Ministry of Science and Technology and Ha Tinh together remove obstacles in decentralization of science and technology tasks

With Decision No. 2138/QD-BKHCN establishing a working delegation to work with Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri provinces on the operation of local governments at the commune, ward, and special economic zone levels, on the morning of August 12, a working delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology led by Mr. Tran Hau Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Standards, Metrology, and Quality, had a working session with Ha Tinh province.

The trip not only grasped the situation of the operation of the local government apparatus but also directly handled difficulties in implementing decentralized science and technology tasks; guided localities in handling difficulties; inspected and supervised the application of new processes, standards and technology systems in administrative management.

A representative of the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh said that in recent times, the province has actively implemented the Government's regulations on decentralization and delegation of authority; at the same time, it has promoted the application of digital technology , upgraded information technology infrastructure and completed management systems, and synchronized connection with national platforms. The Department has also made many recommendations to remove obstacles in the implementation of decentralized and delegated tasks.

In the field of Standards, Metrology and Quality, the Department proposed that the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality support the locality in organizing an online training course on state inspection of metrology for about 150 officials. The goal is for officials to have certificates to meet job requirements. In addition, the province also requested the Ministry to issue a document providing detailed instructions on administrative procedures after decentralization and support connecting the provincial Product Traceability Portal with the National Portal to synchronize data. Another notable recommendation is to request the Committee to provide a shared, free database of National Technical Regulations (QCVN) and National Standards (TCVN) so that grassroots officials can easily access them.

Regarding the management of science, technology and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh proposed that the Ministry soon issue guidelines for the application of Law No. 90/2025/QH15, and guidelines on the transfer of ownership and management of community trademarks for local specialty products, in order to facilitate management and development. In particular, the province also proposed to continue decentralizing the amendment, supplementation and re-issuance of licenses for foreign-invested science and technology organizations, because currently Decree 133/2025/ND-CP only decentralizes the authority to grant licenses for the first establishment.

Regarding digital transformation, the Department recommends that the Ministry urge the Central Ministries and branches to promptly issue instructions on implementing relevant decisions, propose to issue a Framework of criteria and methods for assessing the level of digital transformation at the commune level according to the 2-level government model and promptly advise the Government to issue a new Decree to replace the old Decree to suit the practical situation.

In addition, the Department of Science and Technology also requested the Ministry and its affiliated units to support Ha Tinh in training experts in artificial intelligence (AI), sharing specialized database connections and training on the process of receiving and processing administrative procedures after decentralization.

The Ministry of Science and Technology has acknowledged and clarified the recommendations, and affirmed that it will fully accept them to report to competent authorities for consideration and handling. Mr. Tran Hau Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality, emphasized that the Ministry of Science and Technology is always ready to accompany Ha Tinh to resolve difficulties arising in the process of implementing decentralized and delegated tasks. Mr. Tran Hau Ngoc also made some specific recommendations for Ha Tinh:

i) Strengthening the leadership role of the government: Decentralization and delegation of power are only effective when there is strong and unified leadership from Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially the leaders.

ii) Synchronizing implementation factors: Decentralization and delegation of power must go hand in hand with perfecting the legal framework, organizing a reasonable apparatus, training qualified human resources and investing in appropriate technical infrastructure systems.

iii) Promote training and human resource development: Organizing specialized training courses on legal knowledge and technological skills is an urgent requirement, especially for commune and ward level officials.

iv) Short-term human resource support: In the initial phase, it is necessary to mobilize support from technology enterprises, postal services or community digital transformation organizations, and students to solve the problem of shortage of information technology human resources.

For units under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Tran Hau Ngoc suggested:

i) Review and improve legal documents: Fully record local recommendations to review, evaluate and propose amendments and supplements to legal documents to ensure consistency and synchronization of the system.

ii) Regular professional support: Record local contacts to continue to guide and organize professional training courses related to information technology, digital transformation and other fields that have been decentralized and assigned by the Ministry.

iii) Strengthen coordination and supervision: Strengthen coordination between central and local levels, continue to remove obstacles in technology infrastructure, handle information signal depressions, and organize periodic inspections and supervision to promptly remove arising difficulties.

During the working trip, the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to work directly with a number of communes and wards in Ha Tinh to better understand the current situation, coordination mechanisms and proposals from the grassroots level, thereby providing more practical recommendations and support solutions.

The results of the working trip will be the basis for the Ministry of Science and Technology to synthesize and advise the Government to adjust related regulations, in order to perfect the legal framework and operating mechanism of local government models at commune, ward and special economic zone levels in the context of promoting digital transformation and administrative reform at present.