Sci-tech research emphasised
Sci-tech research emphasised
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam urged representatives from ministries and agencies to work harder at promoting science and technology research at a meeting last week.
In 2010, Viet Nam launched a programme to develop key national products and another to promote high tech development. In 2012, the country launched a programme on technological innovation. However, few ministries or agencies approved or implemented relevant projects, said Ha Minh Hiep, head of the national office for the National Science and Technology Programme, adding that the country also faced a shortage of technology experts.
Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan said that due to decentralisation, ministries and agencies were empowered to approve national-level projects.
"The State budget cannot afford all approved projects," he said.
Representatives from the ministries of Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development and Health said that project approval, funding and implementation mechanisms were not the same across ministries, resulting in a lot of wasted time.
Quan said that it was important to identify the role and responsibility of each ministry and agency for project content and funding, which would be disbursed directly from the State budget to ministries.
Deputy Prime Minister Dam asked the Finance Ministry to arrange funding for technological programmes during 2014-15, as this would help the Technology Ministry to select suitable projects and mobilise other resources if needed.
Dam emphasised that all projects approved in the two years must be completed and demonstrate practical results before others were launched.
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