Mechanisms, human resources and funding sources are still barriers.
Resolution No. 36-NQ/TU on “Development and application of biotechnology to serve the country’s sustainable development in the new situation” issued by the Politburo on January 30, 2023 has identified the goal of focusing on development, striving to make Vietnam a country with a developed biotechnology industry in the world, a center for smart production and services in biotechnology, among the leading groups in Asia. At the same time, building the biotechnology industry into an important economic-technical sector, contributing positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In recent times, the Ministry of Science and Technology has focused on accelerating the implementation of national science and technology programs until 2030 related to biotechnology, focusing on three national programs: "Research on application and development of advanced technology in healthcare and development of health care products; code: KC.10/2021-2030"; "Research on application and development of advanced technology for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry; code: KC.11/2021-2030" and "Research on application and development of biotechnology; code: KC.12/2021-2030".
Assessing the development of biotechnology in Vietnam, Head of the KC.12/2021-2030 Program Le Huy Ham said that in recent times, with a small investment, Vietnam has researched and applied biotechnology in important areas of the country such as: Agriculture, forestry, fishery, health protection, environmental protection. Vietnam has laid the foundation for a national biotechnology industry, including breeding, selection, cell technology, molecular biology, veterinary vaccine production, and production of biological products for the care and protection of crops and livestock.
According to Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Training, Ministry of Health, Vietnam has mastered a number of advanced technologies, developed personalized medicine; applied biotechnology in early diagnosis and accurate treatment; cell technology (Cellomics); Omic technology; biobanking; Bioinformatic technology, Regenerative Medicine and tissue engineering; gene decoding technology... applied in detecting and minimizing the risks of emerging and re-emerging diseases and diagnosing and treating dangerous infectious diseases and non-communicable chronic diseases.
In the agricultural sector, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that thanks to research and application of biotechnology, many high-yield plant and animal varieties have been successfully bred. Biological products developed for livestock and crop breeding have brought high efficiency.
Developing biotechnology closely following production needs
However, besides the results, the country's biotechnology industry has not kept up with the country's development needs, has not created successes from high-tech application research, only popular technologies such as tissue culture, microbial preparations, molecular indicators... have been successfully applied.
Cooperation is still weak, especially multi-sectoral and multi-field cooperation between institutes - schools - enterprises; there is a lack of high-tech resources, a lack of leading staff, and a lack of investment from enterprises. The participation of enterprises is still mainly to take advantage of capital from scientific programs, and the technology factor is not considered important. The system of regulations for new products created from biotechnology has not kept up with demand, thus failing to promote research. There is no suitable policy for international cooperation and technology transfer.
Therefore, drastic solutions are needed to resolve the above difficulties. According to the Head of the KC.12/2021-2030 Program, Le Huy Ham, in order to effectively implement Resolution No. 36-NQ/TU, it is necessary to clearly define the direction, which is to develop biotechnology closely following reality and production needs. We do not research what we are strong at, but research what is practically needed and what we are capable of doing. Approaching production needs and the potential to contribute to production will be the criteria for evaluating the tasks of the Biotechnology Research and Development Program.
To achieve the two main goals of the KC.12/2021-2030 Program: Developing and applying advanced technologies in the field of biotechnology to create products serving socio-economic development, national security and defense; forming and developing a number of biological products on an industrial scale in priority areas, contributing to the formation of the biological industry, it is necessary to strongly develop the biological industry based on technologies that have been mastered from the previous stage. Applying new technologies in optoelectronics, automation, new materials, information technology... to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the competitiveness of biotechnology products. Continuing to research and develop new products based on gene technology, cell technology, microbiological technology, enzymes, proteins...
In particular, it is necessary to approach and master new, modern technologies such as: Genome editing, genome technology, animal cloning, artificial meat, gene drive (gene drive technology to control pests)...; develop 4.0 technology applications for modern biotechnology oriented towards and develop products serving socio-economic development; support staff training through the implementation of scientific and technological tasks.
Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that the draft Action Program of the Government to implement Resolution No. 36-NQ/TU has been submitted and is expected to be issued in the near future.
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