Attracting high-quality human resources and talents in the fields of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation
The 3rd meeting of the Government Steering Committee on science and technology development, innovation, digital transformation and Project 06 - Photo: VGP
Create a breakthrough in attracting talent and high-quality human resources
In the era of digital transformation and global competition for knowledge, attracting and utilizing talents, especially in the fields of science, technology and innovation, has become an urgent requirement to enhance endogenous capacity and national competitiveness.
In a series of recent conferences and meetings, General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh have directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant ministries and branches to urgently develop and promulgate mechanisms and policies to attract human resources, science and technology talents, innovation, and digital transformation at home and abroad; and have special preferential policies to attract at least 100 leading experts to return to work in the country.
This policy demonstrates the strategic vision of the Party and State leaders in developing high-quality human resources as well as the strong determination in creating a team of leading intellectuals and experts to lead the development of science, technology and national digital transformation.
According to Mr. Mai Anh Hong, Deputy Director of the Department of Organization and Personnel (Ministry of Science and Technology), the current legal framework is quite complete, creating a breakthrough in attracting talents and high-quality human resources.
In particular, the National Assembly's approval of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation 2025 has created a solid and breakthrough foundation to attract talent and promote the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
The law is built closely following the guiding viewpoints in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of science, technology and innovation in the new situation; creating an open legal corridor, recognizing and empowering scientists in terms of intellectual property, finance and commercial exploitation rights.
Notably, the Law has established more attractive financial and non-financial remuneration policies for talents and high-quality human resources in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; allowing flexible remuneration mechanisms, including mechanisms beyond the salary framework, to attract, retain and promote talents, especially Vietnamese experts abroad.
Along with that, the National Assembly also passed the Law on Digital Technology Industry 2025 with the goal of specifying policies to develop the digital technology industry into a pillar economic sector, playing an important role in attracting and developing technology talent. The law has outstanding preferential policies to develop the semiconductor industry, forming a Vietnamese semiconductor ecosystem; at the same time, laying the legal foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assets.
Don't attract talent with rigid policies
Although the legal framework is quite complete and new laws have been issued, according to the assessment of the Ministry of Science and Technology, implementation still faces a number of challenges, requiring consistency and enforceability. Because decrees and guiding circulars need to be issued quickly and in sync with related laws such as the Budget Law, the Civil Servants Law, etc.
"Regulations will not be effective if procedures are cumbersome and lack flexibility," said Mr. Mai Anh Hong.
One of the key issues is the financial and non-financial remuneration policy. Despite progress, the financial remuneration for scientists is still not comparable to that of developed countries.
In addition, non-financial factors such as professional research environment, facilities, working culture, and career development opportunities are important factors that need to be improved synchronously.
In particular, although the "exceeding the framework" mechanism has been permitted by law, the scope of application and specific level still need to be clarified in guiding documents, avoiding the situation of "openness" and "breakthrough" on paper, but the procedure is still "closed" in practice.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has determined that in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, high-quality human resources and talents are decisive factors that cannot be attracted by rigid policies. Exceeding the salary range, providing housing, and working conditions should not be considered privileges but the minimum conditions for those capable of creating breakthroughs to feel secure in their work.
Based on the major orientations from Resolution 57-NQ/TW and the newly issued laws, the Ministry of Science and Technology is urgently developing specific and flexible policies to realize the attraction and utilization of talents.
These include the development and promulgation of specific regulations on risk acceptance mechanisms; autonomy mechanisms for public science and technology organizations; outstanding preferential policies for the development of the semiconductor industry; policies to attract, use and promote talents and high-quality human resources; and regulations on the sharing of benefits from research results.
Implementing the Prime Minister's direction, the Ministry of Science and Technology is also developing the Project "Developing and utilizing talents and high-quality human resources to serve the development of science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation" and will submit it to the Government in September 2025.
In addition, the Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to invest in infrastructure and research environment, upgrade key laboratories and research centers to international standards, build high-tech zones and technology incubators to create a favorable environment for creativity and innovation. Minimize administrative barriers, ensure maximum autonomy for scientists, provide resources (finance, equipment, databases) for research and testing.
Translated by Quoc Khanh
Link to Vietnamese version
