This annual event was to evaluate the overall performance of VKIST over the past period as well as to review the implementation plan and budget plan for the upcoming year. On that basis, the IC would discuss to reach the resolution on such issues as the proposal of the new organizational chart, personnel management, research plan, and so on.
The participants of the 5th IC meeting include Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of MOST cum IC Chairman; Mr. Bui The Duy, Vice Minister of MOST cum IC Vice Chairman; 4 IC members, who are prestigious scientists, namely Professor Nguyen Huu Duc, Professor Nguyen Quang Liem, Professor Truong Nam Hai, Professor Le Huy Ham; Ms. Nguyen Thuy Linh, representative from Ministry of Finance; Mr. Kum Dongwha, VKIST President; Mr. Luu Hoang Long, President of Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park Management Board; Mr. Do Tuan Dat, Chairman cum Director of The Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH); and representatives of Departments under MOST such as Department of International Cooperation, Department of Organization and Personnel, Department of Planning and Finance, Department of High Technology, and MOST Office.
Minister of MOST – Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat delivered the opening remarks at the 5th IC meeting of VKIST
In his opening remarks as the new IC Chairman, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat expressed his pleasure to welcome all IC members and other delegates at the meeting. He also appreciated the warm welcome from VKIST leaders and staff during his first visit to VKIST’s new headquarters. Speaking about the importance of the 5th IC meeting, the Chairman stated that this opportunity allowed the IC to reflect upon the past journey with initial achievements, then define the direction for the upcoming period, especially when the ODA project on cooperating to establish VKIST would finish at the end of 2021.
In his report on the performance of VKIST in 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021, President Kum Dongwha highlighted some outstanding achievements such as the completion of project extension (for 1 more year until December 31st, 2021); construction (nearly finished with the progress of 99.8%); partly trial operation of the buildings (VKIST personnel has partly moved into the new headquarters to test run the buildings); test run the concept of contract research institute benchmarking the model of Korea Institute of Science and Technology with the leverage of the financial autonomy and the overhead system; opened 4 laboratories in prioritized research areas and established the research-friendly environment; recruited top-notch personnel studying and working abroad and increased the personnel number up to 63 staff; organized 5 capacity building programs for researchers and administrative staff; signed 3 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Vietnam National University, Phenikaa University and National Center for Technological Progress. More importantly, VKIST has implemented 15 research projects at different levels, contributing to improve the research capacity and create premises for future applied research and the diversification of research revenue.
President Kum Dongwha reported about the outstanding accomplishments of VKIST during 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021
Mr. Bui The Day - Vice Minister of MOST spoke at the meeting
During the past time, VKIST has also encountered a lot of challenges such as the delay of building handover as well as equipment procurement and installation, the delayed promulgation of internal regulations. Furthermore, a number of capacity building courses for VKIST staff in Korea have been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though the financial system of VKIST showed some good signs during the test run process, VKIST still need further refinement to ensure the sustainability in the future. Under the circumstance when Phase 1 of the ODA project will finish at the end of this year, VKIST also need to envisage how to deal with the “gap” between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the ODA Project as well as accelerate the proposing process of Phase 2.
Based on the achievements of the previous period, President Kum Dongwha proposed an implementation plan for 2021 and 2022. The main tasks was identified such as completing all construction and finishing the building handover to put into officially operation; finishing the laboratory set up; accelerating the recruitment towards the aim of 110 people at the end of 2021; opening more laboratories in new research areas; carrying out capacity building programs in Vietnam and abroad; promulgating the internal regulations; promoting the domestic and international cooperation, especially initiating the collaboration with the industry; implementing the internal research projects and external research projects with Korean counterparts; carrying out the procedure of closing Phase 1.
Institute Council members took photo at the end of the meeting
After listening to the reports, the IC members highly appreciated the achievements of VKIST during 2020 and the first 6 months of 2021. The IC also agreed upon those plans including implementation plan and budget plan for 2021 and 2022, mid-term R&D plan for 2021-2025 and plan on enhancing the R&D equipment. Moreover, the IC has reached the resolution on the following issues: (1) appointment of Vice President, (2) proposal of the new organizational chart, (3) proposal of internal regulations. Besides, the IC urged VKIST to cooperate with related Departments under MOST and other Ministries to restart the Inter-Ministries Task Force Team working on the special mechanism for personnel management at VKIST in an attempt to attract the top-notch personnel to VKIST. The IC also reaffirmed the necessity of the Phase 2. Accordingly, the IC directed VKIST to work with relevant agencies to add the Phase 2 proposal into the mid-term public investment plan of the Vietnam side, and simultaneously, propose to the Korean side accelerating the related procedure for kicking-off Phase 2.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat assigned VKIST's leaders to proactively implement the set-out plans following approved policies so that VKIST can develop as the expectation of both Governments and become a symbol of the strategic cooperation between the two countries.
