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| Law on Science and Technology (Vietnam) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Law on Science and Technology |
| Enactment | 2013 |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Status | in force |
Law on Science and Technology (Vietnam) is the principal statute codifying Vietnam's national framework for scientific research, technological development, and innovation policy. The law establishes institutional roles, funding mechanisms, intellectual property norms, and safety standards to coordinate activities across ministries, universities, and state-owned enterprises. It aims to align Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, National Assembly, and provincial authorities with strategic plans such as the Five-Year Plan and objectives in Resolution of the Communist Party of Vietnam documents.
The law defines objectives for promoting scientific research, technological development, and innovation to support national goals including industrialization, modernization, and integration with institutions like the World Trade Organization and initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community. It clarifies relationships among actors including Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Institute of Mathematics (Vietnam), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and provincial science and technology departments. The statute articulates duties for entities such as Ministry of Finance (Vietnam), State Bank of Vietnam, and state-owned conglomerates like Viettel and PetroVietnam to support applied research, strategic technologies, and international cooperation with partners such as National Institutes of Health and European Commission programs.
Legislative roots trace to post-Đổi Mới reforms and precedents in laws including the Law on Technology Transfer and revisions of statutes governing higher education and science agencies. Drafting involved stakeholders such as Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, domestic universities, and foreign partners like Japan International Cooperation Agency, World Bank, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Parliamentary deliberations in the National Assembly considered inputs from ministries including Ministry of Planning and Investment (Vietnam), Ministry of Education and Training (Vietnam), and representatives from research institutes such as Institute of Biotechnology (Vietnam).
The law covers basic research, applied research, experimental development, and commercialization activities across sectors including energy, agriculture, information technology, and health. It sets criteria for project approval, priority lists for strategic sectors similar to priorities in Resolution 20-NQ/TW and links to national strategies like the National Innovation System (Vietnam). Provisions delineate responsibilities for institutions such as Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam Institute of Economics, Institute of Oceanography (Vietnam), and Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The statute interacts with regulatory frameworks such as the Intellectual Property Law and standards agencies like the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ).
Governance structures assign leadership roles to the Prime Minister of Vietnam via the Government of Vietnam for national programs, delegate implementation to the Ministry of Science and Technology (Vietnam), and coordinate with the Ministry of Health (Vietnam), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Vietnam), and Ministry of Industry and Trade (Vietnam). Research management bodies include national research councils, university boards at institutions such as Can Tho University and Da Nang University, and provincial science and technology centers. Oversight mechanisms reference administrative bodies like the State Audit Office of Vietnam and engagement with international science bodies such as International Council for Science.
The law establishes public funding streams, competitive grants, and co-financing mechanisms similar to models supported by Asian Development Bank and Global Innovation Fund. It creates incentives for private sector R&D investment by firms including Vingroup, FPT Corporation, and MobiFone, and promotes technology transfer arrangements with multinational partners like Samsung Electronics and Intel. Funding instruments engage national funds, provincial budgets, and international cooperation programs with entities such as Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Science Foundation, and European Research Council.
Provisions govern patenting, licensing, and protection of research outputs, interfacing with institutions such as the National Office of Intellectual Property (Vietnam) and regional IP frameworks under World Intellectual Property Organization. The law references standards development coordinated by STAMEQ and safety oversight for biotechnology, chemical research, and nuclear technology involving agencies like the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and international regimes including the International Atomic Energy Agency. It also addresses benefit-sharing for genetic resources in line with agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Implementation responsibilities are allocated to ministries, research institutes, and universities with compliance mechanisms involving administrative sanctions, audit by the State Audit Office of Vietnam, and legal recourse through courts including the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam. Monitoring ties to national indicators tracked by bodies such as the General Statistics Office of Vietnam and periodic evaluation by parliamentary committees including the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment (National Assembly of Vietnam). International cooperation involves reporting to partners like the United Nations Development Programme and bilateral science agreements with countries including Japan, United States, and Australia.
The law catalyzed institutional consolidation and new funding channels but has been critiqued by stakeholders such as university consortia, industry groups like Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and research NGOs for implementation gaps, bureaucratic hurdles, and limitations in commercialization pathways. Calls for reform reference comparative models from jurisdictions like South Korea, Singapore, and Germany, advocating clearer IP regimes, streamlined grant procedures, and enhanced links with tech parks such as Saigon Hi-Tech Park and Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. Ongoing revisions engage actors including the Ministry of Justice (Vietnam), donor agencies, and academic networks to better align the law with objectives such as sustainable development and integration with global science systems.
Category:Law of Vietnam