Recently, on June 12, 2026, the Annual Conference of the Club (CLB) of Institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade took place successfully. This year, the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering (NARIME) was honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of hosting this important event. Comrade Phan Đăng Phong – Director of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Head of the CLB – directly presided over the conference.

The Conference was a forum bringing together 21 research institutes on science and technology (S&T) operating in multiple sectors and fields under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, accompanied by the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This was an opportunity for the units to review the journey passed, share professional information on science and technology activities, and jointly resolve difficulties, shape strategic steps, and develop science and innovation in the coming period.

Affirming the Key Role in Advisory and Technology Application

Delivering the opening speech, Comrade Phan Đăng Phong emphasized: The research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade possess great intellectual potential, serving as a launchpad for innovation, green transition, and promoting industrialization and modernization of the country.

Comrade Phan Đăng Phong - Director of the National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Head of the CLB, delivers the opening speech and also reports at the Conference

According to the summary report, over the past year, the CLB has excellently promoted its connecting role, acting as a solid bridge between state management agencies and research practice. Member institutes have actively coordinated with the Department of Science and Technology (the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion) to participate in building and completing many fundamental legal documents such as: the amended Law on Science and Technology, Decree 95/2014/ND-CP, the National Science and Technology Organization Planning...

In particular, the research capacity of the institutes has been clearly affirmed through leading and making profound contributions to core sector development strategies: Vietnam Mechanical Industry Development Strategy for the period 2026-2045, Railway Industry Development Project, Electrical, Chemical, Food, Milk Industry Strategies…

Sharing Resources - Overcoming Challenges of the Self-reliance Model

Besides the achieved results, the conference spent most of its time discussing frank and pivotal challenges. In the spirit of thoroughly implementing the policy of streamlining the apparatus and substantively implementing the Emulation Movement to successfully realize Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the system of institutes under the Ministry is facing major changes in structure and financial mechanisms.

Currently, among the total 21 member institutes, the level of financial autonomy has strongly differentiated: from models fully guaranteed by the State (the Institute for Strategy and Policy on Industry and Trade), partial autonomy (7 institutes), autonomy for recurrent expenditure and investment (8 institutes), to units that have transformed into Joint Stock Companies, Single-member Limited Liability Companies, or independent accounting units.

The challenge becomes even greater as the Ministry of Finance has just issued a Draft Decree dated May 29, 2026 on converting public service units into enterprises. Facing this problem, the conference became a space for sharing extremely valuable practical experiences. The institutes leading in comprehensive financial autonomy mechanisms such as National Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Energy, Institute of Industrial Chemistry... openly shared lessons on optimizing the apparatus, commercializing research products, and seeking non-budget revenues.

Next, the Conference heard a speech and sharing from Comrade Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, Director of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on the current implementation status of S&T tasks, innovation and Digital Transformation in Vietnam as well as at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Lam Giang - Director of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion, Chairperson of the CLB, speaks at the Conference

In the discussion part, leaders of research institutes actively contributed presentations, sharing practical lessons from their units; meanwhile, the Conference also heard important speeches, sharing, and contributions from Comrade Cao Quoc Hung, former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Comrade Nguyen Phu Cuong, former Director of the Department of Science and Technology, former Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Chemical Group (Vinachem); and Comrade Tran Viet Hoa, Director of the Agency for Industry.

Comrade Tran Viet Hoa - Director of the Agency for Industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade, speaks at the Conference

Former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Cao Quoc Hung, speaks at the Conference

Mr. Nguyen Phu Cuong - former Director of the Department of S&T, former Chairman of the Board of Members Vietnam Chemical Group speaks at the conference

The Conference also frankly acknowledged points needing improvement, such as coordination among some members sometimes being loose, and the funds for maintaining operations being limited. From that, the delegates highly agreed on tightening cohesion, strictly implementing operating regulations to create a strong interdisciplinary research ecosystem.

Vision for the New Period: Innovation for Sustainable Development

Closing the conference, Head of the CLB Phan Dang Phong affirmed that the entire CLB is determined to innovate thinking, turning challenges into opportunities. In the coming period, member institutes will continue to focus all resources on:

Extensive applied research: Linking scientific research with the practical needs of businesses and the market.

Promoting Digital Transformation & Green Transition: Pioneering the application of digital technology in management and optimizing technological processes to improve output product quality.

Strengthening organic linkages: Promoting interdisciplinary research cooperation projects among institutes in the CLB to optimize mutual laboratory equipment and intellectual capacity.

The close cohesion and strong spirit of information sharing at this year's annual conference is evidence of the internal strength of the Club of Institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This proactive transformation will certainly contribute practically to the stable development and breakthrough in science, technology and innovation of the industry and trade sector in particular and the country in general in the new era.

The Conference presented farewell flowers to Comrade Hoang Tien Dung and Nguyen The Truyen, and also took a commemorative photo with all delegates attending the conference.

Director of the Agency for Innovation, Green Transition and Industrial Promotion presents flowers to Mr. Nguyen The Truyen 

 The Club of Institutes takes a commemorative photo with Leaders and former Leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.