Preliminary review conducted onoint Program between Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Industry and Trade
On May 9, 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) held a preliminary meeting to assess the implementation of the Joint Program on science, technology and innovation activities between the two sides in recent years and simultaneously exchange, discuss and agree on orientations in the coming time. Mr. Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Deputy Minister of MOIT and Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of VAST attended and chaired the meeting.
Overview of the meeting
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha assessed that the two sides were very active in organizing working sessions, exchanging information, agreeing on how to deploy and identifying a number of priority tasks to deploy in accordance with the development orientation of VAST and MOIT. However, the implementation still has many limitations. Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha expressed his hope that through the preliminary meeting, the two sides can build mechanisms and effective coordination methods, identify specific tasks and activities, prioritize coordination and implementation in 2024 and for each subsequent period. In particular, priority is given to building a number of research orientations (task clusters) focusing on comprehensively solving key issues of the Industry and Trade industry in the current period such as: Development and mastering technology for deep processing of rare earth minerals to achieve products of separate rare earth oxides (REO) and rare earth metals; Biotechnology industry, food industry; Material technology for high-tech industries, automotive industry, processing and manufacturing; Energy and Environment.
Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of VAST, speaks at the meeting
According to MOIT's report, up to now, three tasks have been approved, signed contracts with implementation time until 2025 and a total budget of VND 11,290 million. In which, there are two tasks in the field of biotechnology and one task in the field of material technology; In addition, there are five tasks that have approved contents, funds, leading organizations, directors but have not yet had funding for implementation. It is expected to be implemented in the period of 2024 – 2025, the total budget from the state budget is VND 19,570 million. Among these five tasks, there is one pilot production project; with four tasks in the field of biotechnology and; one task in the field of material technology. These are also tasks in the priority areas of the Joint Program. Task results are expected to be highly applicable in enterprises of Industry and Trade.
In addition, VAST has actively participated in commenting on regulatory documents of the Ministry such as: Regulation on management of S&T tasks of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to replace Circular 50/2014, Circular replacing Circulars promulgating the List of products and goods (SPHH) group 2 under the management responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade... At the same time, introduce qualified and reputable experts to advise or participate in Science and Technology Councils of the Ministry.
Mr. Ly Quoc Hung, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, speaks at the meeting
On the basis of evaluating the results of 01 year of implementing the program, pointing out the contents that have been done and the limitations, and identifying the main reasons, the representative of MOIT's leaders, Mr. Ly Quoc Hung, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, proposed some solutions and tasks in the near future are as follows:
* For deployed tasks
- For the tasks signed under the Contract (implemented 2022 – 2024): VAST's units, including the Institute of Biotechnology, the Institute of Chemistry: suggest to closely follow and accelerate the implementation of the task to ensure compliance with MOIT's orders. At the same time, continue to consider implementing the results of the project after being accepted by MOIT to turn into pilot projects, ensuring the applicability of MOIT's S&T tasks.
- For tasks approved in 2024 but not yet allocated funding: MOIT coordinates with VAST and units (Institute of Marine Natural Resources and Environment, Institute of Biotechnology, Institute of Tropical Engineering) to review and prioritize allocation when there is an additional budget of the Ministry in 2024 or transfer to the budget of 2025.
- With the 2025 Plan ordering tasks: Currently, MOIT is in the approval process to organize the order. Request VAST to actively urge research units, prepare dossiers and send them to MOIT when guiding quality assurance and regulations.
*MOIT proposes priority tasks and activities in 2024 and the coming period as follows:
- Firstly: Every year MOIT considers ordering VAST to provide reports on analysis and assessment of advanced technical and technological trends in the world in industries, industrial and commercial fields under MOIT's management; deployment is expected to begin in 2025.
- Secondly: The two sides strengthen the organization of connecting institutes, schools and enterprises under MOIT with units under VAST so that units can coordinate in proposing and implementing S&T tasks. In 2024, it is expected to coordinate the implementation of at least 01 conference for the purpose of introducing and promoting achievements and S&T products of VAST as well as research institutes and universities under MOIT.
- Thirdly: The two sides jointly develop a number of research orientations (task clusters) focusing on comprehensively and rooting the key issues of iIndustry and tTrade, expected some main priorities such as: biotechnology, material technology, technology of deep processing of rare earth minerals.
- Fourthly: The two sides will send representatives to participate in forums, conferences and seminars on S&T related to their respective industries and fields organized by the other party; appoint experts with appropriate expertise to advise or participate in S&T Councils organized by the other party.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Tien Dung, Director of Department of Application and Development of Technology
To concretize MOIT's proposals, VAST has issued a draft report on the implementation plan of the coordination program between the two sides for the period of 2024 – 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Tien Dung, – Director of Department of Application and Development of Technology said at the meeting. Accordingly, the two sides jointly developed a number of research orientations focusing on comprehensively solving and rooting the key issues of the Industry and Trade industry in the current period, on the basis of: Exploiting VAST's high-tech research strengths, reviewing duplication with works/clusters of works by MOIT, VAST management and other related programs; The proposed technology or product is feasible when applied at the enterprise and aimed at the needs of the enterprise; The proposed product combines basic research and applied research.
At the meeting, the two sides exchanged and discussed a number of research orientations for Industry and Trade in the period of 2024-2030 such as: Developing and mastering technology for deep processing of rare earth minerals to achieve products that are separate rare earth elements (REO); Biotechnology industry, food industry; material technology for high-tech industries, automotive industry, processing and manufacturing; application of space technology to Industry and Trade; application of environmental and energy technology.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan speaks
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasized that the Joint Program 1492 has shown the determination of the two units in promoting science, technology and innovation activities. Over the past year, the two sides have coordinated the implementation of the mission and adhered to the direction of the 1492 Program. Based on the agreed proposals of both sides, the Deputy Minister suggested that after this preliminary meeting, the two sides quickly put the priority contents into practice in 2024 and 2025. On the occasion of celebrating Vietnam Science and Technology Day 18/5, the Deputy Minister sent his congratulations to all scientists. At the same time, it is hoped that the cooperation between the two sides will reap many successes in the future.
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version