One of the issues that many voters and people are interested in was questioned by the 18th Provincial People's Council delegates to Comrade Tran Duy Binh, Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Science and Technology (KH&CN) at the 20th Session: ... the proposal, selection and assignment of S&T tasks to organizations and individuals still have many shortcomings; there are still many S&T research topics, projects and proposals that after evaluation and acceptance are not applied in practice, and if applied, the efficiency is not high. It is proposed to clarify the current situation, causes and solutions to improve the efficiency and practicality of S&T topics, projects and proposals using state budget funds in the province, period 2020 - 2023.

Director of Department of Science and Technology Tran Duy Binh answered questions.

Responding to the question and answer session, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Tran Duy Binh said: In the period of 2020-2023, in addition to the science and technology tasks transferred from before 2020, based on 531 proposals for science and technology tasks from organizations and enterprises inside and outside the province, based on regulations, the Department of Science and Technology has advised the Provincial Science and Technology Council to select and submit to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for approval a list of 179 science and technology tasks to be deployed in the province, including 123 tasks directly assigned to tasks of a specific nature and 56 tasks implemented by selection, ensuring competitiveness, fairness, efficiency and selection of units with sufficient capacity to preside over the implementation of science and technology tasks.

In addition to the achieved results, there are still many topics, projects, and scientific and technological research projects that, after evaluation and acceptance, are not applied in practice, and if applied, the effectiveness is not high. Specifically, in the period of 2020-2023, the province is focusing on overcoming a number of scientific and technological tasks that are at risk and inadequate (mainly tasks transferred from the period before 2020), including: Those that are being implemented must be stopped (12 tasks); newly approved list, not yet implemented, the presiding unit has sent a document requesting to stop implementing (2 tasks), scientific and technological tasks are prolonged, the time must be extended (25 tasks); the number of scientific and technological tasks completed but the acceptance assessment is "unsatisfactory" (4 tasks); the results of some tasks are slow to be applied or when applied to serve production and life, the effectiveness is not high...

Delegate Nguyen Tuan Tuong (Delegation of Ba Thuoc district) asked questions.

Faced with the above situation, the delegates of the Provincial People's Council raised many questions and requested the Director of the Department of Science and Technology to clarify why the number of registered science and technology tasks is high, but the Department of Science and Technology advises and proposes to the Provincial Science and Technology Council to select limited tasks, leading to the implementation of tasks that have to be stopped, or have their time extended, or have their acceptance not met. What are the causes of the limitations in advising and proposing the selection of provincial science and technology tasks and what are the solutions to overcome them in the coming time?

Responding to questions from the People's Council delegates, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology said: In the 2020-2023 period, there were 531 proposals, however, after review, many proposals did not closely follow the strategies, goals, and socio-economic development plans of the province and according to regulations did not ensure novelty, urgency, timeliness, overlap with tasks that have been and are being performed or there was no unit ordering and committing to use the results when the task was successfully performed. Therefore, according to regulations, after review, 179 tasks were approved.

Delegate Le Thi Huong (Tho Xuan District Delegate Group) asked questions.

The Director of the Department of Science and Technology affirmed: The consultation on the selection of science and technology tasks was carried out by the Department of Science and Technology in accordance with regulations and objectively. Organizations and individuals sent proposals through the Provincial Public Administration Service Center. Upon receiving them, the Department of Science and Technology coordinated with departments and branches to review and advise the Provincial Science and Technology Council through the first session. The Department of Science and Technology organized specialized member councils to complete the proposals, synthesize the results and submit them to the Provincial Science and Technology Council for the second session. The Science and Technology Council unanimously submitted them to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for approval... However, there were still tasks that were stopped, had to be extended, and were not accepted (mainly tasks transferred from the previous year to 2020). In addition, there are a few tasks approved in the 2020-2023 period, due to many reasons, mainly because the host unit encountered difficulties in production and business activities (epidemic, social distancing), could not arrange experimental models in the field, human resources and counterpart funds to carry out the tasks.

The Director of the Department of Science and Technology also proposed solutions in the coming time, which are: Continue to strengthen coordination with relevant sectors and units to develop and announce priority orientations in proposing orders for science and technology tasks that are close to reality, in the direction of application, focusing on solving practical and urgent problems in the locality, widely and publicly sending them to organizations and individuals to research and propose orders for science and technology tasks according to regulations. Continue to advise the Provincial Science and Technology Council to improve the quality of reviewing and implementing science and technology tasks. At the same time, organize capacity assessment to select units with sufficient capacity to preside over the implementation of provincial science and technology tasks. Enhance responsibility in organizing specialized advisory councils. For specialized tasks, continue to proactively invite Directors of departments and heads of sectors to be Chairmen of specialized advisory councils, in order to enhance expertise and suitability to practical requirements, and the responsibility of departments and sectors in implementing, applying, and replicating the results of science and technology tasks to serve the socio-economic development of the sector and locality.

Delegate Mai Nhu Thang (Trieu Son District Delegate Group) asked questions.

The People's Council delegates also raised questions about the proposal, selection and assignment of organizations and individuals to perform S&T tasks, which still have many shortcomings; there are still many S&T research topics, projects and proposals that, after evaluation and acceptance, are not applied in practice, and if they are applied, the effectiveness is not high. What are the causes and solutions to improve the effectiveness and practicality of S&T topics, projects and proposals using state budget funds in the province?

Answering the questions of the People's Council Delegates, Director of the Department of Science and Technology Tran Duy Binh stated: The reason why many scientific and technological research topics and projects have not achieved high efficiency is because: The nature of scientific research is to find something new, experimental and uncertain, and may or may not be successful. If it is certain, there is no need to research anymore; unsuccessful applied research topics and projects are also a contribution to clarifying the direction for the scientific community in other research. In addition, the Regulations on task management according to the Law, Decree, and Circular still have many shortcomings, many unclear points, and the procedures for implementing scientific and technological tasks are cumbersome and take many stages and levels, causing inconvenience, difficulties, and not creating motivation for researchers.

In addition, the characteristics of scientific research are novelty, delay, high risk; technology deployment has increasingly shorter cycles and life cycles, high commercialization while the time to carry out a S&T task according to current regulations is from 3 to 5 years to get results. Therefore, the time to determine S&T tasks to propose ordering S&T tasks is new and urgent, but when the S&T task is completed, the novelty and urgency are greatly reduced... Therefore, the Department of Science and Technology encounters many difficulties in the work of inspecting and supervising the implementation of tasks, especially practical inspection. In addition, the allocation of funds for the S&T sector is not really commensurate with the assigned functions and tasks.

Director of Department of Science and Technology Tran Duy Binh answered questions.

For the above situation to occur, comrade Tran Duy Binh also frankly accepted the responsibility of the Department of Science and Technology as an advisory body to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on state management of science and technology, at times, there were times when it did not do a good job of inspecting, controlling, and urging the units in charge of implementing science and technology tasks to promptly detect and resolve difficult and problematic science and technology tasks or handle the suspension of implementation of tasks that could not be completed, and promptly recover funds to be paid to the provincial budget.

In response to questions about solutions to improve the efficiency and practicality of science and technology topics, projects and proposals using state budget funds in the province in the period of 2024 - 2025 and the period of 2025 - 2030 of the People's Council delegates, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology emphasized: In the coming time, the Department of Science and Technology will continue to review and advise the National Assembly and the Government to amend the Law and Decree related to science and technology activities and advise the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Provincial People's Committee to amend and supplement regulations on management of science and technology tasks to overcome shortcomings, limitations and inadequacies in the management and implementation of science and technology tasks in the province. Research and advise on the orientation of science and technology development in Thanh Hoa province in the period of 2025 - 2030.

In addition, continue to coordinate with relevant sectors and units to develop and announce priority orientations in proposing orders for S&T tasks that are close to reality, in the direction of application, focusing on solving practical and urgent problems in the locality, widely and publicly sending them to organizations and individuals to research and propose orders for S&T tasks according to regulations. At the same time, proactively coordinate with departments, branches, districts, cities and relevant units to regularly organize inspections and urge, thereby removing difficulties and promptly correcting shortcomings and limitations of organizations and individuals in charge of implementation. Resolutely advise the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to stop implementing S&T tasks when it is considered that the unit in charge is no longer capable, the task does not achieve the target, the time is prolonged, is no longer practical and effective, in order to promptly recover the budget...

Comrade Le Duc Giang, Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, further explained and clarified related issues.

At the question and answer session, comrade Le Duc Giang, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Science and Innovation Council agreed with the statements and answers of the Director of the Department of Science and Technology. At the same time, he affirmed: Research and application activities of science and technology in our province are deployed in many fields, applied deeply and widely in practical life, especially in the fields of agriculture, education, health... have been recognized by the State, with national awards and proven by practical production and life.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Giang also clarified issues related to the current situation, causes and solutions to improve the effectiveness and practicality of science and technology topics and projects using funds from the State budget in the province in the period of 2020-2023. Accordingly, to overcome the shortcomings and limitations that delegates and voters are concerned about and strive to make science and technology truly a breakthrough in the socio-economic development of the province, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Giang suggested that in the coming time, the science and technology sector needs to eliminate administrative thinking in science and technology activities, strongly shifting from mechanical and rigid management thinking to the thinking of serving businesses, serving units and scientists. Advise on the development, amendment and supplementation of regulations on task determination, selection, direct assignment, funding approval, reduction of administrative procedures, etc. Implement selection methods to ensure objectivity, equality and savings of the State budget. Coordinate well between the Department of Science and Technology and departments, branches, districts, towns, cities and related units, strengthen inspection and examination of science and technology tasks to remove difficulties and obstacles, promptly correct shortcomings and limitations. At the same time, propose solutions to develop science and technology enterprises commensurate with the potential and advantages of the province; attract and utilize talented science and technology human resources; have solutions to attract large enterprises inside and outside the province to invest in science and technology development; invite scientists who are Thanh Hoa's children studying, working and living in and outside the country to participate in science and technology activities to contribute to the development of the province.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Giang affirmed: We will resolutely stop the tasks when the presiding unit does not ensure the implementation capacity or the tasks are no longer practical, promptly recover the assigned State budget. At the same time, we commit that in the coming time, the Provincial People's Committee will continue to lead the Science and Technology Council, and the Department of Science and Technology to perform their functions and tasks well. Especially the issue of researching and applying new products to serve socio-economic development as well as people's lives.

Comrade Do Trong Hung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council delivered a concluding speech on the questioning content.

Concluding the questioning session, Comrade Do Trong Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, affirmed: In recent times, scientific and technological research activities have been carried out in many different fields and professions; many scientific and technological topics and projects have been applied, bringing positive results and promoting their role in socio-economic development. A number of rice, sugarcane, corn and soybean varieties with high yield, quality and resistance to pests and diseases have been selected, created, and selected to serve agricultural production; open heart surgery techniques, corneal transplantation techniques, and kidney transplantation techniques have been successfully researched and applied in Thanh Hoa province to examine and treat people.

Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Do Trong Hung also pointed out a number of shortcomings and limitations: Human resources for science and technology, especially human resources directly involved in research, application and transfer of science and technology, are still few and lower than the national average; proposals for science and technology tasks are still few and unbalanced in the fields of science and technology research serving socio-economic development; consultation, proposal, selection and assignment of organizations and individuals to perform science and technology tasks still have many shortcomings; many departments, branches and localities have not proposed and researched science and technology tasks for many years; inspection, examination and supervision in the management of science and technology tasks are not regular and responsibility is not high; science and technology enterprises have not developed commensurate with the province's potential; have not attracted and recruited talented young scientists to create high-quality science and technology human resources for the province; The use of funds for implementing S&T tasks is not really effective, the annual funding rate is low compared to the assigned estimate. Some S&T tasks when implemented are not really practical, effective, do not meet the set goals, have to stop implementation, extend the implementation time; completed but not accepted; slow to put into application or put into application to serve production and life but not very effective; have not carried out post-inspection work for S&T tasks after acceptance and application...

Comrade Do Trong Hung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council delivered a concluding speech on the questioning content.

To promptly overcome the above situation, the Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Do Trong Hung proposed: Immediately after the Provincial People's Council meeting, the Provincial People's Committee is requested to direct the Department of Science and Technology and relevant departments, branches, localities and units to step up propaganda, raise awareness and responsibility of Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches, localities, especially leaders on the role of science and technology in the socio-economic development of the province and the implementation of development goals of each sector and field. Continue to focus on directing the good implementation of Resolution No. 20/2021/NQ-HDND dated July 17, 2021 of the Provincial People's Council on policies to encourage the development of science and technology to become a breakthrough in the socio-economic development of Thanh Hoa province, period 2021-2025. Focus on directing research on science and technology tasks in the fields of departments, branches and localities, and propose to the Provincial People's Committee to carry out the tasks of departments, branches, localities and units.

Improve research capacity, application and transfer of scientific and technological advances; focus on innovation; proactively and actively participate in and strongly apply the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to serve rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. Review, amend and supplement regulations on task determination, selection, direct assignment, appraisal and approval of funding for scientific and technological tasks, ensuring compliance with regulations, encouraging scientific and technological development. Annually, promptly approve scientific and technological tasks for implementation. Implement selection methods, minimize direct assignment methods to select units with sufficient capacity to take charge of implementing scientific and technological tasks; ensure transparency, objectivity and equality among organizations and individuals in the process of implementing provincial-level scientific and technological tasks according to regulations.

Organize capacity assessment to select units with sufficient capacity to take charge of implementing provincial-level science and technology tasks. Annually, develop and publicly announce priority orientations in proposing science and technology tasks towards high-tech application, specific science and technology contents of the province; focus on solving practical and urgent issues in sectors, fields, and localities for organizations and individuals to research and propose orders for science and technology tasks. The Department of Science and Technology advises the Provincial Science and Technology Council to improve the quality of reviewing and implementing science and technology tasks.

Implement strictly, responsibly, with quality and in accordance with the prescribed process of managing S&T tasks at all stages: Ordering, consulting on task determination, selecting or directly assigning S&T tasks, appraising, accepting and handling assets formed during the task implementation process... Thoroughly implement the form of spending on final products or spending on parts of S&T tasks, ensuring that S&T tasks are implemented in a truly practical and quality manner, contributing to solving in a scientific and effective manner practical social issues that are arising, serving the socio-economic development goals, ensuring national defense and security of the province.

There are solutions to develop science and technology enterprises commensurate with the potential and advantages of the province. Promote the attraction and use of science and technology human resources, especially attracting and recruiting talented young scientists, to create high-quality science and technology human resources for the province; increase investment in facilities, infrastructure and equipment to serve the state management of science and technology. There are solutions to attract large enterprises inside and outside the province to invest in science and technology development.

Organize well the handover of research results of science and technology tasks. Urge the leading units to closely coordinate with all levels, branches, district People's Committees, and enterprises to develop plans and organize the application of research results to production and life, serving socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security of the province. Implement well the coordination between the Department of Science and Technology with departments, branches, districts, towns, cities and related units to regularly organize inspections and urge, thereby removing difficulties and promptly correcting shortcomings and limitations of the organizations and individuals in charge of implementation.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Do Trong Hung also requested: Stop the implementation of S&T tasks when it is found that the presiding unit no longer has the capacity to perform, the time is prolonged, and it is no longer practical or effective, in order to promptly recover the budget. At the same time, prioritize the allocation of funding for S&T tasks, especially funding for district and commune levels; focus on directing the effective use of allocated funding in accordance with the approved estimates, contents and tasks. Strengthen the inspection, examination and supervision of the management and implementation of S&T tasks; organize the implementation of post-inspection of S&T tasks after acceptance and application; promote administrative procedure reform, digital transformation; raise awareness and responsibility in the fight against and prevention of corruption and negativity in the field of S&T. Timely honor and reward organizations and individuals who preside over effective science and technology tasks, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

Tran Hang