Conference to review 2019 work and implement 2020 plan of VAST
The overview of the conference
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of VAST Party Committee and President of VAST presided over the conference and presented the academy's outstanding performance results in 2019. Accordingly, VAST continued to perform well basic research tasks that are its strengths. On average, in the last 5 years, the annual number of international publications of the Academy has increased by about 15%. In 2019, the Academy had a total of 2273 published articles, of which the number of international articles was 1178, an increase of 20% compared to 2018. The number of prestigious international magazine articles reached the standard (SCI and SCI -E) is 888 items, up 20.8% compared to 2018, including many high-quality works. The number of articles published in high quality magazines meeting Q1 standards (according to Scimago classification) is 359 articles, accounting for 40.4%. The significant increase of articles in both quantity and quality is due to the great efforts of scientific staff of the Academy. In 2019, four scientists received major international and Vietnamese awards for basic research.
In recent years, the Academy’s basic survey results have created a scientific basis for assessing the level of environmental pollution in areas where environmental incidents occur and serve for making strategic plans, socio-economic development plans in many localities.
In 2019, in addition to regular monitoring of background environmental factors, tasks of basic survey focus on researching biodiversity and building databases on plant and animal species for other areas in Vietnam; screening, researching, separating and synthesizing bioactive compounds such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive and hypoglycemic effects to apply in the field of pharmacy and medicine and create medicine products for life. Scientists from VAST have discovered 133 new species of animals and plants for science in 2019.
The Academy has promoted research on technology application and deployment. In 2019, it granted 52 patents for invention and utility solutions, including four international invention patents and six technologies transferred to enterprises for production and life. Technology application and deployment in localities is one of the important tasks and strengths of the academy to bring science and technology activities, contributing to the socio-economic development of localities. In 2019, the academy carried out 199 missions and cooperation projects with ministries and localities. The results of the practical application thesis have transferred to localities and production facilities, attracting significant funding investment. The Units under VAST have implemented over 923 science and technology contracts with a total budget of 672 billion VND, of which 739 economic contracts from services with a total budget of more than 434 billion VND and 2019 budget of 296 billion VND.
Organization - Personnel of the Academy in 2019 has achieved remarkable results in strengthening the organizational structure; implementing the policy of raising ranks and salary levels for individuals engaged in science and technology activities; conducting inspection and examination of organization and personnel work; offering the promotion of special titles of principal researchers and engineers; guiding and urging units to well organize the organization and personnel work.
The Academy continues to implement the program of supporting young staff to attract young - excellent workers and highly qualified ones to work at the academy. After five years of implementation, despite many difficulties, the program has been effective. The academy has attracted a young doctoral force to work. In 2019, the number of doctors and doctors of science and technology was 946, increasing 20% in comparison with the number in 2015.
In 2019, the academy completed the equitization and handed over the Center for Technical and Technology Development to Vietnam Design and Technology Joint Stock Company, submitted to the Prime Minister for approval the list of changing from public unit to joint stock company for the Institute of Telecom Technology and the Union of High-tech Telecom- Computing Production Science Production.
International cooperation in 2019 has opened prospects for cooperation between the Academy and new partners in many aspects, from scientific research, education and training to technology transfer. The international cooperation on sea was focused to develop maritime science and technology and contribute to the protection of sovereignty over the sea and islands, such as signing the Protocol between VAST and IRD on the intention to organize Vietnam Sea Survey 2021 on French scientific research ship and cooperation projects with traditional partners like the Russian Academy of Science and Technology on marine research.
Training activities at the Institute for Scientific Information and Graduate University of Science and Technology have been in order, increasing quality and recruiting many new students.
In addition, other tasks directly assigned by the Government to VAST also achieved good results, such as continuing to operate stable VNREDSat-1 in orbit to provide effective satellite images for scientific research, national security and defence; development of space technology; operation of earthquake and tsunami warning center; deploying two programs of Central Highlands Science and Technology (2016-2020) and Space Science and Technology (2016-2020); Deploying activities of Vietnam Natural Museum of Nature; investing in and upgrading the Center for DNA Identification for Revolutionary Martyrs; and investing in building Hanoi University of Science and Technology in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park.
The academy’s regular activities on information, communication and publishing, planning - finance, capital construction investment, office and inspection have been put in order and obtained good results. Together with positive activities of Party Committee, Trade Union and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, this has made great contribution to the overall achievements in 2019.
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, VAST President, said that in 2020, the academy will strive to fulfill the 2016-2020 plan and create momentum for implementing the 2021-2025 plan, meeting the country's requirements for development, exchanges and extensive integration in all areas of society. The academy will promote the increase in the number of articles, focusing on improving the quality of international standard publications SCI / SCI-E; promote science and technology application in production and life, intellectual property; enhance the publishing information, improve the quality of science and technology journals; promote training, putting Graduate University of Science and Technology and the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi into operation with high quality and efficiency.
The academy continues to implement well major satellite projects, Vietnam Space Center Project, construction project on the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, the Central Highlands Progamme 3, Space Science and Technology Program in the 2016 – 2020 period, project on collecting national models of Vietnam’s nature; actively speed up the construction of the Vietnam National Museum of Nature on 32 hectares in Quoc Oai, High-tech Park Construction Project of the Academy in Hoa Lac; enhancing the effectiveness of the earthquake station network - tsunami warning system; implementing the Physics Program until 2020 and the program of basic science development in the fields of chemistry, life science, earth science and marine science in the 2017-2025 period.
The academy will continue building a number of major projects to be submitted to the Government, such as projects under the biotechnology development planning till 2020; scheme on science and technology application in the strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030 and vision to 2045; technology research projects of the fourth industrial revolution.
It will also continue to renovate the management and deployment of IT applications in the management and implementation of science and technology tasks; strengthen the inspection and supervision of the implementation of budget estimates; implement science and technology projects at all levels, projects on capital construction, economically and efficiently use equipment and working areas; and strengthen the financial management.
Within the framework of the Conference, delegates listened to a number of illustrative reports of their units to better understand the situation and the results of the academy over the past year.
Commending the excellent units, collectives and individuals
In recognition of the excellent units, collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in the work in 2019, the Board of Directors of the VAST has awarded "Emulation Flag of the Academy" to seven units; "Excellent Labor Collective" to 32 units and 29 collectives; "Emulation Soldiers" to three individuals; “Merit of VAST President” to nine units, seven collectives, three magazines with unexpected outstanding achievements and 11 individuals who have successfully completed the 2019 mission.
At the end of the conference, in the joyful atmosphere of achieving many achievements in 2019 and to implement well the missions and orientations of 2020, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh launched an emulation movement across the academy with the theme: "Innovation, creation, emulation and obtaining outstanding achievement to complete assigned political tasks". The staff of VAST is determined to unite and share a more drastic and creative spirit, promoting the tradition in emulation for the highest achievements, contributing to the increasing development Academy.
