On the morning of February 15, the National Assembly held group discussions on the draft Resolution to pilot certain policies aimed at addressing obstacles in science, technology, and innovation activities.
During the session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that for rapid and sustainable development, the country must rely on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation; this is an objective necessity.
According to the Prime Minister, alongside Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation by the Communist Party’s Central Committee, it is essential and urgent for the National Assembly to adopt this resolution to resolve current challenges and bring the resolution into practice.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the group session on February 15Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaking at the group session on February 15 (Photo: Pham Thang).
Although the proposed mechanisms do not comprehensively address all issues, the Prime Minister noted that the Government will discuss and provide feedback to comprehensively amend relevant laws, adding specific content to foster comprehensive innovation.
These laws include the Budget Law, Tax Law, Enterprise Law, Science and Technology Law, and other related legislation. The Government is focusing on revising these laws, with some expected to be submitted at the National Assembly session in May this year at the latest.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for additional special mechanisms focused on developing infrastructure, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
Given the weak current infrastructure, mobilizing substantial resources requires public-private cooperation, engaging businesses, society, and citizens in infrastructure development.
Additionally, the Prime Minister highlighted the need for special management mechanisms, including public leadership with private governance; public investment with private management; or private investment with public use.
For instance, the State may invest in science and technology infrastructure but entrust its management to private entities; or public leadership designs policies, laws, and oversight tools, while governance is handed over to enterprises, the Prime Minister explained.
Moreover, the Prime Minister suggested the need for special mechanisms for scientists and commercialized scientific projects, streamlining procedures, delegating authority to relevant stakeholders, eliminating bureaucratic red tape, reducing administrative procedures, and ensuring overall effective management.
Notably, the issue of liability exemption for implementers was described by the Prime Minister as challenging and a weak link.
“If there’s no protection mechanism, implementers fear responsibility, shifting tasks from one place to another, unwilling to act due to lack of protection,” Mr. Chinh pointed out.
Thus, moving forward, it is necessary to design a liability exemption mechanism for both implementers and policy designers when risks occur, according to the Prime Minister.
Regarding special mechanisms to attract human resources, Mr. Chinh mentioned creating policies to draw talent from outside the state sector, private enterprises, and foreign human resources. These policies will include taxes, fees, housing, land, visas, and labor contracts.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of designing policies with measures to prevent corruption and negativity, using special tools for transparent and public management.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister stated the need to accept risks and delays in scientific research since breakthroughs might succeed or fail, requiring us to bear the costs.
We should view these costs as tuition fees, investing in training resources for appropriate policies; we must eliminate personal motives, avoid self-interest, and remain impartial and sincere for the nation’s common benefit, according to the Prime Minister.
