Decision 569/QD-TTg 2022 Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030

DECISION

 Promulgating the Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

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

At the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To promulgate the Strategy for development of science, technology and innovation through 2030 (below referred to as the Strategy) with the following contents:

I. VIEWPOINTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. Development of science, technology and innovation is the foremost national policy, playing a strategic breakthrough role in the new period; a main driving force to boost growth and create breakthroughs in productivity, quality and efficiency; a decisive factor for improving the competitiveness of the country, sectors, socio-economic fields, localities and enterprises; and a platform for national digital transformation; and importantly contributes to improving the people’s livelihood and ensuring sustainable development as well as national defense and security.

2. To facilitate synchronous, interdisciplinary and focused development of social sciences and humanities, natural sciences, and technical and technological sciences; to develop the national innovation system and innovation systems of sectors and regions in which enterprises are regarded as the center, research institutes and universities are major research subjects, and the State sets orientations, acts as the coordinator, and creates a favorable environment with institutions and policies to ensure the efficient operation of the whole system.

3. To harmoniously and effectively combine the development of internal resources with the best use of opportunities and external resources; to give priority to receiving, absorbing, mastering and rapidly applying the world’s scientific and technological advances, paying special attention to proactively and actively approaching and fully tapping opportunities brought about by and achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; to intensify applied research for bringing about practical socio-economic efficiency, while focusing on application-oriented baseline research aimed toward innovation, autonomy and technological competition in key sectors in which Vietnam has demand, potential and advantages.

II. OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. General objectives

By 2030, science, technology and innovation will firmly be developed to serve as a driving force for growth and a decisive factor for turning Vietnam into a developing country with a modern industry and upper-middle income, thus contributing to comprehensive cultural, social and human development, national defense and security, environmental protection and sustainable development, and raising Vietnam’s profile and prestige on the international arena. The potential and level of science, technology and innovation will reach advanced levels in many important fields, making Vietnam be among top countries with upper-middle income; the level and capacity of technology and innovation of enterprises will surpass the world’s average level; and some fields of science and technology will reach international level.

2. Specific objectives and targets

a/ To increase the contribution of science, technology and innovation to economic growth through scientific research and technological development activities of research institutes and universities, technology innovation and corporate governance and organization capacity improvement. The contribution of total factor productivity (TFP) to economic growth will surpass 50%.

b/ Science, technology and innovation will play an important role in the development of spearhead industries, focusing on the processing and manufacturing industries, thus helping restructure the economy toward modernity, turning Vietnam into a country with a modern industry by 2030; to actively and efficiently participate in, and make use of trade advantages and opportunities brought about by, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By 2030, the proportion of value of hi-tech industrial products in the processing and manufacturing industries will reach at least 45%.

c/ Science, technology and innovation will make an important contribution to building and developing Vietnam’s cultural, social and human values; provide scientific grounds for the formulation of national development lines, guidelines and policies; and help maintain the Human Development Index (HDI) at above 0.7.

d/ The Global Innovation Index (GII) will unceasingly be improved, making Vietnam be among the top 40 countries in the world.

dd/ By 2025, investment in science and technology will reach 1.2%-1.5% of GDP, of which the total national expenditure for scientific research and technological development will reach 0.8%-1% of GDP and the society’s contribution to scientific research and technological development will account for 60%-65%. By 2030, investment in science and technology will reach 1.5%-2% of GDP, of which the total national expenditure for scientific research and technological development will reach 1%-1.2% of GDP and the society’s contribution to scientific research and technological development will account for 65%-70%.

e/ By 2025 and 2030, human resources for scientific research and technological development (converted into full-time staffs) will reach 10 and 12 staffs per 10,000 people, respectively; to attach importance to the development of human resources in enterprises.

g/ The system of science and technology organizations will be restructured in association with setting priority orientations for national and sectoral development toward autonomy, connectivity and approach to international standards. By 2025 and 2030, there will be 25-30 and 40-50 regionally and internationally ranked science and technology organizations, respectively.

h/ By 2030, the number of enterprises meeting the science and technology enterprise criteria and the number of innovative startups will double the 2020’s figures; the proportion of enterprises with innovative activities will make up 40% of the total number of enterprises.

i/ The number of international publications will increase by 10% per year on average. The number of patent applications and protection titles will increase by 16%-18% per year on average; the number of applications for protection of plant varieties will increase by 12%-14% per year on average, of which 10%-12% will be registered for protection abroad; the percentage of commercialized inventions will reach 8%-10% of the number of patented inventions; to develop the national quality infrastructure (NQI) meeting international integration requirements in terms of standards, measurement and quality, making Vietnam be among top 50 countries in the world.

III. MAJOR ORIENTATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. Orientations for the central task of development of science, technology and innovation

a/ Science, technology and innovation focus on serving sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development and national defense and security assurance

To step up the economic restructuring in the direction of increasing the proportion of value of hi-tech industrial products and industries with high yield and high added value thanks to the application of advanced and modern technologies along with promoting digital transformation in all fields; to boost the development of processing and manufacturing industries and a number of spearhead industries and sectors based on technologies brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution; to step by step reduce the proportion of industries with low productivity and added value and using outdated technologies.

To receive, master, transfer and widely apply the world’s advanced technologies so as to improve productivity and quality of products and services and competitiveness of enterprises; to take the initiative in devising solutions and technologies of Vietnam to develop green economy and circular economy, protect the environment, and respond to challenges posed by epidemics and climate change; to apply science and technology in the development of the defense industry in a dual-use manner, thereby moving straight toward modernity and meeting the requirements of defending the Fatherland in the new situation.

To consolidate technological autonomy, proceeding to develop new technologies of Vietnam in a number of key areas with strengths, potential and great room for development; to strive for mastering core technologies, source technologies and technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for rapid absorption and application to the development of new products and services, key products and national brands; to proceed with digital transformation in enterprises.

b/ Renewing and improving the state management of science, technology and innovation

To complete the legal system on science, technology and innovation in conformity with the market mechanism and international practices; to synchronize legal provisions and policies on science, technology and innovation in the direction of removing bottlenecks and barriers and facilitating the development of science, technology and innovation; to intensify the application of breakthrough tools and policies in order to promote the application of new technologies and innovation to improve the competitiveness of enterprises.

To improve the national innovation system, innovation systems of sectors, regions and hi-tech parks, a network of innovation centers, and a network of innovative startups, intermediary organizations and organizations supporting the promotion of innovation.

To raise the capacity of state governance for science, technology and innovation activities, particularly the capacity to formulate, and organize the implementation of, science, technology and innovation policies; to improve the mechanism for decentralization and delegation of powers for the state management of science, technology and innovation, ensuring a downsized, effective and efficient apparatus.

c/ Developing science, technology and innovation potential

To arrange the system of public science and technology organizations in line with the priority orientations on science, technology and innovation, socio-economic development of the country, sectors and regions, and link research with training.

To concentrate efforts on developing human resources in the country and attracting foreign experts and overseas Vietnamese experts with high qualifications and creative capacity to meet the industrialization requirements in the new context.

To continue investing in and efficiently operating hi-tech parks, hi-tech agricultural parks, information technology parks, and laboratories in priority research fields; to develop, and raise the quality of, the digital transformation-oriented national scientific and technological information system.

d/ Promoting science, technology and innovation activities in enterprises and developing the science and technology market

To promote the development of the science and technology market, gradually increasing the proportion of domestic supply sources of technologies and equipment, and intensifying intermediary activities of the science and technology market so as to synchronize them with the commodity, labor and financial markets.

To focus on intensifying the transfer and application of advanced technologies along with raising the capacity to absorb and innovate technologies, corporate governance capacity, and qualifications and skills of human resources, organizing digital transformation, and renovating production processes and business models of enterprises in conformity with the process of technological innovation.

To increase the quantity, quality and efficiency of utilized intellectual assets, attaching importance to the development of intellectual assets of enterprises together with intensified protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; to promptly formulate national standards and in-house standards for new technologies, new products, export products and key products to meet market requirements; to ensure that the development of intellectual assets and goods standards and quality is an effective tool to promote innovation and application of new technologies.

2. Orientations for scientific research development

a/ Social sciences and humanities

- To research and forecast development trends in the period through 2030 and the next decades, including globalization and international integration trends; trends of competition and conflict in the international context; formation of new linkages in the world and the region; and sustainable development trends; to research and forecast impacts of major global and regional trends on Vietnam’s development models, institutions and security; to research policies and solutions for Vietnam to take advantage of opportunities and surmount challenges for development, ensuring security and enhance Vietnam’s stature.

- To continue reviewing the practical process of doi moi (renewal), construction and development of the country to serve the formulation of guidelines, strategies and policies for national development and defense in each period; to conduct the theoretical research of the development in the new context so as to provide grounds for the identification and clarification of the path for Vietnam to become a developing country with a modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030 and a developed country with high income by 2045.

- To research scientific and practical grounds for renewing the leadership method, improving the leadership capacity, the ruling capacity and combat capacity of the Party; to renew state management and national governance, vigorously promote the right to mastery of the people, step up administrative reform and judicial reform, and build and improve a socialist law-ruled state of Vietnam suitable to the new situation in each new stage of development of the country; to renew, and strengthen the role and responsibilities of, organizations in the political system; to reform, and raise the effect of, law and the socialist legal system; to guarantee human rights and civil rights and ensure national defense and security.

- To study improving comprehensive and socialist-oriented market economy institutions in the new context; to properly identify and promote to the utmost the role of all economic sectors, particularly the private sector, so as to create a new development momentum; to forecast, and propose solutions to improve the resilience to, impacts of internal and external challenges and risks, ensuring macroeconomic stability, and rapid, efficient and sustainable development of the country, regions and localities.

- To study and identify conditions, solutions and roadmaps for renewal and change of economic development models based on science, technology and innovation and digital economy so as to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of products, goods, services and the economy.

- To study characteristics, structure and development trends of the Vietnamese society under the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, international integration and non-traditional security challenges; to study renewing social management methods in the context of digital transformation; to identify conditions, measures and roadmap for building a developed Vietnamese society with prosperous people and strong, democratic and civilized country by 2045 and a specific roadmap and steps for the next decade.

- To study characteristics of the formation, movement and development of cultures, ethnic groups and religions in Vietnam and impacts of new trends in the context of international integration; to build a culture of innovation, digital culture and cultural industry to serve the national development; to build the great unity bloc of the entire people and a progressive culture imbued with the nation’s identity and absorbing the mankind’s cultural quintessence; to attach importance to ethnic minority communities, ethnic minority areas and mountainous areas, disadvantaged groups in society, and areas with extremely difficult natural and socio-economic conditions in order to ensure inclusive and harmonious development among residential communities.

- To study orientations for education and training aimed at developing Vietnamese people in the new era in the capacity as subjects of society who are comprehensively developed, have humane and fine cultural values, possess professional qualifications and skills, and have creative and innovative ability, thus meeting higher requirements of the accelerated industrialization toward modernity in the context of international integration.

- To study green innovation policies, focusing on environmental aspects combined with ecological and social aspects in the context of globalization.

b/ Natural sciences

- To build a modern basic science, sticking to the global trends; to intensify baseline research and application-oriented basic research in the fields in which Vietnam has strengths and demands, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, life science, earth science and marine science, in order to make them reach the regional or international level.

- To research scientific grounds for the rational use of natural resources; to research and identify the nature, causes and impacts of disasters, nature-people-society interaction and process of climate change in Vietnam for use as scientific grounds for proposing and implementing solutions to mitigate and respond to disasters, climate change and sea level rise.

- To intensify interdisciplinary research between natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and technology on seas and oceans in order to establish scientific arguments for the formulation of master plans and development and improvement of policies on development, management and exploitation of marine resources and response to climate change, to serve sustainable development of the marine economy; to provide legal grounds and historical evidence to serve the struggle to safeguard the national sovereignty over seas and islands; to conduct interdisciplinary research between natural sciences and social sciences and humanities on biodiversity conservation for sustainable development.

- To focus on application-oriented basic research so as to absorb and master core technologies and source technologies for rapid, creative and effective application and wide application of advanced technologies in production, service, business, daily-life and social management activities with a view to improving productivity, quality and competitiveness of enterprises, sectors and the whole economy as well as the people’s livelihood, and ensuring national defense and security.

3. Orientations for technology development and application

a/ Information and communication technology

- To step up the research and wide application of information and communication technology, focusing on cloud computing, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual reality technologies, along with building and forming big databases as the core to promote digital transformation, develop digital economy, digital government and digital society, and create smart products, equipment and utilities for application in production, service, business, social management and daily-life activities; to research for mastering the sector of information security and cyber security to ensure national security and sovereignty as well as interests of organizations and the people, effectively blocking cyberattacks.

- To transfer technologies, improve the capacity to master and absorb technologies, and step up scientific research and technological development toward innovation and autonomy of technologies for designing and manufacturing equipment for telecommunications networks, mobile networks, 5G terminal devices and next-generation devices.

- To research and master quantum technology and terahertz technology.

b/ Biotechnology

- In health care and disease diagnosis and treatment, to attach importance to research and application of gene technology and stem cells to cure serious diseases; to research and produce diagnostic biologicals, vaccines and curative drugs for timely prevention and control of emerging and reemerging human diseases; to research and develop herbal sources, and produce health protection medicines and foods in accordance with regulations on food safety.

- In agriculture, to focus on biotechnology to create plant varieties, livestock and aquatic animal breeds with high productivity, quality and added value in conformity with ecological and climate change conditions in Vietnam; to ensure that biotechnology helps control and treat environmental pollution in cultivation, animal husbandry and aquaculture; to produce vaccines, pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs, diagnostic biologicals and bio-preparations to serve the processing of animal feeds, biological drugs for pest and epidemic prevention and control, and bio-preparations for the production of functional fertilizers and microbial organic fertilizers.

- In the processing industry, to focus on research and manufacturing of bio-preparations for use in food processing in order to increase the added value of agricultural commodities; to master the technological process and manufacture kit equipment in the biological industry.

- In environmental protection, to focus on salvage exploitation and recycling of by-products and treatment of environmental pollution by biotechnology; to preserve, store and rationally exploit precious and rare genetic resources; to protect biodiversity.

c/ New material technology

- To transfer technologies, research and manufacture advanced new materials for industry and construction, such as functional materials with changeable mechanical and physical properties, advanced polymer and composite materials, advanced metal and alloy materials, protective coatings against harsh conditions, advanced technical ceramics, smart materials, electronic wave-absorbable and -transparent new materials, 3D printing materials, chemicals and materials for mechanical engineering, supporting industries and petrochemistry, and recycled materials in the construction of transport works; advanced materials for agriculture such as controlled fertilizers, bio-pesticides, smart packaging, greenhouse materials, sensor materials for greenhouses, soil rehabilitation materials and artificial soils; biomedical materials such as implant materials, targeted drug carriers, biodegradable materials, smart composites capable of promoting cartilage and bone regeneration; biodegradable materials that help mitigate environmental pollution such as biodegradable materials for use as substitutes for plastics, and biodegradable films; advanced materials for national defense and security such as ultra-durable materials resistant to high temperature and pressure, and materials for control systems; alloys with special features; electronic and photonic materials in modules and equipment of telecommunications systems, electrical engineering and energy conservation, particularly fiber-optic cable materials.

- To research for mastering energy storage and transformation material technologies such as batteries, high-performance fuel cells, hydrogen storage materials, photon-electricity, heat-electricity and photon-heat conversion materials, wind turbine materials, and biofuels.

d/ Manufacturing-automation technologies

- To absorb, master and develop advanced and smart manufacturing-automation technologies, including technology for designing and manufacturing complete equipment and lines for the fields of oil and gas, hydropower, thermal power, shipbuilding, and mineral mining and processing; technology for manufacturing energy-efficient equipment systems; technology for manufacturing complex, large-scale and high-reliability systems; 3D printing technology, technology for reverse design and advanced rapid prototyping for use in the production of assorted industrial equipment, electrical equipment, and high-grade metal and composite products; automation technology for measuring and information processing, and automatic control of production processes; technology for manufacturing microcontroller chips and important high-power semiconductors for use in automated equipment; technology for manufacturing basic auxiliary equipment in automation, robotic technology and automatic production lines.

- To research and manufacture a number of equipment assemblies with high precision and level of integration and automation for use in national defense and security.

dd/ Marine technology

To research, apply and master advanced technologies in the management and exploitation of seas, islands and oceans to serve the formulation of policies and master plans and development of the marine economy; advanced technologies in the exploration of natural resources and minerals, efficient and rational exploitation of marine resources in Vietnam’s maritime zones and coastal areas on the basis of ensuring green growth, conservation of marine biodiversity and marine ecosystems, harmony between conservation and development, and maintenance of natural marine elements; advanced technology in warning and forecasting disasters and marine environmental incidents, and response to climate change in Vietnam’s maritime zones and coastal areas.

e/ Technology for disaster prevention and control and climate change response

To research, apply and master technology for forecasting impacts of climate change on natural and social systems, technology for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and technology for identification, forecasting and warning of types of disasters, particularly dangerous disasters in high-risk areas.

g/ Energy technology

- To research, apply and master new energy, renewable energy and smart energy technologies, and advanced technologies for energy storage and fuel cells; to develop and apply advanced technologies for mining pit coal, technology for exploiting oil and gas in deep-water and offshore areas, and thermal-power technology for liquefied natural gas (LNG).

- To research and apply atomic energy and nuclear and radiation technologies in socio-economic sectors and fields; and solutions to ensure radiation and nuclear safety, particularly in the fields of health, agriculture, industry and environment.

h/ Environmental technology

To intensify the application and mastery of clean production technologies, environmentally friendly technologies, technologies for wastewater, solid waste, hazardous waste and emission treatment, and waste recycling technologies with features and prices suitable to Vietnam’s conditions; to develop, apply and transfer advanced technologies and modern equipment for waste recycling, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental restoration; and technologies for carbon capture and storage in thermo-power plants and other carbon-emitting production facilities.

i/ Space technology

- To make focused investment in a number of areas of space technology, promoting the exploration, exploitation and use of space for peaceful purposes, including earth science, and earth observation and monitoring; space science; exploration systems; and space activities, and related fields.

- To build the capacity to manage natural resources and the environment, monitor and support in mitigating damage caused by disasters, ensure national defense and security, and provide a variety of services to the people.

- To research, absorb and master techniques and technologies for designing and manufacturing some important equipment for use in small satellites, earth stations and terminal devices.

k/ Advanced and smart construction, transport and infrastructure technologies

To master high techniques for foundation and erosion treatment; to research, absorb and master advanced techniques and technologies in designing and construction of infrastructure and transport works, hydraulic structures, and smart cities.

4. Orientations for innovation activities

a/ Innovation activities in agriculture

To attract large-sized enterprises’ investment in plant propagation technology, technology for care and monitoring of safety and traceability standards, preservation technology and processing technology; to concentrate investment in hi-tech agricultural zones and large-scale projects, and apply efficient advanced farming models up to international standards; to develop new business techniques in small- and medium-sized enterprises in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

To focus on mastering important technological complexes in breeding and propagation through self-research, development as well as exploitation of seed and breed banks, and purchase of seeds and breeds from abroad in order to  master breeding and propagation technologies; to focus on applying biotechnology, information and communication technology, and automation technology to build a smart, safe, circular, efficient and sustainable agriculture, thus bringing into full play advantages of a tropical agriculture.

To form innovation systems in agriculture associated with agricultural economic models, production chains and value chains of commodity lines and products of high economic value, etc., thus helping link agricultural development and new-style countryside building with improvement of the material and spiritual life of farmers.

b/ Innovation activities in industry, construction and transport sectors

To implement the restructuring process, regarding science, technology and innovation as one of breakthrough solutions, particularly in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution; to continue attracting large-sized enterprises’ investment in renovation, absorption and mastery of technologies, particularly smart production and manufacturing technologies, renewal of management and business models, and renovation of products, which serve as the core and help create linkages and networks for promoting innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises.

To facilitate activities of renovating lines, equipment, machinery and technologies, provide training in technology governance and exploitation capacity, along with applying new business models and innovation models that have been proved successful to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

To form innovation systems associated with industrial clusters, domestic value chains and global value chains in industries with large revenues and high export value such as textile-garment, leather-footwear, electronics, equipment and machinery, timber processing, agricultural product processing, mineral extraction, and pharmaceuticals, etc., so as to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness of Vietnamese products, services and brands.

To focus on promoting innovation in platform and spearhead industries such as energy industry, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, chemicals, fertilizers, materials, information and communications technology, electronics-telecommunications industry, robotics and automobile manufacturing industry, integrated equipment for automatic operation, remote control, and software manufacturing industry, etc.

c/ Innovation activities in the service sector

To widely and intensively apply technology platforms of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and new business models in service, business and public service activities; to set standards, legal frameworks, mechanisms and policies for facilitating the development of digital platform-based enterprises and enterprises applying digital technologies and services.

To support training in technology management and governance, update new technologies, and advise on selection of appropriate technologies; to support training in operation and application of technologies to production and business activities; to assist enterprises in connection and shared use of infrastructure facilities and sharing of data to optimize technology platform-based business models.

d/ Innovation activities in regions

To promote innovation activities in key regions based on their respective advantages, in which the Red River delta region and the Southeast region will be linked with industrial parks and hi-tech industrial parks; the Northern midland and mountainous region will be associated with clean agricultural products and tourism; the North Central and Central Coast region will be associated with agriculture and the marine economy; the Central Highlands will be associated with agro-forestry products, processing of agro-forestry products and tourism; and the Mekong River delta region will be associated with agricultural production, development of agricultural product processing industry, seed centers and technology transfer; to intensify research into cultures, religions and humans and devise solutions to respond to climate change, depending on characteristics of regions and localities.

To form innovation systems linking value chains, industrial clusters and innovative startup ecosystems in regions and localities that have all necessary conditions in terms of creative human resources, education and training institutions, research institutes, and physical and technical foundations associated with economic advantages of regions and localities.

IV. MAJOR TASKS AND SOLUTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

1. Renewing the mechanism for science, technology and innovation and raising the capacity of state management of science, technology and innovation

a/ To revise and improve the legal system on science and technology and relevant laws in order to meet new requirements set out in the development of science, technology and innovation, and promote innovation associated with science and technology; to create a legal framework for implementing pilot, experimental and specific mechanisms for new economic types/models based on science, technology and innovation; to study renewing mechanisms, policies and laws on investment, public investment, public procurement, state budget, public property and tax in order to promote and develop science, technology and innovation activities; to improve the law on intellectual property, ensuring protection and efficient and rational utilization of intellectual assets created by Vietnam.

b/ To comprehensively renew activities of management and performance of scientific and technological tasks at all levels toward publicity, transparency, objectivity, and simplification of administrative procedures; to carry out digital transformation for management processes and databases of science, technology and innovation resources; to renew regimes of financial management, payment and account-finalization, acceptance of risks and delay in scientific and technological activities; to facilitate enterprises’ participation in the performance of scientific and technological tasks; to review and revise regulations on management of scientific and technological tasks toward removing difficulties and obstacles in the transfer of assets formed during the performance of state-funded scientific and technological tasks.

c/ To restructure scientific and technological programs and tasks based on product value chains and creation of added value; to focus on developing national products based on new technology and high technology in order to form new industries and products with high added value, particularly in such sectors in which Vietnam has strengths as agriculture, processing and manufacturing industries, services, and information technology, etc.; to form a number of large national-level scientific and technological projects and programs in a number of key areas with advantages and potential in order to solve particularly important problems in the long-term national development.

d/ To unify the state management of science, technology and innovation, vigorously promote innovation associated with science and technology, and raise the efficiency of synchronous coordination in the formulation and implementation of mechanisms and policies to promote development of science, technology and innovation; to streamline the apparatus, focusing on the formulation of mechanisms, policies and strategic orientations, master plans and plans on training and further training to improve qualifications of officers in charge of science, technology and innovation management at all levels.

dd/ To develop a scientific and technological forecasting system, set orientations for technology development, technology maps and technological innovation roadmaps in some priority areas, focusing on such fields as healthcare technology, artificial intelligence, new materials and energy storage, and some sectors associated with investment by large-sized enterprises.

e/ To measure and evaluate efficiency of scientific, technological and innovation activities of research institutes, universities and enterprises based on international standards. Sectors and localities shall include science, technology and innovation development criteria, including the criterion on ratio of enterprises carrying out innovative activities, in contents of development strategies, master plans and plans of sectors and localities.

2. Building a national innovation system

a/ To develop a national innovation ecosystem in close association with the region and the world; to develop innovation ecosystems in industry, agriculture and service sectors linked with domestic and global value chains and industrial clusters, in which large-sized enterprises lead innovation activities, and state management agencies create a favorable environment with institutions and policies to promote linkages between enterprises, research institutes and universities, and provide support for research, application and innovation activities of organizations.

b/ To develop the system of national innovation centers, national innovation centers of sectors and regions and innovative startup support centers in order to develop and form innovation clusters linked with hi-tech parks, residential areas, financial centers, hedge funds, universities and research institutes.

c/ To roll out open innovation platforms and open innovation networks with a view to attracting all investment resources at home and abroad to create new technologies and products and form new enterprises.

d/ To increase linkages among innovation networks, innovative startup networks, innovation centers and scientific research and technological development centers at home and abroad.

dd/ To improve the organizational system, functions and tasks of, and increase investment in human resources, finance and infrastructure facilities for, public non-business units under provincial-level Departments of Science and Technology in order to perform functions and tasks of application and transfer of scientific, technological and innovation advances so that they can become focal points supporting and promoting technology transfer and innovation activities in localities.

3. Attracting and efficiently using all investment resources for science, technology and innovation

a/ To ensure that expenses for science, technology and innovation account for 2% or more of the total annual state budget expenditure and gradually increase to meet development requirements of the science and technology cause; to ensure that expenses are used for proper purposes of science, technology and innovation activities.

b/ To review and remove barriers and limitations in order to increase the number and size of science and technology development funds of enterprises; to create the most favorable conditions for enterprises to set aside funds for science, technology and innovation activities and efficiently use such funds; to ensure the law-specified rate at which science and technology development investment funds may be set aside by state enterprises.

c/ To improve the public-private partnership mechanism and legal corridors for angel investment, venture funds, community investment funds and digital technology platforms in order to mobilize more investment resources for science, technology and innovation.

4. Developing research institutes, universities and other science and technology organizations into major research subjects

a/ To revise and improve legal provisions on the autonomy mechanism applicable to public science and technology organizations; to study allocating budget funds to public science and technology organizations based on results of the periodical evaluation of their performance, and at the same time apply the method by which the State places orders and holds bidding for performance of scientific and technological tasks and the mechanism for setting a package amount to the ultimate product based on outputs; to vest public science and technology organizations with the right to autonomy and accountability for devising their organizational apparatus, recruiting and employing personnel, using budget funds, and performing scientific and technological tasks.

b/ To downsize the system of public research institutes; to attach importance to building a number of research institutes in sectors and economic zones into applied research and innovation centers to serve techno-economic development priorities of sectors and economic zones; to accelerate the merger or equitization of research institutes or transformation or research institutes into enterprises, for research institutes no longer satisfying conditions on investment priority; to formulate and implement a scheme on transfer of a number of public research institutes engaged in baseline research to universities and academies in order to promote the research and training linkage; to raise the capacity of policy research organizations of sectors and localities.

c/ To implement policies and solutions for general universities to truly become scientific research and technological development centers and a source of knowledge for innovation activities; to develop major research groups and international-level research groups; master and postgraduate students will play an important role in carrying out scientific research and technological development; to link postgraduate training with research theses and projects; to encourage and support the establishment of intellectual asset research and transfer centers; to study a mechanism that allows researchers and lecturers to participate in the establishment of innovative startups from scientific research and technological development outcomes; to build the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City and a number of technology universities into nuclear, core and leading institutions in Vietnam’s education system, which will reach the advanced level and be among the top Asian universities in training of high-quality human resources, scientific research and innovation; to build regional universities into centers for human resource training, research and knowledge transfer to serve innovation activities of regions and localities.

d/ To focus on developing a number of science and technology organizations reaching regional or international level; to evaluate, announce rankings of, and select potential science and technology organizations for intensive development investment, and adopt priority mechanisms and policies for placing orders and assigning scientific and technological tasks; to build the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences as pillars of Vietnam’s science and technology system; to promote investment in the form of public-private partnership together with large-sized enterprises and foreign partners in developing technologically outstanding centers in universities and research institutes; to call for multinational groups to establish scientific research and technological development institutions and international innovation centers in Vietnam.

5. Developing science, technology and innovation human resources with high professional qualifications and creative capacity

a/ To take one step ahead in making preparations for future science, technology and innovation human resources; to intensify training in scientific and technological knowledge, improve computer and foreign language skills, and provide training in creative design skills associated with practical projects in general education schools, especially through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) training; to provide more career orientations and consultations on science, engineering and technical disciplines in general education schools and universities.

b/ To build highly qualified scientific and technological human resources; to quickly build a contingent of leading scientists, step by step raising standards of leading scientists approaching those in developed countries; to continue implementing the program on selection and sending of trainees to training courses for highly-qualified scientific and technological human resources in priority and key fields in countries with advanced science and technology; to study a mechanism to encourage and support domestic universities in collaborating with foreign universities in training scientific and technological human resources in Vietnam, and to adopt policies on personal income tax incentives for scientific and technological personnel engaged in the performance of national scientific and technological tasks.

c/ To implement solutions to increase the quantity and quality of science, technology and innovation human resources to meet the needs of enterprises; to renew training programs for scientific and technological human resources in colleges and universities to meet requirements of the labor market; to create a channel for connection between training institutions and enterprises to unify enterprises’ demands for human resources for scientific research, technological development and innovation; to formulate a mechanism for encouraging engineering and technology enterprises to receive students as interns from universities; to diversify forms and materials of personnel training for enterprises through digital technology, social media and communication channels; to issue handbooks on technology management and organize training programs for enterprises.

d/ To encourage and support enterprises to develop human resources for technology management and corporate governance; to intensify the mobilization of social resources and diversify training programs for technology management and corporate governance personnel of enterprises at different levels; to include contents on training in knowledge on management and economics, innovation, startup activities, intellectual property, standards, measurement and quality, and productivity in college-level training, vocational training and higher education programs; to increase spending on human resource development from science and technology funds of enterprises and provide credit incentives for human resource training.

dd/ To promote the attraction and transfer of science, technology and innovation personnel on the basis of reviewing and revising relevant regulations so as to encourage bilateral transfer of personnel between the public sector and private sector; to adopt mechanisms and policies on funding and facilitating entry/exit, visa, work permit procedures to attract highly-qualified human resources from abroad and overseas Vietnamese to participate in science, technology and innovation activities in the country; to develop networks connecting Vietnamese talents and attracting the participation and contribution of Vietnamese scientists abroad; to adopt policies to introduce Vietnamese people to work at overseas multinational groups and startups, who will then return to the country to work; to ease policies to mobilize lecturers and researchers to regularly participate in science, technology and innovation activities at enterprises.

6. Developing and efficiently exploiting science, technology and innovation infrastructure facilities

a/ To vigorously develop hi-tech parks, hi-tech agricultural zones and information technology parks; to review and evaluate for improving relevant regulations toward consistency between the Law on High Technology and specialized laws regarding provisions related to specific mechanisms in infrastructure investment and human resource development in hi-tech parks, hi-tech agricultural zones and information technology parks; to increase linkage and coordination between hi-tech parks and hi-tech agricultural zones with information technology parks and with incubators, co-working space, business promotion organizations, key laboratories and specialized laboratories as well as with infrastructure development and living ecosystems.

b/ To develop a system of key laboratories; to evaluate and accredit laboratories of institutes, universities, schools and enterprises as a basis for prioritizing the allocation of resources to major research groups and talented scientists and technologists; to increase state budget funds for the maintenance and warranty of equipment and machinery and technical staffs to operate state-invested laboratories; to promulgate mechanisms and policies that enable state-invested laboratories to provide services for offsetting costs and reinvesting in regular upgrading activities; to permit institutes, schools and enterprises to use, and pay for, state-invested laboratories.

c/ To develop a system of international-level domestic science and technology journals; to make adequate investment in the system of domestic journals on the basis of ensuring balance between different fields of science and technology and types of readers, while encouraging the application of digital technology and association with reputable publishing houses and magazines around the world; to improve qualifications of editors and increase the international diversity of editorial boards; to attract and encourage scientists at home and abroad to publish high-quality articles on domestic journals; to issue regulations compelling state budget-funded theses to be published on domestic journals.

d/ To deploy the NQI facilities uniformly from the central to local level, which are synchronous and modern, meet requirements of the international integration process and help improve productivity based on science, technology and innovation; to develop the NQI index in the system of statistical indicators of the science and technology sector.

dd/ To continue raising the capacity of the national information system on science, technology and innovation; to improve the national database on science, technology and innovation on the basis of developing and operating interconnected digital platforms, strengthening effective connectivity between scientific and technological information centers of ministries, sectors, localities, universities and research institutes; to continue purchasing a number of valuable core science and technology databases in the world that are of practical significance to domestic research activities; to promote investment in and development of science, technology and innovation big data centers and shared-use scientific data warehouses; to connect open science communities in Vietnam so as to share, criticize and build open data groups and open applications of Vietnam; to improve and enhance the statistical management of the science and technology sector.

7. Promoting science, technology and innovation activities in enterprises

a/ The State shall assist enterprises in improving their access to domestic and international technology information; to develop and provide tools and services for analyzing patent information and forecasting technology development trends with a view to setting orientations for science, technology and innovation activities; to build state-invested science, technology and innovation service centers to provide consultancy and brokerage services on technology or through providing assistance to strengthen the linkage between private counseling centers and enterprises.

b/ To review and revise regulations on tax, finance and credit to be consistent with regulations on science and technology so as to effectively implement incentive mechanisms for enterprises’ investment in scientific research and technological innovation; to shorten the period of depreciation of machinery and equipment for scientific research and technological development activities; to formulate and implement an annual tax incentive mechanism for enterprises based on their actual turnover from activities on the list of science, technology and innovation activities; to formulate a mechanism for crediting income tax for individuals and enterprises that make donations for science, technology and innovation activities of research institutes and universities.

c/ To step up the formation and development of scientific research and technological development divisions of enterprises; to facilitate the development of a number of domestic enterprises reaching the region’s leading technological level; to review, adjust and improve the legal corridor that allows the use of scientific and technological outcomes/intellectual assets as capital contribution to establish enterprises.

d/ To promote transfer of knowledge and training of science, technology and innovation personnel through foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises; to review and improve incentive policies for FDI enterprises employing Vietnamese highly qualified employees and carrying out scientific research and technological development activities in Vietnam in order to achieve the goal of pervasive technology application; to adopt policies to encourage domestic enterprises to enter into joint ventures with FDI enterprises; to establish research institutes next to FDI enterprises to learn experience from the latter.

dd/ To focus on implementing solutions to develop the science and technology market and solutions to increase outlets for products of enterprises; to continue improving the competitive environment in trade, raise standards for goods sold and services provided in the country, support the wide implementation of intellectual asset management tools and methods, promptly issue new standards for new technologies and reform technical barrier to trade (TBT) support activities so as to promote science, technology and innovation in production and business activities; to study and propose amendments to policies on public procurement to promote the use of products and services being outcomes of scientific research and technological development activities in the country; to continue supporting, developing and promoting digital transformation in the system of intermediary organizations providing search, evaluation, valuation, brokerage, testing and technology transfer services; to connect technology exchanges with centers for application and transfer of scientific and technological advances in localities in order to form a unified and comprehensive network to provide the best support for technology innovation activities of enterprises; to review, evaluate and improve policies on technology import (tax incentives, credit, support, etc.) to intensify the transfer of advanced technologies from abroad.

e/ To further review, revise and implement mechanisms and policies to strongly develop science and technology enterprises, hi-tech enterprises and innovative startups; to encourage enterprises to invest in research and application of hi-tech, new-technology and digital transformation solutions developed by domestic enterprises instead of imported ones.

g/ To increasingly support the operation of business associations in order to promote linkage of science, technology and innovation activities among enterprises; to build a network of consultants for directly providing enterprises with consultancy on technology management and corporate governance through associations.

8. Proactively promoting international cooperation and integration on science, technology and innovation

a/ To strengthen international cooperation in scientific research, technological development and application, trading in and transfer of scientific and technological products, implementation of innovative models and solutions, protection and development of intellectual assets, and assurance of goods standards and quality; to promote inclusion of contents on capacity building and technology transfer in international agreements and treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party.

b/ To actively expand international cooperation toward supporting a number of science and technology fields in order to bring them to international level; to intensify international cooperation for learning and transferring advanced management models on science, technology and innovation so as to build the capacity of management apparatuses at all levels.

c/ To proactively make contributions to the formulation of international frameworks and laws on science, technology and innovation; to proactively join in international research alliances on emerging issues such as COVID vaccines, climate change, etc. The State shall facilitate the participation of enterprises in international research alliances (introducing and providing guarantee for Vietnamese enterprises to participate in research into and acquire transferred technologies, etc.).

9. Strengthening activities of praising, conducting public communication for, and raising awareness about, science, technology and innovation

a/ To continue maintaining and developing national research awards for researchers with outstanding achievements; to confer more awards for innovation activities of enterprises.

b/ To encourage and help young people to improve their science and technology knowledge and provide them with career orientation in the field of science and technology; to invest in establishing a number of television channels, publications and social media channels on science, technology and innovation, particularly those for children and young people; to expand, improve quality of, intensify public communication about, and promote the society’s investment in, science, technology and innovation contests and playgrounds for children and young people.

c/ To continue intensifying public communication about science, technology and innovation; to diversify types of communication on digital platforms and social media; to require outcomes of scientific and technological tasks funded by the state budget to be widely disseminated in the mass media; to intensify public communication about enterprises earning production and business turnover from outcomes of scientific and technological activities in order to increase their brand value, win trust of consumers and improve competitiveness of science and technology enterprises and hi-tech enterprises; to intensify public communication about, and increase the State’s support, for initiatives and technical improvements of the people; to develop forms of science, technology and innovation displays and museums that can serve a wide range of visitors across the country.

Article 2. Organization of implementation

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for formulating an action plan of the science and technology sector for implementation of the Strategy; urge related ministries and sectors and provincial-level People’s Committees to implement the Strategy and annually report on implementation results to the Prime Minister; and organize a preliminary review of implementation of the Strategy nationwide by the end of 2025 and a final review by the end of 2030.

b/ Organize the formulation and implementation of 5-year and annual science, technology and innovation plans in conformity with the Strategy and socio-economic development plans; national science and technology programs and schemes, application-oriented basic research programs, and innovation-oriented research programs associated with enterprises and the science and technology market.

c/ Propose the structure for allocation of state budget funds for science, technology and innovation to serve as a basis for formulating annual budget plans.

d/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, reviewing, proposing, or asking related agencies to formulate or revise for promulgating according to their competence or proposing competent authorities to promulgate mechanisms and policies, particularly interdisciplinary coordination mechanisms and incentive policies, in order to promote the development of science, technology and innovation.

dd/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, reviewing, proposing or asking related agencies to adjust and develop, a uniform and synchronous system of mechanisms and policies to promote innovation activities associated with science and technology.

e/ Assume the prime responsibility for formulating a scheme for submission to the Prime Minister for the latter to decide on the establishment of a National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation in order to promote coordination among agencies in formulating science, technology and innovation policies, improving operational efficiency among ministries, sectors and authorities in the development and application of science, technology and innovation outcomes to socio-economic development.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall:

a/ Allocate resources for implementation of the Strategy’s objectives and orientations for science, technology and innovation development included in socio-economic development plans of the whole country, sectors and localities.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related ministries and sectors in, attracting foreign-invested enterprises and funds to invest in science, technology and innovation activities in Vietnam; implement programs to support the building of technology management capacity and innovative capacity for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

c/ Allocate priority investment resources for key projects to build science, technology and innovation potential, research institutes, universities and laboratories meeting international standards, innovation centers of the country, regions and localities.

d/ Promulgate according to its competence or formulate and submit to competent authorities for promulgation investment mechanisms and policies to create a motive force for science, technology and innovation activities and application of science, technology and innovation to serve socio-economic development.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall:

a/ Balance annual state budget funds for science, technology and innovation in accordance with law, ensuring compliance with annual plans to facilitate, and improve the efficiency of, science, technology and innovation activities.

b/ Promulgate according to its competence, or formulate and submit to competent authorities for promulgation financial mechanisms and policies to create a motive force for science, technology and innovation activities and application of science, technology and innovation to serve socio-economic development.

4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related ministries and sectors in, providing training in  science, technology and innovation knowledge and skills, and STEM and STEAM training in general education schools, training and attracting science, technology and innovation personnel in universities, and building universities into major research centers.

5. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related ministries and sectors in, providing training in science, technology and innovation knowledge and skills in vocational schools.

6. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall promulgate according to its competence, or formulate and submit to competent authorities for promulgation, mechanisms and policies on organization and personnel to create a motive force for science, technology and innovation activities.

7. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

a/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related ministries and sectors in, promoting the effectiveness of the mass media and new communications media, creating favorable conditions for the people and enterprises to access science, technology and innovation products and services.

b/ Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in, developing information and communication technology platforms and solutions to support science, technology and innovation development.

8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and related ministries and sectors in promoting international cooperation on science, technology and innovation, attracting and mobilizing high-quality personnel who are foreigners and overseas Vietnamese to participate in science, technology and innovation activities in Vietnam.

9. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies and provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

a/ Concretize relevant objectives, task orientations and solutions set in the Strategy into their development strategies and 5-year and annual plans, and organize the implementation thereof.

b/ Directly organize the implementation of strategic objectives, tasks and solutions in the fields under their respective state management.

c/ Send before December 15 every year to the Ministry of Science and Technology reports on implementation of the Strategy for summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

10. Research institutes, universities, other science and technology organizations and enterprises shall:

a/ Organize the implementation of the Strategy within the ambit of their assigned functions and tasks and in accordance with current regulations.

b/ Concretize relevant objectives, task orientations and solutions set in the Strategy into their development strategies and 5-year and annual plans.

11. Socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, socio-professional organizations, economic organizations, social organizations, and other organizations shall, within the ambit of their functions and tasks, actively and proactively participate in implementing the Strategy.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
VU DUC DAM