From hydropower plants, thermal power plants, bauxite refineries to supplying equipment for the automotive and motorcycle industries... all bear the mark of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (NARIME).

From success in technology transfer

Highlighting successes in technology transfer in several fields such as hydropower, Dr. Phan Dang Phong, Director of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (NARIME) stated that the Institute has advised the Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to assign domestic enterprises to carry out the design and manufacture of hydraulic mechanical equipment. In this regard, NARIME, in addition to participating in manufacturing, must master the design work.

Dr. Phan Dang Phong, Director of NARIME, introduces some of the Institute's research achievements to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, and Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat

“The Institute hired Ukrainian experts to come to Vietnam to carry out the design work and worked with Vietnamese mechanical enterprises to manufacture and supply equipment for over 30 hydropower projects worth tens of trillions of VND, contributing to Son La hydropower plant generating electricity 3 years early and Lai Chau plant generating electricity 1 year early” - Dr. Phan Dang Phong stated, while emphasizing that because they mastered the design and manufacturing technology, even though some projects required international bidding, the Institute and Vietnamese enterprises won the bids to execute these projects.

Regarding thermal power, with the support of the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Science and Technology under Mechanism 1791/QD-TTg and the thermal power science and technology project, NARIME has mastered the design and manufacture of complex equipment items that were previously the prerogative of foreign contractors, such as electrostatic precipitators, ash and slag disposal systems, and coal transport systems for projects like Vung Ang 1, Thai Binh 1, Song Hau 1, Nghi Son 2, Vung Ang 2. For four of these projects, the Institute acted as a subcontractor to foreign general contractors Marubeni, Doosan, Hyundai; for two projects, the investors were Marubeni and MHI, Japanese companies. The quality of services and machinery has met the stringent requirements of foreign contractors and investors.

Regarding bauxite, NARIME bid and was selected by the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) as the consultant for the investor in building the Tan Rai and Nhan Co projects. To execute the projects, the Institute hired over ten world-leading experts in this field to work in Vietnam for nearly ten years. To date, the Institute has mastered the technology for designing bauxite plants and can undertake the expansion as well as construction of new bauxite plants.

Regarding automation technology, the Institute has designed and integrated many complex automation systems for hydropower plants, thermal power plants, automotive factories, motorcycle factories, and warehouses at prices that are very competitive with foreign contractors, helping investors significantly reduce investment costs as well as dependence on foreign companies.

Promoting the effectiveness of the self-reliance mechanism

As a public service unit under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the scientific, technological, innovative activities and brand building of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering have been continuously strengthened over the periods. To build its brand, the Institute focuses on developing its capacity to provide appropriate solutions for projects; at the same time, fostering a high sense of responsibility among all leaders and staff of the Institute; promoting its position as a State institute, providing good advisory work to the Government, ministries, and sectors in industrial development; and partnering and linking with foreign companies to learn and receive technology transfer.

Combined stacker-reclaimer (ST/RE) - Coal handling system for Song Hau 1 thermal power plant

First, regarding capacity building, the Institute focuses on its strength: a pool of experienced staff in the design and manufacture of equipment in the mechanical engineering field. It concentrates on developing capabilities in consulting, design, and receiving technology transfer for complete equipment lines in industrial sectors such as cement, hydropower, thermal power, mineral mining and processing; production process automation; new and renewable energy.

Realizing the Party's and State's policy on strengthening the capacity to master project management and domestic manufacture of machinery and equipment to replace imports, the Institute has done well in advising the Government on mechanisms and policies to develop specific policies for each industrial sector. Based on these mechanisms, the localization rate of machinery, equipment, and technical services in the mechanical engineering sector has increased significantly from 2005 to the present.

The Institute also identifies responsibility as a crucial factor building NARIME's reputation with the Government as well as domestic and international partners. Besides this, the Institute was also one of the early public service units to implement the self-reliance and self-responsibility mechanism under Government Decree No. 115/2005/ND-CP.

To date, the annual growth rate has been stable at least 10%, average annual revenue is about 1,000 billion VND, the lives of staff members are stable, and the capacity of scientific research staff is constantly improving.

These successes affirm the correct direction of the Institute in building its development strategy in conjunction with the development planning of domestic economic sectors to create traditional, long-term products.

Only in this way can it leverage support resources from the state budget in researching and mastering technologies for difficult and complex systems in the initial projects, to achieve self-reliance in subsequent projects, contributing to gradually improving the capacity of domestic enterprises and enhancing the position of Vietnamese scientists with the spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening in undertaking similar systems in the future.

According to Dr. Phan Dang Phong, in recent times, the leadership of the Government, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have implemented correct and practical policies that have helped promote scientific, technological, and innovative activities.

We hope that in the coming time, policies on science and technology will become increasingly perfected so that Vietnam will have more science and technology enterprises owning foundational technologies, capable of being self-reliant and self-strengthening in the design and manufacture of complete equipment lines for domestic industries in particular and the nation's industry in general.

“Only then can Vietnam's mechanical engineering industry and the nation's science and technology reach continental and international levels, creating many practical products to build a prosperous Vietnam, allowing the community of scientists to confidently dedicate themselves to the cause of science, technology, and innovation, creating momentum for sustainable development in the coming time” - Dr. Phan Dang Phong emphasized.

The National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering has achieved some successes in researching and developing high-tech products in line with Industry 4.0, focusing on automatic production lines and smart warehouses suitable for the development orientation of the digital economy.

Source: Cong Thuong Newspaper