Prime Minister approved “Master development plan of VAST until 2020 and orientations for 2030”
Following is a brief overview of the plan:
Points of views on development: Developing VAST with a sharp breakthrough, to become a powerful research and training centre of science and technology, that is a driving force for the national development of science and technology. Especially, the plan aims to dramatically renovate the effectiveness assessment, financial measures and investment mode for science and technology activities.
The development goals include to gain advanced position in ASEAN by 2020 and in Asia by 2030; and build 10 prestigious key science and technology organizations by 2020 (and 15 organizations by 2030), which can solve important science and technology tasks of the nation, and provide high quality human resources in the field of science and technology.
VAST will play the role of a leading consulting agency of the Government in making strategic plans and policy in relevant fields.
Development orientations: While emphasizing multi-disciplinary research, the plan mentions several priorities, including key technology, new research fields, original technology and adaptive technology.
The plan also emphasizes investment in basic research, building several strong research groups, keeping abreast with advances in the region and the world, and being able to solve key national missions.
Basic research projects need to be assessed by the international publication in prestigious scientific journals, and associated with postgraduate training and training science and technology human resources.
Applied research needs to concentrate on key science and technology, which has significance in national socio-economic development. Seven key science and technology orientations to be given priority status include: information technology, electronics, automation and space technology; bio-technology; material sciences; biodiversity and bioactive substances; earth science; marine technology and science; and environment and energy.
In technological application, the plan emphasized the effective application of key technology and high technology; promoting the commercialization of products; and promoting appraisal consultation, museums of nature, publication and popularization of science and technology.
The plan also aims to create a breakthrough in policies to attract excellent scientists and support young cadres; consolidate and develop organizations; build technical material facilities; and promote international cooperation.
The plan sets forth solutions for each field. It is necessary to arrange satisfactory investment for associations training in basic research; to link institutes to cooperate in solving practical issues, study and develop original technology in applied research. The plan focuses on seven key orientations.
One of breakthroughs of training science and technology human resources is a project, to submit to the Prime Minister, on the establishment of the University of Science and Technology under the VAST.
The Prime Minister’s approval of the plan marked an important landmark for VAST’s development. The successful implementation of the plan will make the academy a powerful scientific agency, keeping pace with leading Asian scientific agencies and contributing to speeding up national socio-economic development, ensuring national defence and security, and meeting the demand for industrialization, modernization and international integration.
The full text of the Vietnamese original of the plan is available at the VAST website or the Government Web Portal.
The full text of the plan in English is available here
Written by Prof.Dr.Sc.Ha Huy Khoai
Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version
