Resolution 57 is a unique opportunity for scientists.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation issued at the end of 2024 has received positive signals from scientists and people. So, in your opinion, what are the necessary conditions for the Resolution to quickly come into life?

Perhaps, the implementation of the Party's Resolution has never been so urgent and rapid. Immediately after the General Secretary signed and issued Resolution No. 57, the Government issued an Action Program to implement Resolution No. 57. The Politburo also established the Central Steering Committee on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation development, with General Secretary To Lam as Head of the Steering Committee. Then, on January 13, 2025, the Politburo and the Central Party Secretariat held a National Conference on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.

Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Ceremony of Ho Chi Minh City National University held on February 23, 2025, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University, emphasized the important role of Resolution No. 57 and said that Ho Chi Minh City National University is a pioneer in implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, ready for the era of national development.

The National Assembly also promptly developed a Resolution to pilot a number of policy mechanisms to remove obstacles in science and technology activities, innovation and national digital transformation. This Resolution was approved at the 9th Extraordinary Session of the 15th National Assembly.

Thus, the Party, the National Assembly and the Government have taken urgent action. This is a necessary condition. The sufficient condition is that businesses, science and technology organizations, universities and scientists must quickly start implementing. As General Secretary To Lam said, “running and queuing at the same time” .

The National Assembly has just passed a Resolution on piloting a number of policies to remove obstacles in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation activities. How do you assess the significance and impact of this policy in the coming time?

The Resolution on piloting a number of policies to remove obstacles in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation activities was implemented in a very short time. Although it may not cover all the content that scientists and science and technology organizations want, I think that this Resolution has mentioned the key issues, challenges and biggest barriers for scientists and science organizations. Specifically:

Regarding autonomy, the Resolution has granted a high level of autonomy to scientists and scientific and technological organizations.

Regarding the budget, the Resolution mentioned spending on science and technology through funds and contracts for final products. Scientists will no longer have to worry about paperwork to settle projects. This is a big difference compared to before.

Regarding ownership of research results, scientists are allowed to contribute capital and open businesses using their research results; The Resolution also clearly defines the ownership rights of scientific and technological organizations where scientists work.

It can be said that the Resolution has resolved and removed the most difficult points so that scientists have enough space to carry out their scientific research without being influenced by activities unrelated to science.

In such a short time, with the drastic participation of the Government and the National Assembly, the Resolution was issued. This is an extremely important legal basis to promote scientific and technological activities, innovation and national digital transformation.

Ho Chi Minh City National University is a pioneer in implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. Photo: NVCC

One of the issues that scientists, organizations and businesses are most concerned about is unlocking financial resources in science and technology activities. What are the solutions to these problems?

With the newly issued policy, businesses investing in science and technology or sponsoring scientific activities will not have to pay corporate income tax. This encourages businesses to invest in research and development and innovation. For Vietnam, this is an innovation, encouraging businesses to invest in this field while also being in line with international practice.

Scientists whose projects are funded by the State budget, or through science and technology contracts funded by the State budget, will not have to pay personal income tax. This creates a great motivation for scientists and businesses when conducting scientific research, science and technology activities, and innovation.

In addition, the Resolution contains a very important policy that scientists are interested in, which is the risk mechanism in scientific research.

The National Assembly Resolution's mention of risks in scientific research is a way of showing trust in scientists. This trust is extremely important.

Scientific topics all go through the evaluation processes of professional councils and financial councils and must have the consensus of these councils before the topic can be implemented. Doing science if we know the product in advance, it is difficult to call it science. Science requires adventure, risk is what encourages scientists to research and invent new knowledge. In science, not every path leads to the destination, there are times when mistakes are made and we have to turn back.

Therefore, respecting and accepting risks in scientific research is extremely important, promoting scientists' creativity, helping them dare to think and dare to do. Therefore, this is an important legal corridor to protect scientists, helping them dare to confront the new, the unprecedented to create new knowledge. If they do not accept risks in the research process, scientists will choose a safe zone and find it difficult to discover new things.

What is your opinion on effectively implementing this Resolution at Schools - Institutes - Enterprises? Could you give an example at Ho Chi Minh City National University?

This is a unique opportunity for scientists. At the National Conference on Breakthroughs in Science, Technology, Innovation and National Digital Transformation, Ho Chi Minh City National University has 1 connecting point. What surprised me most was that the University's auditorium with more than 1,000 seats was full. Many teachers who are not party members also attended. That means Resolution No. 57 received a very high response, consensus and approval from scientists.

Immediately after that, I, together with members of the Party Executive Committee of Ho Chi Minh City National University, urgently developed an action program to implement this Resolution with a number of key tasks, specifically:

Ho Chi Minh City National University attracts young scientists, leading scientists for long-term or short-term work. We believe that this is an extremely important resource, teachers at Ho Chi Minh City National University, talented students have new factors, creating a boost to improve creative research capacity.

Ho Chi Minh City National University has launched the VNU350 program to attract and recruit young PhDs to work at the University. To date, 27 young PhDs have returned to work at Ho Chi Minh City National University, including 7 graduates from some of the world's top 100 universities.

Ho Chi Minh City National University has issued a recruitment program, also known as inviting visiting professors. These are Vietnamese people who are working at leading technology corporations, enterprises, and universities in the world. The time to work directly at Ho Chi Minh City National University is about 10 days, the rest of the research and training activities are done remotely. I think that people are the decisive factor in the success of implementing this resolution.

Ho Chi Minh City National University identifies 3 breakthrough areas in training when implementing Resolution 57. In the picture are students practicing in the Biotechnology laboratory. Photo: NVCC

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City National University also identified 3 breakthrough areas in training:

Firstly, Biotechnology and related applications such as: Stem cells, Pharmaceutical chemistry, Agriculture. Ho Chi Minh City National University is investing in a large-scale biotechnology laboratory system.

Second, is the field of Semiconductor Technology. We aim to be among the top in Asia in training, research, and innovation in this field. In the field of Semiconductor, Ho Chi Minh City National University has a tradition of training. Engineers in the field of microchip design working in large corporations in Vietnam as well as Vietnamese engineers working abroad, most of them graduated from Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Third, on Artificial Intelligence training. Ho Chi Minh City National University opens an Artificial Intelligence training program from undergraduate to doctoral level and cooperates closely with foreign partners such as NVIDIA, Intel and other technology corporations.

Regarding policy mechanisms, Ho Chi Minh City National University has begun to build digital transformation systems to be open and transparent in the process of assessing, approving and accepting topics. All research topics of Ho Chi Minh City National University are made public on the University's website. Accordingly, teachers who do well will continue to implement the next topics, otherwise they will not. And the whole society has the right to supervise the research products of teachers at Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Thank you very much!

Le Van performed/Tin Tuc Newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc/nghi-quyet-57-la-co-hoi-co-mot-khong-hai-voi-cac-nha-khoa-hoc-20250224084220697.htm