(VOVworld)- The development of science and technology mirror the development of a country. Over the past few years, the Vietnamese Party, state and government have paid special attention to scientific and technological development. Several policies, incentives and projects have been put in place.
In 2013 alone, Vietnam had nearly 3,000 scientific projects recognized by functional agencies. Vietnam launched the Earth Observation Optical Satellite System, known as VNREDSAT-1, and built and successfully launched the Pico Dragon, a micro-satellite. Using ODA capital, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology is building the Centre for National Satellite with a target of launching a Japan-made satellite in 2018 and a Vietnam-made satellite in 2020.
Scientific development and application is one of Vietnam’s top national priorities.
At the launch of Vietnam Science and Technology Day in May, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that amidst increasing globalization and international integration, a country with high quality human resources and scientific and technological advances will have greater development opportunities. The Prime Minister said that science and technology development is one of Vietnam’s top national priorities and needs the support of all available resources. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said:“According to the resolution of the 6th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee, science and technology development and application are one of Vietnam’s top national priorities and the most important driver of socio-economic development and national defense. Science and technology provides leverage for restructuring the economy, shifting the growth model, and increasing the productivity, efficiency and competitive edge of the economy toward the goal of making Vietnam a modern industrial country”.
Vietnam promotes investment in science and technology research
In addition to the government’s policies on science and technology development, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched a campaign promoting science and technology innovations. A fund of more than 100 million USD was set up to support renovation activities for businessmen and enterprises. The Ministry of Science and Technology has also put in place a number of programs to tap Vietnam’s potential in science and technology. Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said: “We are calling for ODA capital to develop research institutes with modern infrastructure and equipment. We will ask businesses to cooperate with research institutes to mobilize more funding for research projects”.
Human resource potential mobilized to serve science and technology
The Vietnamese government prioritises human resource training for science and technology development. In addition to fine-tuning support policies, a number of projects have been implemented to encourage overseas Vietnamese scientists to return home. They include the project Fostering Innovation Through Science and Technology known as FIRST, which is worth 110 million USD. The project has spent 6 million USD on developing and piloting policies to attract scientists and overseas Vietnamese to work for Vietnam. The project aims to connect scientists at home and abroad to participate high tech research in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese government has also put in place incentives to encourage individual contributions to science and technology. Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said: “The Vietnamese Party and State always encourage all people including those without qualifications to create products with social benefits. Over the past few years, many individual creativity projects have been supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and many of those innovators have become business owners”.
Vietnam will to become an industrial country by 2020 according to the resolution of the 8th National Party Congress.