Decree 38/2025/ND-CP the functions, tasks, powers of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

DECREE

Defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology^[1]

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organization of the Government;

At the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology;

The Government promulgates the Decree defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Article 1. Position and functions

1. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is a government-attached agency, performing the functions of conducting basic research in natural sciences and technological development; providing scientific grounds for science and technology management and formulation of socio-economic development policies, strategies and master plans; and training scientific and technological human resources with high qualifications in accordance with law.

2. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is the Academy’s name in international transactions, abbreviated as VAST.

Article 2. Tasks and powers

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology shall perform the tasks and exercise the powers defined in the Law on Organization of the Government, the Government’s regulations on government-attached agencies, and has the following specific tasks and powers:

1. Regarding strategies, programs, master plans and plans:

a/ To submit to the Government and the Prime Minister development strategies, long-term, five-year and annual programs and plans, as well as its important projects and schemes; and to organize the implementation thereof after they are approved.

b/ To participate in appraising technological levels and consideration and approval of techno-economic grounds of key and important works of the State and localities as assigned by competent state agencies;

c/ To decide on investment projects falling under its competence in accordance with law.

2. Regarding scientific research and technological development:

a/ To conduct basic research in natural sciences, technological development and innovation in such fields as mathematics; physics; chemistry; biology; biotechnology; information technology; electronics, automation; space technology; materials science; biodiversity and bioactive substances; Earth sciences; life sciences; marine science and technology; environment and energy; disaster forecasting, prevention, control and mitigation;

b/ To conduct general research in natural resources, natural conditions and the environment;

c/ To apply and transfer scientific and technological research outcomes;

d/ To propose, and assume the prime responsibility for performing, national-level key scientific and technological tasks as assigned by competent state agencies;

dd/ To publicly communicate and disseminate knowledge about, and outcomes of, scientific researches and technological development to meet the science and technology market development requirements.

3. Regarding the provision of public services:

a/ To organize the provision of public services as assigned by the Government in accordance with law;

b/ To examine and supervise the provision of public services by its attached units in accordance with law.

4. To decide on and direct the implementation of its administrative reform program according to the objectives and contents of the state administrative reform program approved by the Prime Minister.

5. To train scientific and technological human resources with high qualifications; to organize undergraduate and postgraduate training courses in natural sciences and technologies within the ambit of its assigned functions and tasks in accordance with law.

6. To provide consultancy on strategies, master plans, plans, policies, programs and important projects on science and technology development within the ambit of its functions and tasks as assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister.

7. Regarding international cooperation:

a/ To enter into international cooperation on science and technology in accordance with law;

b/ To propose the conclusion, amendment, supplementation, extension and invalidation, or suspension of the implementation of treaties in accordance with law;

c/ To organize the implementation of treaties as assigned by the Prime Minister;

d/ To conclude, amend, supplement, extend  and invalidate, or suspend the implementation of, international agreements on its own behalf in accordance with law;

dd/ To organize and inspect the implementation of programs and projects sponsored by international institutions in accordance with law;

e/ To organize and participate in international cooperation conferences, workshops, programs and plans in accordance with law;

g/ To organize cooperation in scientific and technological research and joint training in science and technology with international organizations and foreign research institutions and universities in accordance with law.

8. Regarding information provision and reporting regime:

a/ To organize the provision of information on, and public communication about, and dissemination of, political tasks, policies, regimes and laws of the State in the assigned sectors and fields;

b/ To observe the regime of reporting to the Prime Minister or line ministers in accordance with law;

c/ To report and provide earthquake information and tsunami warnings to competent agencies in accordance with law.

9. To build big databases in the fields of natural sciences for application and innovation in accordance with law.

10. Regarding the apparatus organization:

a/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology in submitting to the Government for decision the establishment, reorganization, dissolution or renaming of organizations and units within its organizational structure in accordance with law;

b/ To manage its organizational apparatus, number of public employees and workers and their working positions; to decide on the rotation, transfer, appointment, relief from duty, resignation, dismissal, secondment, training, further training, commendation, disciplining, removal from office, retirement, salary regime and other entitlements to public employees and workers under its management under regulations;

c/ To implement the autonomy mechanism in accordance with law.

11. Regarding finance and asset management:

a/ To formulate annual budget estimates, three-year finance-budget plans, and medium-term public investment plans for submission to competent state agencies for approval in accordance with law;

b/ To manage finances and assets assigned to it in accordance with law.

12. To perform other tasks and exercise other powers as assigned by the Government or Prime Minister.

Article 3. Organizational structure

1. The Department of Organization, Personnel, and Inspection

2. The Department of Planning and Finance.

3. The Department of International Cooperation.

4. The Department for Application and Development of Technology.

5. The Office.

6. The Institute of Mathematics.

7. The Institute of Physics.

8. The Institute of Chemistry.

9. The Institute of Mechanics.

10. The Institute of Biology.

11. The Institute of Earth Sciences.

12. The Institute of Oceanography

13. The Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment.

14. The Institute of Materials Science.

15. The Institute of Information Technology.

16. The Institute of Life Sciences.

17. The Institute of Advanced Technology.

18. The Vietnam National Space Center.

19. The Center for High Technology Research and Development.

20. The Institute of Scientific Data and Information.

21. The Vietnam National Museum of Nature.

22. The Publishing House for Science and Technology.

23. The Graduate University of Science and Technology.

24. The University of Science and Technology of Hanoi.

The units specified in Clauses 1 thru 5 of this Article are assisting units of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s President. The Office may organize 8 divisions.

The units specified in Clauses 6 thru 18 of this Article are public science and technology institutions.

The units specified in Clauses 19 thru 24 are other public non-business units.

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s President shall define the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of its attached units.

Article 4. The Academy’s leadership

1. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has 1 President and no more than 4 Vice Presidents.

2. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s President shall be appointed and relieved from duty by the Prime Minister and bear responsibility before the Government, Prime Minister and law for all activities of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology;

3. The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s Vice Presidents shall be appointed and relieved from duty by the Prime Minister at the proposal of the President and bear responsibility before the President and law for their assigned tasks.

Article 5. Transitional provisions

Public science and technology institutions, and other public non-business units that are subject to reorganization, restructuring or dissolution may continue to operate until the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology’s President promulgates regulations on functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of new units after reorganization or restructuring or promulgates decisions on dissolution of units in accordance with law, no later than March 31, 2025.

Article 6. Effect and implementation responsibility

1. This Decree takes effect on March 1, 2025, and replaces the Government’s Decree No. 106/2022/ND-CP of December 24, 2022, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

2. The VAST’s President, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government
For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
BUI THANH SON