National Assembly discusses draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation

Comrade Le Minh Hoan - Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly chaired the meeting.

The Draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation was issued to replace the 2013 Law on Science and Technology to meet practical requirements and demands for the development of science, technology, and socio-economic development.

The draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation consists of 8 chapters and 83 articles (an increase of 2 articles compared to the 2013 Law on Science and Technology), regulating the activities of organizations and individuals in the fields of science, technology and innovation; measures to ensure the development of science and technology and promote innovation; and regulations on State management of science, technology and innovation.

The draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation includes 6 policy groups: Innovation in research, development and innovation activities, state management of science, technology and innovation; Development of science and technology potential; Attracting investment, facilitating the use of budget for science, technology and innovation; Promoting science, technology and innovation activities in enterprises and developing science and technology markets; Strengthening the dissemination of science and technology knowledge; Legal corridor for creative start-up activities.

The draft Law is designed based on the principles of reducing administrative procedures, strengthening post-inspection, and comprehensive digital transformation in the management and operation of science, technology and innovation.

Change management thinking towards effective management, not process management. Attract non-state budget investment sources for science and technology by encouraging enterprises to invest and provide funding for scientific research and technology development. Maximally inherit the contents of the Law on Science and Technology 2013 which has been effectively implemented in the past and is suitable for the current requirements of science, technology and innovation development.

On behalf of the review agency, Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy affirmed that the Committee basically agrees with the viewpoint of drafting the Law; proposes to more closely follow and fully institutionalize the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW.

At the same time, it is necessary to more clearly demonstrate the role of enterprises, the private economic sector, and the development "doctrine" in the field of science, technology, and innovation; to have breakthrough and outstanding regulations; to promote decentralization, delegation of power, and simplification of administrative procedures; to focus on policies to create synchronous development with management according to appropriate mechanisms.

At the same time, the auditing agency also proposed to complete a number of regulations on the controlled testing mechanism; profit sharing from commercialization of results of implementing S&T and innovation tasks using the state budget; synchronously and consistently linking with regulations on investment, finance, human resources, ecosystem infrastructure and development of the S&T and innovation market to ensure feasibility.

At the same time, build a training program for high-level research human resources and new technological skills, have a mechanism for rotating scientists between institutes - schools - enterprises, a mechanism to attract international experts and Vietnamese experts abroad to participate in strategic programs, projects, plans, and tasks of science, technology and innovation...