Removing bottlenecks, promoting scientific research

Lesson 1: Great potential but not yet broken through

In recent times, universities across the country have focused on promoting scientific research activities, many research topics have closely followed practical needs, with great prospects for application in production and life. One of them is the "Thermal Comfort Model" from the research of Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Technology - University of Da Nang. This model has been integrated by the Ministry of Construction and promulgated in Vietnam Standard 14214:2024 on regulations on requirements for indoor microclimate parameters of houses and public works.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan has been successful in researching, analyzing and developing a thermal comfort model, with practical applications, contributing to improving the living and working environment of people, especially in the hot and humid climate of Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City National University is a pioneer in research and technology transfer with many international patents, achieving an average revenue of 250-300 billion VND per year. Typical commercialized scientific research results include: AI/IoT application in environmental management at Tram Chim National Park; 5G chip using TSMC's 28 nm CMOS technology; Fireproof material-component testing system...

Phenikaa University (Hanoi) established seven spin-off and start-up companies (spin-off is a technology-based business model, start-up is an innovative start-up) to commercialize research results in the school. Typical is Phenikaa X Company - a leading unit in research and development of self-driving car, robot and drone technology. In addition, Phenikaa Smart School Company, Phenikaa Digital Transformation Company - a provider of digital solutions for many businesses, organizations, universities and high schools across the country. In the period of 2022-2024, these two companies signed 63 contracts to provide solutions to agencies, organizations and schools.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, there are currently more than 85,000 lecturers in universities and colleges nationwide, but the number of lecturers participating in scientific research is still limited. While according to regulations, lecturers must spend at least 1/3 of their total working time in a year (equivalent to 586 administrative hours) participating in scientific research. According to a survey by the Van Lang University research team on the number of articles meeting Web of Science or Scopus standards of 240 Vietnamese higher education institutions in the first half of 2024, only 33 institutions met the requirements of higher education institutions for the ratio of scientific articles (with an annual standardized efficiency greater than 0.3 articles/total number of lecturers).

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, Rector of the University of Science and Technology - University of Danang, said: "Some businesses are concerned that coordinating research investment has potential risks, when the benefits are not clear or the scale of the project is not large enough. Many studies focus on new technologies, without conditions for testing, leading to difficulties in applying them in practice. Regulations on financial management and administrative procedures in scientific research are still complicated, making it difficult to access and use funding sources for research."

State funding for scientific research at universities is still limited, mainly depending on tuition fees and some other legal sources of income. In addition, the financial mechanism for scientific and technological tasks is still inadequate, making it difficult to attract and retain good scientists, especially those with high qualifications abroad, to work in Vietnam.

Referring to this difficulty, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Van Man, Head of the Department of Science and Technology, University of Natural Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City National University said: "Although there has been significant investment, to meet international standards, the school still needs to add modern equipment, high-performance computer systems, and copyrighted software to serve research work. The major challenge in technology transfer activities at universities is the issue of granting intellectual property rights to the host unit, as well as the mechanism for pricing scientific and technological products".

Scientific research activities at Hanoi National University.

Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Tu, Lecturer of the Faculty of Finance and Accounting, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that educational institutions still lack a professional international research and learning environment, facilities, international standard laboratories as well as working conditions. The current state budget investment in science and technology is mainly at the laboratory research stage. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a venture capital fund to support the transfer of research products from the laboratory to businesses and the market.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation and Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation are strategic breakthrough policies that help scientists focus on research. This is also an opportunity for educational institutions to promote scientific and technological research associated with training high-quality human resources to meet the development requirements in the new era of the country.

(To be continued)

Topic: Resolution 57: Breakthrough in science and technology development

Perfecting institutions, mechanisms and ensuring resources to implement Resolution No. 57

Digital Age and Resolution 57: A Strategic Map for Vietnam to Reach the World

Resolution of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation