The scientific and technological research activities of the research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade must be linked to the development of foundational and key industries; promote the development of smart manufacturing, digital transformation in line with the trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized this at a recent online working session with 13 research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 

Strengthening research and technology transfer into practice

The objective of the meeting was to assess the situation and operational results of the institutes under the Ministry in recent times and to determine the direction of tasks for the period 2021-2030. Thereby, promoting the role of the science and technology (S&T) organization system in performing the research function serving the process of building and formulating policies for the development of the Industry and Trade sector, contributing to the realization of the goals for sector development associated with the requirement to improve the level, capacity, and competitiveness of each product, service, and enterprise as well as the entire sector.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien speaks at the online working session with 13 research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade

 

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung; leaders of the Departments: Science and Technology, Finance and Enterprise Innovation, Planning, Organization and Personnel, Legal Affairs, Ministry Inspectorate, E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency, Ministry Office, and leaders of the 13 research institutes under the Ministry.

 

At the meeting, Mr. Tran Viet Hoa, Director of the Department of Science and Technology – the unit assigned as the focal point for state management of S&T organizations under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, presented a comprehensive assessment report on the current status of the Institutes as well as the main results and contributions from the activities of the Institutes in the development of S&T in particular and the development of the Industry and Trade sector in general.

 

Accordingly, as of now, the Ministry of Industry and Trade manages a network of research institutes consisting of 13 units, of which 2 have been equitized (excluding research institutes under economic groups, general corporations of the Industry and Trade sector, and some S&T organizations at universities and colleges under the Ministry). These are all leading S&T organizations with a history of construction and development ranging from 35 to 60 years; having independent S&T research fields, associated with various sectors, sub-sectors, and fields under the management of the Ministry.

 

In recent times, the institutes under the Ministry have played an important role in implementing the Ministry's strategy and large S&T programs. From the results of implementing the Ministry's S&T tasks and projects, with the orientation of taking enterprises as the center, the activities of the institutes have been expanded towards increasing the provision of S&T services, technology transfer, quickly bringing applied scientific research results into production and business practice, helping enterprises in the sector to innovate technology, improve productivity, quality of goods, and competitiveness.

 

This result has contributed significantly to the autonomy and development of the research institutes under the Ministry, creating resources for the institutes to continue developing S&T potential, strengthening facilities, while ensuring the maintenance and improvement of the lives and incomes of officials, employees, and workers.

In addition, the report also showed that the activities of the research institutes under the Ministry in recent times still have many shortcomings and difficulties, mainly focusing on issues such as: Mechanisms and policies for the operation of public S&T organizations; development of S&T human resources; investment in facilities to enhance S&T potential; transformation of the operating model of S&T organizations…

 

The delegates attending the meeting focused on evaluating and analyzing the operational situation of the research institutes under the Ministry in the period 2018-2020, frankly recognizing the achieved results and the remaining shortcomings, difficulties, and obstacles in the actual operations of the institutes, and on that basis determining the operational direction of the institutes for the period 2021-2030. Leaders of the 13 research institutes exchanged views, made recommendations, and proposed solutions to remove some difficulties and obstacles in the process of operation.

 

Towards mastering 4.0 technologies

Concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged the results and contributions of the institutes in the past period. At the same time, the Minister also set out requirements and tasks for the institutes in the next period as the Industry and Trade sector accelerates the restructuring process with the orientation of taking science, technology and innovation as one of the breakthrough solutions, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Mr. Tran Viet Hoa, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, reports on the current status of the institutes

 

The Minister emphasized: The research institutes under the Ministry must become core factors in the network of science and technology organizations of the Industry and Trade sector; have science and technology products of national and regional stature that are effectively applied in practice; perform well the role of consulting and providing scientific and practical arguments to help the Ministry build and perfect the policy system and sector development strategy, initially for the period 2021–2025 and vision to 2030.

 

At the same time, the institutes must be units that provide technology transfer consulting services to enterprises, helping enterprises gradually upgrade technology, improve productivity, quality and competitiveness; S&T research activities must be linked to the development of foundational and key industries; promote the development of smart manufacturing, digital transformation in line with the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 

On that basis, the Minister requested the institutes to focus on implementing a number of key tasks in the coming time, specifically: Focus on developing and approving the Development Strategy of the unit for the period 2021 – 2030 in line with the development orientation and sector restructuring objectives; in line with the National S&T Development Strategy, the Industry and Trade sector for the period 2021-2030, closely linked with global S&T development trends, especially the requirements set by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

 

At the same time, develop and implement the S&T Plan for the medium-term period 2021-2025 and long-term 2025-2030. Actively participate and enhance quality in advising on policy and strategy formulation; develop detailed action plans to effectively implement the development and application of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment in the fields of industry and trade.

 

Build and develop capacity to ensure consulting and supporting enterprises in the process of technology innovation, especially associated with the development of foundational and key industries; promote the development of smart manufacturing, digital transformation in line with the trend of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The online working session focused on evaluating and analyzing the operational situation of the research institutes

 

In particular, towards mastering new technologies, especially 4.0 industrial technologies; forming the institute's intellectual assets (including inventions, utility solutions); accelerating the process of product commercialization, bringing S&T results into practice through joint ventures, capital contributions, and expanding production using the institute's intellectual assets.

 

In addition, implement a strong restructuring of the organization and operational apparatus of the institutes, closely following the Development Strategy of the institute for the period 2021 – 2030; focusing on the core values of the institute, promoting particular strengths. Ensure a streamlined, effective, quality, and professional operational model; towards the application of a modern governance system.

 

Furthermore, build human resources ensuring quality and priority structure; during the transition period and human resource difficulties of the institutes, there should be forms of using qualified experts to meet job requirements, while gradually training and fostering young human resources; develop networks and strengthen international cooperation.

 

The institutes also need to review, assess the current status and develop investment plans, strengthen facilities, machinery, technological equipment, infrastructure, equipment, technology serving training, applied research and technology transfer activities. Re-evaluate the operational efficiency of investment projects in the previous period, clarify the unit's priorities in building and implementing projects under the approved List of medium-term investment projects for the period 2021 – 2025; investment of the units must be linked to the Institute Development Strategy; at the same time, determine the need for continued investment of the institute in the next period, meeting the requirements for implementing the Institute Development Strategy.

 

For the functional units of the Ministry, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien requested the functional Departments to proactively coordinate with the institutes to review obstacles and difficulties so that solutions and specific recommendations can soon be made to the Ministry and functional agencies in order to promote the role of the S&T organization system of the Industry and Trade sector, so that S&T truly becomes a strategic breakthrough solution in the process of implementing the restructuring of the Industry and Trade sector in the period 2021-2030.

 

Source: Industry and Trade Newspaper at link: https://congthuong.vn/phat-trien-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-phai-gan-voi-cac-nganh-cong-nghiep-chu-chot-158469.html