Decision No. 1670/QD-TTg dated September 28, 2015 of the Prime Minister approving the planning for the network of research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories to the year 2025

THE PRIME MINISTER

Decision No.1670/QD-TTg dated September 28, 2015 of the Prime Minister approving the planning for the network of research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories to the year 2025

Pursuant to the Law on Government organization dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Science and Technology dated June 18, 2013;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 08/2014/ND-CP dated January 27, 2014 providing instructions on the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Science and Technology;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 14/2008/QD-TTg dated January 22, 2008 granting approval for “Master plan for development and application of biotechnology in Vietnam to the year 2020”;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 418/QD-TTg dated April 11, 2012 granting approval for the Strategy for scientific and technological development in 2011- 2020 period;

At the request of the Minister of Science and Technology,

DECIDES

Article 1.To approve"the Planning for network of research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories to the year 2025" as follows:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

Establish a network of research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories to create mutually supportive interconnections aimed at enhancing capacity and efficiency in research, application and development of biotechnology for national socio-economic development in the short and long terms.

2. Particular objectives:

a) To the year 2020

- Invest and develop three national-level biotechnology centers in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam on the basis of Institute of Biotechnology affiliated to Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Institute of Biotechnology affiliated to Hue University and Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City;

- Carry out establishment and uniform development of ten key laboratories of the country including two genetic engineering laboratories, two plant cell laboratories, one animal cell laboratory, two enzyme and protein technology laboratories, one microbiology laboratory, one stem cell technology laboratory and one military pharmacy and biomedical laboratory;

- Reinforce material and technical bases for at least 20 biotechnology laboratories of institutes and colleges affiliated to ministries, sectors and localities;

- Construct 100% of laboratories that attain standard ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 in analysis, examination and verification;

b) To the year 2025

- Develop three national biotechnology centers on a par with ASEAN countries one of which attains global level;

- Continue to reinforce, develop and strengthen intensive investment in key laboratories of the country, research institutes, centers and laboratories from central to local government to perform assigned duties; at least 15 laboratories attain level of ASEAN countries and the world;

- Construct 100% of laboratories qualified for conducting research into generically modified organisms;

II. PLANNING ORIENTATION

1. National level

a) Construct and develop three national biotechnology centers in Northern Central and Southern Vietnam that have uniform and state-of-the-art material and technical bases of international standards with a team of staff capable of dealing with duties under national strategies from fundamental research to technological research aimed to create high-quality products for pilot production and industrial production; Depending on scale, organizational structure and development stage, each center shall have an average from 200 – 500 science and technology staff;

- 2016 - 2020: Invest in upgrading Institute of Biotechnology affiliated to Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology into the National Center for Biotechnology in Northern Vietnam; make additional investments in developing the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Biotechnology into the National Center for Biotechnology in Southern Vietnam; make initial investments in the development of infrastructure of the National Center for Biotechnology in Central Vietnam.

- 2021 – 2025: Develop projects on expansion of National Center for Biotechnology in Northern Vietnam and invest in upgrading National Center for Biotechnology in Central Vietnam;

b) Continue to develop the network, carry out intensive investment and strengthen capability of scientific research and technological development for ten key biotechnology laboratories at national level to have adequate state-of-the-art technical and material bases for fundamental research, fundamental research orientated for application, development and transfer of technology; Each key laboratory at national level has from 40 – 50 staff who have professional expertise in biotechnology;

- 2016 – 2020: Invest in upgrading eight key biotechnology laboratories currently in operation (including six laboratories invested from 2002 -2015 period and the stem cell laboratory and military pharmacy and biomedical laboratory);

- 2021 - 2025: Invest and develop two new important laboratories;

The list of key biotechnology centers and laboratories at national level is enclosed herewith.

2. Ministerial and departmental level

Construct a network of research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories (including public and non-public) within state management of ministries, sectors on the basis of planning for public science and technology organizations and in accordance with planning for development of the industry and area;

Focus investments in a number of major biotechnology institutes and centers with state-of-the-art material bases attaining regional and global level and highly qualified personnel resources for dealing with particular biotechnology development duties of ministries and sectors; These institutes and centers shall cooperate with national centers in developing research and application of findings from scientific research and technological development provided by national centers. Each institute or center has around 50- 100 staff having professional expertise in biotechnology.

Develop a system of biotechnology laboratories affiliated to specialized research institutes, centers or by region to carry out biotechnology research and development serving professional purposes; each laboratory has around 20 - 30 staff who have professional expertise in biotechnology.

3. Local level

Construct a network of research organizations and biotechnology laboratories (including public and non-public) in the administrative divisions of central-affiliated cities and provinces in accordance with planning for public science and technology organizations, planning for local socio-economic development, meeting requirements for acquisition, application and transfer of research findings from research institutes, centers at national, ministerial and departmental levels;

III. MAIN SOLUTIONS

1. Human resource development

a) Focus on training human resources in science and technology of institutes, centers and laboratories in the short term or in the initial stage of development of investment projects;

Prioritize intensive training for existing staff toward formation of working teams and sending staff with high level of competence abroad for further training; Attach special importance to the training for experts with high level of competence (MA, Ph. D or postdoctoral degrees) and domestic technicians who have professional skills ;

b) Enforce preferential policies aimed to attract scientists with high level of competence at home and abroad or excellent graduating students to work in research institutes, centers and biotechnology laboratories;

Training, attracting and using human resources for biotechnology are prescribed in relevant law provisions.

2. International cooperation

Create favorable conditions for organizations and individuals at home and abroad to form partnerships or joint-ventures in the training for highly-qualified workforce, in scientific research, development, application and transfer of technology in biotechnology in Vietnam according to laws;

Prioritize cooperation with countries with high level of competence of biotechnology and activities of cooperation in research and training for development of base technologies of biotechnology;

3. Investment

a) Organizations or individuals, especially enterprises and medical institutions are encouraged to construct biotechnology laboratories for research, production, business and supply of services;

b) Funds from state budget and ODA used for projects on training highly-qualified human resources in biotechnology, projects on investment and construction of technical infrastructure of research centers and laboratories at national level are encouraged.

c) Investments to increase potentiality of technical and material bases for public science and technology organizations affiliated to ministries, sectors and localities are executed in accordance with the investment and development plan approved by competent authorities.

d) Investment must be carried out in a uniform way, attaining national and international standards with appropriate phasing to guarantee maximum efficiency of invested facilities are exploited;

IV. EXPENDITURE

Expenditures to implement the Planning comprise:

- Funds from state budget: Central budget, local budget to be allocated according to the Law on State Budget;

- Sponsorships from organizations and individuals at home and abroad;

- Capitals from private sector involvement;

- Other legal capital sources;

V. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology:

a) Preside over monitoring and speeding up the implementation of the Planning;

b) Cooperate with ministries, sectors, People’s committees of central-affiliated provinces and cities in building a network of science and technology organizations in biotechnology affiliated to ministries, sectors and localities and help the Government to coordinate activities of these organizations;

c) Cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment in balancing investment and development capital sources for Ministries, sectors and localities to carry out investment projects aimed to increase potentiality of technical and material bases of biotechnology;

d) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training, relevant ministries and sectors in building and organizing training programs for science and technology staff within investment projects under the Planning;

dd) Make partial and entire summing-ups of the implementation of the Planning and make the report to the Prime Minister;

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment

a) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance and relevant Ministries, sectors and localities in balancing capital sources for scientific and technological development and other sources (including ODA and foreign loans) to allocate capitals for investment projects approved under the Planning;

b) Preside over and cooperate with ministries, sectors and People’s committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces in inspecting and speeding up the implementation of investment project according to laws;

3. Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology shall preside over the establishment of the project on the construction of National Center for Biotechnology in Northern Vietnam; the Ministry of Education and Training shall preside over and cooperate with People’s committee of Thua Thien Hue Province in the establishment of the project on the construction of the National Center for Biotechnology in Central Vietnam; People’s committee of Ho Chi Minh City shall preside over and cooperate with Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City in the establishment of the project on the construction of the National Center for Biotechnology in Southern Vietnam and make the submission to the Prime Minister for approval in 2016 – 2017 period.

4. Ministries, sectors and People’s committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces:

a) Construct a network of research organizations, laboratories in biotechnology within management;

b) Organize the construction and implementation of investment projects for biotechnological development within competence; prioritize capital sources for scientific and technological development with respect to investment projects for biotechnological development;

c) Take the initiative in mobilizing and using investment capital sources effectively to increase potentiality of public science and technology organizations within management;

Article 2.This Decision takes effect on the signing date.

Any difficulties arising in the course of implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Ministry of Science and Technology for compilation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 3.Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of governmental agencies, the Presidents of People’s Committees of central-affiliated cities and provinces, relevant organizations and individuals shall implement this Decision./. 

For the Prime Minister

The Deputy Minister

Vu Duc Dam