Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung visited and worked with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Overview of the meeting 

Attending the delegation were representatives of leaders of ministries and branches: Government Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. On the side of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), there were: Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh – President; Vice Presidents: Prof. Acad. Le Truong Giang, Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh; and leaders of units under VAST.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung gives a speech at the meeting

Speaking at the direction, Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the contributions of VAST during the past 50 years and emphasized: "As the leading research institution of the country, VAST has had many achievements recognized by the Party and the State." After the process of administrative reform, Deputy Prime Minister suggested that VAST should: Focus on large and important tasks, worthy of the position of the Academy; Clearly define the key tasks for each stage of development; Pointing out the obstacles that need to be solved in terms of institutions, human resources, and commercialization of research results...

At the meeting, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh said that after 50 years of establishment and development, up to now, VAST has a research staff of about 3500 staff, including nearly 250 professors, associate professors and nearly 1000 PhDs and has achieved many valuable scientific research and technological development results, making an important contribution to socio-economic development and national defense and security of the country. Many scientific works have been applied in practice with high efficiency and achieved many domestic and international awards that have been widely applied. In the period of 2020 – 2025, with the attention of the Party and the State, the support of relevant ministries and branches, the facilities and research equipment of a number of research units under VAST have made significant progress, gradually meeting the development of intensive scientific disciplines and international integration and completing the title. Especially, with 10 key laboratories invested, it has created a driving force for the development of new scientific disciplines, helping the VAST’s scientists to implement core, high-quality basic research problems, and at the same time be proactive in international research coordination activities.

Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh - President of VAST presents a report to the Deputy Prime Minister and the delegation

As a pioneer in the field of basic research in Vietnam, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has affirmed its leading position with impressive achievements: more than 2,000 scientific works are published every year. Many studies have appeared in prestigious international journals with a high impact factor, demonstrating the quality and influence across borders. The scientific achievements of VAST’s researchers have also been honored through the most prestigious awards, from the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize in the country, to prestigious international awards such as Ramanujan, L'Oreal and Kovalevskaia, contributing to enhancing the position of Vietnamese science on the global academic map.

In accordance with the orientation of Resolution 18 of the Central Committee, VAST has successfully implemented a comprehensive restructuring process. The arrangement, consolidation and consolidation of the organizational apparatus has created a lean system but still ensures full professional capacity and diversity of scientific specialties. The new structure of VAST currently consists of 24 units with a reasonable layout: five professional units directly advising the President of VAST, 16 Institutes and Research Centers, one Publishing House for academic publishing, and an advanced training system including one Graduate Training Academy and one specialized university to create high-quality scientific and technological human resources meeting international standards.

Prof. Acad. Le Truong Giang, Vice Presdient of VAST mentions a number of difficulties and obstacles in science and technology activities and proposed solutions at VAST

At the meeting, Prof. Acad. Le Truong Giang, Vice President of VASt, raised a number of difficulties and main obstacles in science and technology activities and proposed solutions at VAST. The Vice President said that currently, scientific and technological research units under VAST are classified as public non-business units, performing public services and scientists are officials in the state administrative system. Therefore, the operation mechanism of scientific and technological research units is applied according to general policies and general operation mechanisms of units providing public services, such as streamlining payroll, reducing focal points, and autonomy mechanisms,... This is not in accordance with the nature of scientific research activities and leads to many limitations and difficulties in the operation of scientific research units.

In the spirit of Resolution 45-NQ/TW and Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Central Government, in the period of 2025 – 2030, focusing on investing and strengthening the capacity of VAST on a par with international scientific and technological organizations in the region and in the world, VAST makes recommendations focusing on issues such as: (1) A number of specific solutions related to streamlining payroll, consolidating internal organizations to conform to the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State and the trend of scientific and technological development in the world; (2) Focus on promoting research investment for VAST, especially in basic research; (3) Continue to invest in key laboratories to research and develop a number of key technologies and strategic technologies in the fields of Space Technology, Quantum Technology, Materials Technology, Stem Cell Technology, Gene Editing Technology, etc  vaccine technology, AI technology, IoT technology, environmental technology and renewable energy, disaster warning technology; (4) Building marine research vessels to proactively carry out marine surveys and research; (5) Building innovation centers at VAST, promoting technology transfer and commercialization of research products; (6) Continue to assign VAST to develop and implement a number of National Science and Technology Programs such as Space Science and Technology Program and Marine Science and Technology Program.

Prof. Dr. Tran Tuan Anh – Vice President of VAST gives a speech at the meeting

Representatives of leaders of units under VAST speak at the meeting

Representatives of leaders of Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Finance speak at the meeting

At the meeting, representatives of leaders of units under VAST  also raised a number of difficulties and obstacles and proposed solutions in training high-quality human resources, mechanisms and policies for researching topics, attracting experts, scientific research programs in the field of nuclear, etc  semiconductor industry, hydrogen industry, biotechnology, high-speed railway.

Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized that in the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo and Resolution 03/NQ-CP of the Government, VAST is determined to become the leading science and technology center in Vietnam, on a par with advanced countries in the region and in the world, belonging to the regional leading group in the field of basic research, applied research, technology development, training of high-level scientific and technological human resources. To achieve that goal, scientists must make high efforts and great determination. The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that VAST should focus on implementing a number of key tasks in the coming time, including:

(1) Regarding the organization of the apparatus: The Academy has proactively arranged the apparatus, clearly defined the functions and tasks of each unit, but it is necessary to continue to study, considering this as an opportunity for us to restructure the apparatus, select and promote the capacity of individuals,  excellent collective. In particular, it is necessary to select highly qualified individuals and research team leaders, leading scientific research of the times, in line with the development trend of the region and the world;

(2) Continue to promote its leading role in scientific and technological research; to become one of the State's leading advisory agencies in formulating policies and strategies for scientific and technological development and socio-economic development of the country: To focus on effectively implementing the tasks assigned in Resolution 57 of the Politburo, Resolution 193 of the National Assembly and Resolution 03 of the Government; Strategy for the development of science, technology and innovation to 2030, especially in fields such as space technology, marine science, biotechnology and new materials. To step up basic research, develop core technologies and source technologies to create a knowledge base, closely associated with practical and market needs such as health, energy, environment and high technology;

(3) Improving research capacity through training and development of high-quality human resources: Continue to streamline payrolls according to the set roadmap; it is necessary to be a pioneer in the application of information technology and comprehensive digital transformation in management and research, contributing to building a digital government, digital economy and digital society; Building a flexible mechanism to attract and retain high-qualified scientific human resources, overseas Vietnamese scientists and international experts;

(4) Promote the transfer and commercialization of research results: Develop regulations to link scientific research with enterprises and the market, encourage innovation and practical application; Research and develop technology testing zones, professional technology transfer centers, build a mechanism to encourage enterprises to invest in the research, application and commercialization of scientific products of the Institute, strive for at least 10 products from research to the market each year in the next 5 years;

(5) Upgrade facilities, diversifying financial resources, increasing autonomy: Attracting investment, promoting public-private cooperation, modernizing laboratories to meet international standards, turning laboratories into technological "incubators";

(6) Continue to promote international cooperation, enhance the position of the Academy in the region and the world.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung delivers a concluding speech at the meeting

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung inspired with a strong message, encouraging VAST to continue to promote the spirit of "dare to think, dare to do, dare to try, dare to pioneer" in all activities. The Deputy Prime Minister expects VAST to be at the forefront of basic research and master strategic technologies, overcoming all barriers to make important breakthroughs. These efforts will contribute to the journey to make Vietnam a developed, high-income, prosperous and powerful country by 2045.

Taking souvenir photo

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version