The participants included Deputy Minister Tran Van Tung, Chairman of the conference, Representatives of some Departments under MOST and Leaders of Institutes under MOST, including Vietnam Centre for Science and Technology Evaluation, Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute, National Institute of Patent and Technology Exploitation, Institute for Regional Research and Development, and Vietnam - Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
At the Conference, the Directors of five Institutes took turn to report the main activities in 2021 and the implementation plan in 2022. After that, representatives from Departments under MOST commented on the reports of five Institutes and suggested that the Institutes should work more closely with the State Management Functional Units of MOST in the future.
Overview of the conference
In 2021, Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute (VIPRI) have implemented 02 MOST-level projects and 09 Institute-level projects. Besides, VIPRI received, accepted and assessed for 967 dossiers of all kinds, 7% less than 2020 (which is 1,039 dossiers) and began to carry out other intellectual property services (such as industrial property information service, assessment services on the ability to register and exploit industrial property, etc.). The management and operation of the industrial property data and service platform (IP Platform) was continually exploited well with the establishment of 19 IP Platform Stations in localities across Vietnam. Regarding intellectual property training, VIPRI cooperated with a number of domestic organizations to run several seminars and workshops on intellectual property such as: Workshop on "Intellectual property management in universities” at Phan Thiet University; Conference on "Establishment and protection of intellectual property rights in private enterprises at Hai Phong Department of Science and Technology; and Conference on "Information exploitation and use of industrial property services" in Hanoi. In addition, VIPRI organized a training course on intellectual property management for officials of enterprises and organizations in Binh Dinh province and training courses on information exploitation and use of industrial property service at the Departments of Science and Technology of Hai Phong, Cao Bang, Gia Lai, Ninh Thuan….
As indicated in their report, Vietnam - Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) have achieved some outstanding accomplishments in R&D activities this year, such as implementing 14 MOST-level projects, 8 Institute-level projects, 5 joint projects in the cooperation with KIST, 4 joint projects between MOST (Vietnam) and MSIT (Korea). Specifically, VKIST have carried out those projects on the following topics: Study on S&T policy in Vietnam to promote cooperation between Vietnam and Korea; Research and development of the 3D alignment-based facial recognition technology to support online management of kindergarten; Joint research between VKIST and KIST on Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) and other parts for electric vehicles as well as the control and charging systems for electric cars; Identification of carotenoids in different ripening stages of Gac fruit collected in Vietnam and development of extraction, preservation and storage methods for the final product; Development of Magnetic Core/Shell Fe3O4@Au-based Lateral Flow Immunoassay (MagLFIA) strip for on-site detection of avian influenza viruses and for rapid simultaneously quantification of biomarkers CA 15-3 and CEA (potential biomarkers for breast cancer). In addition, VKIST have operated the work related to general affairs, human resource management, public relations, external affairs, construction and asset management following the current regulations despite the severe effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
Being a new organization, VKIST are still in the process of developing the organizational and operational system. In 2021, VKIST have carried out a tremendous amount of work and achieved excellent outcomes. In terms of public relations, VKIST have finished and introduced the new Homepage and the Corporate Identity. VKIST also welcomed several visits from Institutes and Universities and successfully organized such big events as the monument-unveiling ceremony, MoU-signing ceremonies with strategic partners, including Nam Duoc Joint Stock Company, CVI Cosmetics Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, Institute for Control Engineering and Automation- Hanoi University of Science and Technology. In terms of human resource management, VKIST has carried out 6 recruitment campaigns and simultaneously finished the procedure of shortlisting the pool candidates for leadership positions and appointment process of executive positions in the period of 2021-2026. Additionally, VKIST have made a great effort to refine the organizational structure, develop the internal regulations, accelerate the construction progress and push up the research equipment procurement.
Vietnam Centre for Science and Technology Evaluation (VISTEC) have successfully completed all aspects of its work in 2021. VISTEC have proactively implemented the work directly related to serving the state management of MOST. VISTEC continued to manage, exploit and develop the database of MOST experts serving the establishment of national-level project advisory committee benchmarking the international practices. VISTEC have provided more than 13,500 experts to set up about 1,050 national-level project advisory committees, Ho Chi Minh Prize Award Committees, State Prizes in Science and Technology, for 11 organizations under MOST and 5 outside organizations (about 1.7 times higher than in 2020). Moreover, VISTEC participated in the committees to develop several legal documents of MOST. VISTEC also carried out research activities well with the implementation of 05 MOST-level projects (2 were carry-overed from 2020, 3 tasks was newly proposed in 2021) and 5 Institute-level projects. Implementing Decision No. 2488/QD-BKHCN dated October 6, 2021 of the MOST Minister on the Promulgation of Action Program of MOST to implement Resolution No. 50/NQ-CP, VISTEC proposed and got approval for the National-level project under Project 844 on building online tools to support startups in technology assessment and valuation (which will be carried out in 2022). VISTEC were also approved to carry out the project on developing technical economic norms for technology assessment and valuation. Besides, MOST Leaders approved the project on comprehensively upgrading the database of S&T experts managed by VISTEC. VISTEC also proposed a number of other projects to be implemented in 2022. Based on the research results, VISTEC had 05 articles published in prestigious national and international S&T journals. The research results provided by VISTEC set up a theoretical and practical basis for organizations under MOST to use in the process of developing legal documents, especially contributing to restructuring the national S&T programs for the period of 2021-2025, building a cooperation program between the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the period of 2021-2025. VISTEC also actively coordinated and supported the Departments of Science and Technology in provinces including: Bac Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Thai Nguyen, Ninh Thuan, etc. to assess the technological capacity of manufacturing enterprises. In 2021, VISTEC have determined the value of 12 research results using state budget (those research results belong to the Academy of Agriculture, Hanoi National University, Can Tho University, Thai Nguyen Department of Science and Technology, etc.) to serve the purpose of establishing S&T enterprises and transferring research results to S&T market development enterprises. In terms of human resource management, in April 2021, VISTEC were inspected by the Ministry of Home Affairs about the management of public employees' payroll, the appointment of cadres, and the recruitment of cadres according to the decentralization of MOST. As a result of the inspection, in the period 2018-2020, VISTEC have managed the number of public employees as well as the recruitment and appointment procedure following the State law and the regulations of MOST. 100% of official documents and dispatches were managed and operated on the online document managing platform of MOST. From the beginning of the year till the end of December 20, 2021, VISTEC handled 1,511 inbound official documents and 706 dispatches responding to other organizations. At the same time, VISTEC got the approval of the Ministry of Construction to carry out the project on ‘Renovating the roof, improving the waterproofing and renovating some working rooms of the buildings at No. 39 Tran Hung Dao’. Until now, the completed construction work has been officially put into operation.
In 2021, despite the influence of COVID-19, National Institute of Patent and Technology Exploitation (NIPTECH) have made great efforts to complete the annual work plan in all fields, including: research work, organization work, staff training, financial planning work, archival work, emulation and reward work, etc. With the goal of supporting organizations and individuals to carry out technological and innovation activities, NIPTECH have researched, exploited and analyzed patent data according to the needs of organizations and individuals. As of December 2021, NIPTECH have provided more than 500 patents and selected patent information to about 20 businesses, organizations and individuals, such as Binh Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Rang Dong Thermos Light Bulb Joint Stock Company, etc. Besides, NIPTECH also successfully developed an analyzing tool and patent map to help organizations and businesses avoid duplicate research, shorten research time as well as define and satisfy what the market really needs. Thanks to this tool, NIPTECH have received several orders from Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology, the Management Board of Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park and some other large corporations.
NIPTECH also researched how to decode and apply technological know-how from inventions to develop new products for businesses and localities to meet market needs. NIPTECH have successfully designed, manufactured and commercialized a Tobacco drying oven without firewood ordered by Gia Lai province in order to reduce deforestation and protect the environment. NIPTECH also successfully developed a micro-organic fertilizer spreader to serve farmers in the northern provinces.
In addition, NIPTECH also actively surveyed and proposed S&T projects to solve problems arising from the actual needs of localities. Thereby, NIPTECH have received several orders from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Hanoi Department of Science and Technology, Gia Lai Department of Science and Technoloy, etc. Currently, NIPTECH are implementing 15 research projects at all levels. The Institute's research results have been registered for patents/useful solutions or published in prestigious domestic and international conferences and publications such as "Future Data and Security Engineering" of Springer Publishing House or the AUN/SEED-Net Joint Reginal Conference in Transportation, Energy and Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering – RCTEMME2021.
NIPTECH have organized many online seminars and workshops to promote connections between inventors, businesses, investors, universities and S&T organizations. NIPTECH also consulted on commercialization of inventions for 3 organizations and individuals owning patents. NIPTECH performed a number of tasks to promote Innovation such as: Joining and becoming a member in the Invention Village and Innovation Enterprise established by the Vietnam Invention Association; Cooperating with the organizers of "Invention commercialization solution contest" and "Inventing star of IPSTAR 2021". NIPTECH staff also participated as judges of the contest "Young Innovation Polytechnic" (final round) and participated in consulting and supporting research groups in the competition to improve their technologies, ideas and products. They also oriented groups in protecting intellectual property rights for ideas and products and commercializing these ideas and products.
In 2021, NIPTECH continued to promote the deployment of services related to patent research and technology exploitation for individuals, organizations and businesses to help generate revenue. Whereby, NIPTECH can also recruit more employees to do the increasing workload.
In 2021, Institute for Regional Research and Development (IRRD) have actively promoted research activities and transferred new and advanced technologies and techniques to serve regional and local socio-economic development. IRRD have implemented 4 national-level projects, 5 MOST-level projects, 28 provincial level projects, 5 technology transfer contracts, and 26 environmental service contracts. These projects focus on a number of areas: Developing Programs and Strategy for S&T development at provincial level, Planning for S&T development at district and town levels; Building models of crop transformation, improving land use efficiency, Enhancing potentials to develop agricultural products with high economic value; Consulting and establishing intellectual property rights for local agricultural products (brand certification, collective brand, geographical indications, ...); Developing the Framework Program for Gene Fund; Testing technology for preserving and processing a number of agricultural products; Testing production of microbial organic fertilizers and a number of plant protection biological products in agricultural production; Researching and preserving a number of precious genetic resources such as: Seven-leaf flower, black wormwood, female Ginseng, Wisteria, One-leaf orchid, ornamental peach, bell peach, orange twig, ... These projects are widely deployed over 30 provinces and cities nationwide. In addition, IRRD effectively used their current Laboratory to support research activities and finished building a VILAS-standard Laboratory. IRRD also built the Experimental station for incubation and technology practice satisfying the requirements of research and technology transfer to the North Central region. IRRD started producing and commercializing a number of products as a result of research projects at national level and MOST level (such as orchid, orange, pomelo, etc.). In 2022, IRRD will continue to invest in equipment for scientific research and add auxiliary equipment and tools to perfect the analysis system in the fields of analyzing and testing environmental samples (including soil; water; air; waste, etc.); agricultural products and foodstuffs; fertilizers, animal feed, minerals, chemicals, etc. IRRD will continue to supplement and improve the assessment capacity of microbial and organic criteria as well as expand research and technology transfer areas in localities across the country.
After that, Leaders of Departments under MOST commented on the reports of five Institutes and suggested that the Institutes should work more closely with the State Management Functional Units of MOST in the future.
On behalf of MOST Leaders, Deputy Minister Tran Van Tung highly appreciated the achievements of five Institutes in 2021. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the year, all Institutes have fulfilled the assigned tasks following the set plans. In the coming time, the Deputy Minister requested the Institutes to closely follow the operational orientations of MOST and try their best to complete the tasks according to their approved functions and duties. Five Institutes need to clearly define their direction of autonomy to attract investment resources and increase the social revenue. For research activities, five Institutes need to proactively propose the project with demanding topics and accompany businesses to contribute to the country's socio-economic development. In addition, five Institutes need to promote applied research direction and put research results into practical production. Each Institute needs to actively develop a key plan that focuses on promoting their strengths in order to operate effectively.
Deputy Minister Tran Van Tung spoke at the Year-end conference of 5 Institutes under MOST
On behalf of five Institutes, Mr. Tran Hau Ngoc, Director of Vietnam Centre for Science and Technology Evaluation, expressed his sincere appreciation to Deputy Minister Tran Van Tung for his directions. Mr. Ngoc also extended his thanks to the Minister and MOST Leaders for their attention and direction as well as the close cooperation of Departments under MOST during the past period. Mr. Ngoc looked forward to the continued support from MOST Leaders and Departments under MOST in the coming time so that five Institutes could fulfill the assigned tasks. All employees of Institutes under MOST would be determined to successfully complete the tasks in 2022.
