NAFOSTED innovates the assessment of science and technology tasks: Applied research becomes the driving force for development

Innovating mechanisms, promoting research and development linked to practice, creating momentum for sustainable development

In his opening speech, Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of NAFOSTED, expressed his gratitude to the members of the Scientific Council (SC). The previous term of the NCUD for its persistent and dedicated contributions in reviewing, commenting, and accepting hundreds of topics, building academic standards for the activities of NCUD in Vietnam. At the same time, highly appreciated the participation of the Scientific Council for the term 2024 - 2026 - a gathering place of in-depth, multi-disciplinary experts with rich practical experience, promising to expand the funding space, improve the quality of NCUD and increase the impact on economic and social life.

2025 is the first year of implementing two strategic documents: Resolution 57-NQ/TW and the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation (S&I). These are solid institutional foundations, paving the way for S&I to play a pivotal role in the country's new growth model. Accordingly, one of the major breakthroughs recognized by the Law is allowing public S&T funds such as NAFOSTED to fund tasks in the form of ordering, co-funding and funding by task clusters - things that previously did not have a clear legal corridor.

Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien emphasized that scientists, Council members and funding agencies need to change their mindset: From academic research to research for added value; from input to output; from separation to connection. "NAFOSTED will promote innovation in management tools: Applying digital platforms in project management; statistics - analyzing historical data to support informed selection; Building a set of indicators to assess the impact and applicability of projects".

Accordingly, the 2025 NCUD program will be implemented according to four major orientations including:

First, clearly define the types of tasks. The Fund will maintain two implementation directions: Open-proposal funding, for research groups that propose solutions to universal problems; and ordered funding, focusing on priority areas of the Government , localities and enterprises.

Second, strengthen multi-dimensional evaluation. In addition to the S&T factor, tasks will be evaluated on the basis of implementation feasibility, commercial readiness and ability to create socio-economic impact. In particular, application experts, business experts and technology user representatives will participate more deeply in the review process.

Third, piloting task clusters and research chains. The Fund will select a number of areas with high spillover potential such as smart agriculture, renewable energy, waste treatment, public health, etc. to fund many interconnected topics, all aiming for a final result that can be implemented in practice.

Fourth, strengthen post-funding support. The executive agency will play the role of "conductor" connecting research groups with local innovation funds, technology incubation programs and businesses with the capacity to commercialize products.

He expressed his hope that the Scientific Councils will not only be a place for appraisal and evaluation, but also become an arm for policy orientation, encouraging the spirit of science serving society, spreading the value of innovation to each industry and each locality.

Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of NAFOSTED delivered the opening speech at the Workshop.

Regarding the new regulations on project management and evaluation, Mr. Nguyen Phu Binh, Deputy Director of NAFOSTED, said that Circular No. 15/2016/TT-BKHCN (amended and supplemented in Circular 10/2024/TT-BKHCN) has focused on simplifying administrative procedures, increasing flexibility and risk acceptance in research. Specifically, the project implementation period is 36 months, the assessment will be conducted through the Science and Technology Council and independent consultants, the application will be submitted completely online (eliminating direct defense); additional expenses such as attending international conferences, prioritizing funding according to the risk acceptance fund mechanism and material allocation. In particular, income from salaries and wages from performing S&T tasks using the state budget will not be subject to personal income tax, and the management and ownership of research results will also be clarified.

Notably, the Fund will simplify and promote online application submission via the OMS system; the organization hosting and leading the project must ensure academic integrity; project results reports must self-assess the level of success and describe the social impact of the project... These changes aim to create a more favorable environment, promoting applied research that brings practical value to society.

In principle, the evaluation of the topic must be based on the dossier, carried out by the Science and Technology Council and independent experts, ensuring objectivity, democracy, transparency and access to international standards. The topic selection process takes place in two steps: (i) Meeting to determine the validity of the dossier, introduce the evaluation expert; (ii) Evaluation - selection meeting. Similarly, in the implementation results evaluation stage, each dossier will be reviewed by at least two members of the Council and/or at least three independent consultants if necessary.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Binh emphasized that through streamlining procedures, enhancing objectivity and promoting accountability, NAFOSTED hopes to encourage many breakthrough ideas, promote applied research and make practical contributions to the country's sustainable development.

The workshop also acknowledged and expressed gratitude to the NAFOSTED Scientific Research Councils for the 2020-2024 term for their great contributions to improving the quality of funding activities. At the same time, the decision to consolidate the NAFOSTED Scientific Research Councils for the 2024-2026 term was announced. Accordingly, members of the Scientific Research Councils are scientists with outstanding research achievements nationwide, meeting the criteria for evaluation experts specified in Article 6 of Circular No. 15/2016/TT-BKHCN amended and supplemented by Circular 10/2024/TT-BKHCN, and are trusted and recommended by scientists in the same field.

Members of the Scientific Council for the 2020-2024 term of the 3 Research Councils in the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities; Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology; Medicine, Pharmacy and Agriculture took a souvenir photo.

Connecting research - production - market: NAFOSTED expands application space

Speaking at the Workshop, Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son, President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, representing the Scientific Council for the 2024-2026 term, expressed his sincere gratitude for the trust and responsibility that the Ministry of Science and Technology and NAFOSTED have entrusted to the Scientific Council - from selection, orientation, supervision to evaluation. He affirmed that participating in the Council is not only a professional responsibility, but also a special expectation for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation (STEM) - a field that is playing a key role in the country's development.

In the new context, with many challenges, Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son said that basic science needs to go hand in hand with applied research, aiming to form products that can be applied, transferred, replicated models and bring direct impacts to socio-economic development. He proposed three major focuses for the Council including: Building research orientations associated with the practical needs of the country and social life, especially in the context of digital transformation, innovation, application and transfer; Encouraging interdisciplinary, creative and cooperative topics and projects for well-founded application, with prospects for replication, creating products and models; Ensuring scientific, standard and professional ethics in all activities from review, inspection to evaluation. At the same time, he expressed his commitment that the new Scientific Councils will work objectively, fairly and transparently to contribute to improving the quality of scientific research in general and applied research activities in particular.

Representing science and technology organizations, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Council of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, acknowledged the close attention of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the NAFOSTED Foundation in placing their trust in the team of scientists, institutes and enterprises in implementing national science and technology tasks.

He said that the new point in the composition of the Scientific Council this time is the participation of National Assembly deputies and business representatives, creating a "new color, new way of doing things" in the process of building and evaluating scientific policies. With nearly 70 years of development, Hanoi University of Science and Technology aims to reach Asia in the coming years, in parallel with closer cooperation with businesses and research institutes, especially in the field of core technology and technologies in the list of strategic technologies and national strategic technology products.

He shared that the school has issued Resolution No. 86-NQ/DU on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation to concretize Resolution 57 of the Central Committee, with the goal that by 2035, at least 35% of the revenue of the University of Science and Technology will come from science and technology, and this number will increase to 50% by 2050. "Research does not stop at international articles, but must be demonstrated through products, revenue and practical values ​​for society. With the support of the Ministry and the Fund, scientists of Hanoi University of Science and Technology will have more opportunities to cooperate domestically and internationally to create products that benefit the community," emphasized Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan.

Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Party Secretary, Chairman of the Council of Hanoi University of Science and Technology spoke at the Workshop.

At the Workshop, delegates focused on exchanging and discussing innovations in funding mechanisms, methods of evaluating S&T tasks in R&D as well as the activities of the Council, and expected that the selection, orientation, monitoring and evaluation work will be increasingly effective and transparent.

In his closing speech, Mr. Dao Ngoc Chien affirmed that the sharing and commitments from the Scientific Councils, institutes, schools and enterprises have shown a spirit of consensus, responsibility and a strong desire for innovation. He emphasized that the NCUD program is not only a funding tool, but also a "bridge connecting research - production - market", built with knowledge, responsibility and academic dialogue. Accordingly, the Fund will accompany scientists to turn ideas into products, turn research into value and turn expectations into reality - contributing to realizing the goal of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation becoming the pillars in the country's new growth model.