers of Science and Technology Meeting, scheduled to be held in Laos in June 2026. Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek requested that the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology share its experience in organizing, coordinating, and developing the program content.

The Lao side also proposed studying the development of a joint science valley model between the two countries, linked to the exhibition and introduction of science and technology products and commercial goods, as a new direction for cooperation.

Lao Minister of Education and Training Thongsalith Mangnomek speaks at the working session.

Speaking at the meeting, Vietnam's Minister of Science and Technology, Nguyen Manh Hung, congratulated Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek on his new position and warmly welcomed the delegation from the Lao Ministry of Education and Training to visit and work in Vietnam. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that the visit, taking place immediately after high-level meetings and the signing ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Agreement for the period 2026-2030, demonstrates the strong determination of the leaders of both countries to soon realize the agreed commitments.

Regarding the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (S&T) scheduled to be held in Laos in June 2026, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung stated that Vietnam is ready to send a delegation to Laos to share experiences in organizing and coordinating the meeting. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also suggested that Laos send officials to Vietnam to participate in organizing the ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting in Vietnam in January 2026, thereby learning practical experience in managing and organizing regional events.

Sharing his views on investment policies for science, technology, and innovation, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung stated that Vietnam currently allocates approximately 2% of its state budget to this sector. Regarding Laos, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung suggested that, in addition to gradually increasing the investment rate to around 1%, the more important thing is to focus resources on priority areas that have advantages and meet the practical needs of the country. Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized the necessity of investing in building excellent, internationally standardized laboratories, avoiding a scattered approach; "doing less but doing it deeply and well will be more effective and sustainable."

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung proposed that the two sides study mechanisms for sharing and jointly using laboratories, leading to the signing of an agreement so that Lao scientists can access and effectively utilize Vietnam's research infrastructure. Along with this, he suggested building an open policy mechanism that allows Lao research groups to proactively hire international experts through market mechanisms, thereby attracting high-quality scientists from around the world to participate in key research projects.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also suggested that Laos consider building a national innovation center, creating a space to connect research institutes, universities, and businesses, where new technologies can be showcased, introduced, and commercialized.

Notably, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung stated that the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology has completed a software system for managing the entire lifecycle of science, technology, and innovation projects, with features equivalent to advanced systems in Europe and South Korea. Vietnam is ready to share and transfer this software to Laos for practical implementation.

Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the working session.

Regarding future cooperation directions, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos in building digital platforms for science and technology management in a transparent, data-driven manner; developing online training platforms on digital technology , digital transformation, and artificial intelligence; supporting long-term and short-term human resource training, including 20 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology for key technology fields; implementing joint research tasks linked to solving practical problems; building integrated and transferable training programs, promoting credit recognition, and training technology human resources according to regional standards.

In particular, Vietnam is ready to share its experience in developing science, technology, and innovation policies, and support Laos in gradually improving its institutional framework.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that the two ministries are jointly opening a new phase of cooperation, with a long-term vision and a spirit of substantive action.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology is committed to continuing to work closely with the Lao Ministry of Education and Training in building capacity in science, technology, and innovation, for the sustainable development and common prosperity of both countries.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung and Deputy Minister Bui The Duy held a working meeting with the delegation from the Lao Ministry of Education and Training.

Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek sincerely thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology for its effective support and assistance to Laos over the past period. He also affirmed that the Lao Ministry of Education and Training will closely cooperate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology to effectively implement the agreed-upon cooperation contents, prioritizing programs to build capacity in science, technology and innovation, train human resources, and improve the effectiveness of research and application of science and technology.

According to Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek, Vietnam's support is of great importance to Laos in the process of consolidating institutions, developing infrastructure, and gradually making science, technology, and innovation a driving force for the country's sustainable socio-economic development.

The meeting agreed on key areas of cooperation, demonstrating the determination of both sides to shift from individual collaborations to building sustainable capacity, with science, technology, and innovation as the driving force for development.

Building on the foundation of the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, the commitments reached are expected to be effectively implemented soon, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and deepening comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the new period.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung presented flowers to welcome the delegation from the Lao Ministry of Education and Training, led by Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek, on their visit and working trip to the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung and Minister of Education and Training Thongsalith Mangnomek exchanged commemorative gifts.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-lao-thuc-day-hop-tac-khcn-gan-voi-chuyen-giao-thuong-mai-hoa-va-dao-tao-nhan-luc-197251216211944615.htm