Prime Minister meets with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
On the afternoon of November 27, at the Government Office, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh worked with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology on the recent operation and implementation of functions and tasks of the Academy, and major directions in the near future.
Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha; Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; leaders of ministries, branches and central agencies, vice presidents and leaders of units under VAST.
President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Chau Van Minh reported the outstanding results of VAST over the past time.Regarding the implementation of the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister, the outstanding results are the successful manufacture and launch of small satellites; building and operating the Center for Earthquake Reporting and Tsunami Warning and monitoring network; and completing the upgrade and putting into stable operation the Center for DNA Assessment of unidentified Martyrs remains. VAST has actively carried out research on works serving the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully synthesizing a number of therapeutic drugs under clinical trial.
In terms of basic research, VAST is the leading unit in the country with the number of published works increasing by an average of 15% per year, now reaching about 2,000 publications per year. The number of published works meeting ISI standards ranks first in the country, 5/12 journals of the Institute meet ESCI and Scopus standards. Many projects have received major national and international awards.
The Institute also made many important achievements in basic investigation, building scientific arguments for the formulation of policies, strategies, master plans and plans for socio-economic development; science and technology human resource training; and research, development and application of science and technology, with the number of intellectual property degrees in the period 2015-2020 increasing more than 4 times compared to the previous period.
At the meeting, following the request of the Prime Minister, delegates expressed their opinions, raised difficulties and problems to be solved, and made suggestions and recommendations, focusing on issues related to science and technology development policy in general and VAST’s activities in particular; institution, mechanism, policy, organization, apparatus, operation and finance of the Institute; and the Academy’s working relationship with ministries, departments, branches and other agencies.
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology presents the Prime Minister with a geographical atlas of Central Highlands and surrounding areas. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated and basically agreed with the reports, opinions and proposals at the meeting and emphasized some more contents.
Regarding direction, the Prime Minister stated, the State Party identifies science and technology as the top national policy; investment in science and technology is investment in development. The Prime Minister requested close following and firm grasping of the Resolution of the XIII National Congress and the Party's resolutions to concretize and implement this point of view.
In terms of institutions, the Prime Minister asked VAST and related agencies to coordinate in reviewing problems in the process of organizing the implementation of the Party's guidelines.
Regarding mechanisms and policies, the Prime Minister stated that, in addition to general mechanisms and policies, it is necessary to focus on researching and proposing specific mechanisms and policies for the Institute, including mechanisms and policies on organizational structure, apparatus, payroll, finance and resources. Issues and problems falling within the competence of any level must be resolved; if they fall within the competence of the Government, the Government will immediately settle them; if they are beyond their competence, they shall report and propose competent authorities to handle.
The general task is to improve the quality of VAST’s staff with as many high-quality researchers as possible; investment of resources must be commensurate with requirements and tasks, at the same time, promote public-private cooperation, with specific mechanisms in the direction of risk management and venture capital to have breakthrough products.
The Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to develop specific mechanisms and policies worthy of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister requested VAST and ministries and branches to coordinate more closely and effectively in state management, formulating policies and performing assigned functions, tasks and powers.
The Prime Minister noted that research activities must be associated with technology application and development, production, business, business activities and socio-economic development fields. In which, the focus is on a number of areas such as basic research, core technology, new materials, new energy in the context of resource depletion, green growth, green development, response to climate change in regions, especially in the Mekong River Delta, the Central region, and the Northern mountainous region; digital transformation, digital economy and circular economy, effectively mobilizing international resources in these fields of great concern to the world. At the same time, marine science and technology research is a very important task.
Along with that task is promoting high-quality human resource training, providing scientific grounds for the formulation of policies, strategies, master plans and plans for socio-economic development.
The Prime Minister also directed to deal with specific recommendations mentioned at the working session and assigned agencies to coordinate with them for final handling.
The Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to develop specific mechanisms and policies worthy of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Meanwhile, when there are mechanisms, policies and resources, the Academy's activities must meet the requirements and contribute to solving the country's major problems with breakthrough scientific and technological products.
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version
