Communist Review - Throughout the revolution of Vietnam, science and technology have always accompanied the  nation, accomplished many achievements and made great contributions to the cause of resistance war and national renewal. Nowadays, in the context of globalization and international integration, science and technology have become one of the most important driving forces for socio-economic development and for improving Vietnam’s position.

Historical mission

On March 3, 1959, the State Science Committee - the predecessor of today Ministry of Science and Technology, was established as claimed by Ordinance No. 016-SL of the President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The formation of the Committee represented the strategic vision of the Party and the State on the motivating role of science and technology, in the context that the country still faced a range of difficulties and hardships on socialist construction in the North while struggling to liberate the South and unify the country.

Since its inception, the State Science Committee has soon determined its mission to effectively serve the three national goals of production, livelihood and national defense. Being considered as underdeveloped field, though research equipment and basic resources were in extreme need, the State Science Committee accompanied with Vietnam’s science had successfully completed many urgent tasks that set out ahead, as well as organized and built the basic foundations of science and technology for the future. The country will never forget the merits of scientists and managers whose names have gone down in history, such as Tran Dai Nghia, Ho Dac Di, Ton That Tung, Ta Quang Buu, Luong Dinh Cua, Bui Huy Dap, … and other great contributions of the first generation scientific staff.

Numerous surveys, as well as examination of natural resources and minerals in remote regions of the country were initiated in this period. Many technical staff were mobilized to participate in designing and construction of large projects, such as the North Hung Hai major irrigation system, the Thai Nguyen iron and steel complex, the Lao Cai Apatite mine, Hanoi mechanical factory; acquired technical mastery from the other socialist countries to turn these factories and enterprises into the leading forces of the Vietnam’s fledgling industry. In agriculture, by applying research works of new plant varieties and advanced cultivation processes, we had already guaranteed food supply for the Northern rear while supporting the Southern front. Medical and pharmaceutical works on malaria, infection, dermatology and surgery timely served the health care needs of the people as well as military forces on the battlefield. Military technical research works against radar interference, improving anti-aircraft missiles, detecting and clearing magnetic naval mines and magnetic bombs were proud scientific achievements, contributed to the military and the entire nation in defeating the enemy’s high-tech war, completed the cause of defending the North, freed the South and unified the country. 

Entering the period of peace, Vietnam’s scientific and technological forces, in company with the entire people, had put efforts into healing the wounds of war, restoring and developing the economy in the situation that coutry was encircled and embargoed. Since 1980, all English documents, scientific journals and reference books were no longer funded, aligned with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the number of Russian scientific journals, books, and documents also decreased significantly. Technological facilities, research equipment and resources were extremely inadequate and underdeveloped. This was a period that continuously tested the will and enthusiasm for research among Vietnamese scientists. With the intellect, willpower and self-respect, self-reliance that had accumulated from the hardship of war, the Vietnamese scientific and technical forces had risen strongly.

It was during these difficult years that the team of science and technical staff was mobilized to participate in designing and constructing Vietnamese century projects, such as constructing Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant; reclamation and renovation of Dong Thap Muoi region; building the North-South 500kV ultra high-voltage power transmission line; conducting oil and gas exploitation in the East Sea; selecting and creating new high-yield and high-quality crop varieties, paving the way for the development of industries and agriculture of the country. Step by step, the Vietnam’s scientific and technological forces had constantly learned to grow and actively participated in the country’s renewal process initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam, eliminating the subsidy mechanism and building a socialist-oriented market economy, expanding international cooperation and exchanges. 

It was truly extraordinary efforts in the most extreme circumstances of history, a lesson in fulfilling the mission of science and technology in carrying out the common mission of the nation, has truly inspired current generations on the path of developing science and technology for the goals of the prosperous people, strong country, democracy, equity and civilization.

New position and capability

For more than 30 years of carrying out comprehensive reforms, accelerated industrialization, modernization and international integration, science and technology have continued to make important strides in all aspects and actively contribute to the cause of socio-economic development, raising the quality of people’s life and consolidating national defense and security. 

Throughout each period, mechanisms and policies for managing scientific and technological activities were always paid attention in order to unleash the creative potential, create more favorable and open environment for scientific research activities and technological development. The state management of science and technology has been step by step renewed in a fundamental, comprehensive and synchronous manner, respected peculiarities of scientific and technological activities, gradually adopted international practices and standards which were in accordance with the reality of the market. 

The most obvious imprint of policy innovation was the introduction of a system of specialized laws in the field of science and technology⁽¹⁾, with a clear awareness of the importance of businesses in the national creative system; gradually eliminating bureaucratic administrative management mechanisms; applying the principle of fair competition in selecting scientific and technological tasks; implementing a mechanism for allocating spending and controlling expenditures; associating research tasks with practical and market needs; granting autonomy and self-responsibility to state-owned scientific and technological organizations; developing technology market, encouraging innovation and innovative start-up ecosystem; forming science and technology enterprises and creative start-ups; encouraging enterprises to invest heavily in science and technology; respect scientific staff in groups of talented subjects. 

These breakthroughs in mechanisms and policies are among the main reasons for the improvement of the country’s scientific and technological potentials and qualifications. In the 1960s, there were only 8 research institutes and 6 universities in the North, but now there are more than 4,000 scientific and technological organizations and 3 national high-tech parks, 13 hi-tech agricultural zones, 8 concentrated information technology parks and nearly 6.700 researchers. Research infrastructures in several key areas, such as biotechnology, petrochemicals, materials, energy, automation, nano, computing technology and medicine have been strengthening. Vietnam’s digitalized knowledge system and information resources are invested, widely connected and openly shared. Enterprises’ investments in science and technology have increased sharply. A number of advanced industrial technology research institutes have been established, in both public and private sectors, for example, V-KIST Institute and VinGroup’s research institutes on big data and high technology. The market of technology, creative start-up ecosystem have developed vibrantly, the intellectual property and quality measurement standards system have increasingly improved; thus, creating a favorable environment for businesses, encouraging the foundation of thousands of startups that have potential growth. 

The scientific and technological level of Vietnam has been gradually improved; although the number of articles, international published scientific works and inventions of Vietnamese people is still humble, it has been increasing anually. The pace of technological innovation, technological capacity of the nation and enterprises has been strengthened; the gap between Vietnam and other countries in the region has been significantly narrowed in the ranking of competitiveness, global innovation capacity and some facourable scientific fields. Vietnam’s innovation capacity has continuously increased, jumped by 12 places in 2017, rose 3 places in 2018, reached the best ranking ever in 2019, ranked 42 out of 129 countries, ended up leading the group of countries with low average income. The number of international publications of Vietnamese scientists increase averagely 26% per year, the field of mathematics and physics are always at the top of ASEAN countries. 

The social sciences and humanities have provided the foundation for planning the directions and policies for national development, perfecting laws, paving the way for renewing economic thinking, confirming the history of formation and national development, preserving Vietnamese values ​​and cultural identity. A number of typical, influent, enormous scale of knowledge research have been built, notably The history of Vietnam collection - the official collection of books that provide comprehensive and more in-depth information about national history; Vietnam National Choreography - the bibliography provides comprehensive and systematic information about the country, culture and people of Vietnam; Vietnam Encyclopedia - a comprehensive dictionary for searching cultural, scientific and technical issues to improve knowledge for the masses of the people; Translation of Eastern Classics - the elite collection of Oriental classics with the historical and epochal significance, bringing profound national and human values. 

Technical science and technology have contributed to the improvement of labor productivity in agricuture, building new countryside, making Vietnam become the world’s leading exporter of rice, some agricultural and aquatic products. The scientific and technological factor contributes to over 30% of added value in agricultural production, 38% in production of plant varieties and animal breeds. In industry and service sectors, Vietnamese scientists and technologists have been able to independently design and construct large hydropower plants; manufacture hydro-mechanical equipment and lift and lower super-sized and super-weighted equipment; jack-up rigs at 90m and 120m water depth; develop technology of oil extraction in bedrock; take advantage of  telecommunication and remote sensing satellites; master shipbuilding technology, construct underground works, high-rise buildings, cable-stayed bridges and international standards highways; succeed in multi-organ transplants and vaccine production. Increasing application of scientific and technological advances in the locality also contributes to the development of key economic regions, promoting regional advantages and potentials, hunger eradication, poverty reduction, improvement of social security and living conditions of people in extremely difficult regions as well as ethnic minorities areas. 

These achievements have made practical contributions to the process of industrialization, modernization of the country and international integration, institutional renewal and improvement, promoting productivity, quality and growth of the economy, maintaining national defense and national security, improving the quality of people’s life, creating a new position and power for the country. 

Towards the future

It can be said that under the condition of a developing country with limited resources, Vietnam has made commendable progress, gradually reduced the gap in scientific capacity and innovation compared to the region and the world. However, the challenges that we have to face are enormous. Although Vietnam’s labor productivity has significantly improved in a steady increasing trend over the years, it is still very low in comparison with many countries in the region. Technology absorbing capacity of Vietnamese enterprises is still weak. The spirit of science and cultural innovation has not penetrated deeply into the thinking and awareness of social community. Vietnam’s science and technology development is not commensurate with its potential and has not really become a driving force for socio-economic growth. 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is taking place globally with intertwined opportunities and challenges, requiring a latecomer like Vietnam to quickly change thinking and act promptly, on the one hand, persistently maintain solutions to strengthen scientific and technological potential in the long term; on the other hand, by all means find the own way to reach to point of breakthrough. In order to make science, technology and innovation truly a driving force for rapid and sustainable economic development, in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on synchronously deploying the following solutions: 

Firstly, in the national innovation system, enterprises are the subject that directly apply scientific and technological achievements in practice, transform scientific and technological results into products and new services; thereby, creating added value and wealth for the society. Accordingly, it is necessary to continue persistenly renewing the national innovation system in the direction of favouring enterprise-centered; fostering the national creative start-up ecosystem to develop a strong force of innovative start-up businesses. 

Secondly, stimulating demand for technology and the need for innovation from the business sector requires a comprehensive implementation of economic, trade, investment and business environment solutions. From the perspective of scientific and technological management, it is necessary to enhance the enterprise’s capacity to absorb technology through continuing to encourage enterprises to invest in setting up science and technology development funds, setting up research institutes, science and technology enterprises, innovative start-ups; supporting businesses to improve the quality of human resources; expanding the form of financing, lending, guaranteeing loans from state funds for projects on technological innovation of enterprises. Strengthen public-private cooperation in implementing large-scale technology projects and supporting creative start-ups, especially with large industrial technology groups in the country. In the long term, it is necessary to consider gradually shifting applied research activities from public research institutes to the business sector as international practice. 

Thirdly, universities and research institutes must become strong subjects creating knowledge. To universities, scientific research must be a mandatory task. Paying attention to invest in research infrastructure and facilities, key laboratories, strong research groups and excellent centers in universities; forming strong research universities in Vietnam. For research institutes, it is suggested that exercising maximum autonomy associated with accountability, making independent evaluation of the performance and publishing evaluation results should be stressed. Promoting cohesion and cooperation between universities, research institutes and industry and enterprises to promote commercialization of research results in production and business practices. 

Fourthly, continuing to renovate scientific and technological management in the direction of removing barriers, maximizing creative potential and academic freedom in parallel with open and transparent assessment of research activities results. Identifing successful and proper scientific and technological tasks, stemming from reality and solving urgent requirements of national, industry, field and enterprise development practices. Building and developing a strong team of scientists, simultaneously combining measures to motivate, encourage while setting a range of requirement for scientists; training and appreciating talented people combined with the requirements of integrity and ethics in research. Ensuring convenient facilities and working environment for scientific staff. Effectively investing in science and technology infrastructure, research equipment, laboratories, information and financial resources; creating an advanced academic environment and healthy innovation ecosystem. 

Fifthly, promoting cooperation and international integration, promoting joint research cooperation to take advantage of resources and knowledge of advanced countries, and at the same time gradually improve the capacity and level of domestic research to be able to participate in equally and mutually beneficial partnership in the long term. Strongly supporting scientific exchange activities, regional and international academic exchanges. Developing and improving the operational efficiency of a network of Vietnamese science and technology representatives in foreign countries, especially in key areas. Attracting and making the most of the strengths of Vietnamese talented scientists in foreign countries. 

The greatest lesson that previous generations have left us today is the one of a big dream in science, a desire to serve the country with science and an extraordinary effort to make dreams and aspiration come true at all costs. It is a valuable spiritual value that we need to inherit, continue to nurture and promote in the new age. The honor and pride of the 60-year history tradition will inspire motivation and faith in the country's scientific and technological forces, the determination to unite and creative efforts to multiply potentials and Vietnamese intellectual resources, bringing science and technology to a new level, making greater and more practical contributions to the country's fast and sustainable development, being worthy of the trust and expectation of the Party, State and people. 

Looking back on the history and development of science and technology, we respect and appreciate the profound guidance of the Party, the State and the Government, the predecessors of the State Science Committee, State Science and Technics Committee, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the generations of Vietnamese and foreign scientific officials in each historical period, they have co-written the traditional golden pages for Vietnamese science and technology, with both blood and bones and silent sacrifices on the way of creation, with intelligence and devotion to the country, to bring the country’s science and technology to overcome a wide range of challenges in wartime and to flourish in the era of peace and national construction.

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(1) The law system on science and technology is created and completed including 8 specialized laws and guiding documents to comprehensively regulate the fields of state management of science and technology: Law on Science and Technology in 2000, replaced by Law on Science and Technology in 2013; Law on Intellectual Property in 2005, amended and supplemented in 2009 and 2019; Law on Technology Transfer in 2006, replaced in 2017; Law on Standards and Technical Regulations in 2006; Law on quality of products and goods in 2007; Atomic Energy Law in 2008; Law on High Technology in 2008; Law on Measurement in 2011. At the same time, the Government has synchoronously issued  a number of national strategies, plan, programs, projects on scientific and techonological development in medium and long-term

Source: Communist Review No. 933 (January 2020)