The Vietnamese government, through the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), is currently drafting a new policy to overhaul the national research funding mechanism. This step is taken to shift from the old paradigm, which remains stuck in conventional project spending models, toward a more dynamic, market-oriented, and results-based investment approach.
Dao Ngoc Chien, Director of NAFOSTED, emphasized that the current budget management system is considered less than accurate in capturing the complexity of high-tech development. The draft of the new circular will focus funding on the integration of the research world and the business sector, ensuring that every innovation has a strong footing in the market and supports national technological self-reliance.
The program has an ambitious target to produce at least 30 strategic technological products that are competitive regionally and internationally by 2030. The strategies to be implemented include a 24-month controlled trial or sandbox concept, providing flexibility to research organizations, and conditional pre-purchase mechanisms to stimulate early market demand.
Responding to the challenge of a lack of talent competitiveness, the government is proposing a highly competitive salary structure for experts. Chief engineers, for instance, could receive remuneration of up to 300 million VND per month. This policy is designed to attract top-tier scientists while eliminating bureaucratic obstacles, such as adjusting risk reserve funds and fixed output-based budget settlement methods.
This reform step also aligns with Vietnam's desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States in the fields of innovation and digital transformation. By adopting a strategic investment mindset, Vietnam seeks to build a more resilient, flexible research ecosystem capable of addressing future technological needs to safeguard national defense and economic growth.
