MAE to promote sector-wide breakthroughs in science and technology

On November 14, at the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a conference titled "Promoting Breakthroughs in Scientific Research, Technology, and Innovation Associated with Training at Institutes and Universities." Minister Tran Duc Thang attended the event and delivered directives.

The conference was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance with online connections, with the participation of Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien; leaders of institutes and universities; units under the Ministry; as well as representatives from agencies and enterprises operating in the fields of science, technology, and innovation nationwide.

Science and technology must become a direct driving force

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien extended greetings and thanks to the delegates, scientists, and experts attending the conference. He emphasized that the event took place as the entire sector is looking toward the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of the agriculture and environment sector (14/11/1945–14/11/2025) and preparing to celebrate the 43^rd anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20).

According to the Deputy Minister, the agriculture and environment sector has always served as a pillar of the economy. From a country with backward agriculture, Viet Nam has risen to become a powerhouse in agricultural exports. These achievements stem from the Party’s right directions, the State’s policies, and especially the strong development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

The Deputy Minister stated that over the past 80 years, science and technology have made significant contributions to growth, improving productivity, quality, and production efficiency, and laying the foundation for developing innovative agriculture models applying high technology, biotechnology, and automation.

To effectively implement the Politburo's Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science–technology and innovation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has identified key priority tasks, including proposing immediate amendments to specialized legal regulations and streamlining administrative procedures to promote the research, transfer, and application of science and technology in production.

Based on the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Law on Technology Transfer, and the National Strategy for Science and Technology, the Ministry will continue reviewing, adjusting, and supplementing sectoral programs and plans. In parallel, it will reorganize and strengthen its science and technology institutions toward a more streamlined and efficient system.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the need for a comprehensive shift in mindset regarding the proposal of science and technology tasks. Research must stem from practical needs, aiming to commercialize products and enhance the quality, safety, and value of agricultural products. Among these priorities, biotechnology is identified as a breakthrough field, in line with the Prime Minister's Decision 4290 and the Party Central Committee's Resolution 36.

At the same time, accelerate digital transformation across documents, production processes, and traceability. The Deputy Minister noted that Minister Tran Duc Thang has directed the completion of a land database within 90 days, covering 46.9 million land plots, as a foundation for sector-wide digitalization.

Develop a mechanism to promote the "three-house" linkage model: the State – the School – the Enterprise. This model, if operated synchronously, will drive breakthroughs in research, technology transfer, and the commercialization of scientific and technological outcomes.

Focus on developing high-quality human resources. The entire sector currently has 11,472 scientific personnel, including 44 professors, 283 associate professors, 1,668 doctors, 4,776 master's, and 3,343 staff with bachelor’s degrees. However, the key problem is the motivation for scientists to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves, from income and research conditions to incentive mechanisms.

Strengthen international cooperation; adopt and transfer the world's advanced achievements in support of sustainable agricultural production.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope that the conference would receive substantial recommendations, efficient challenges and obstacles, enabling the sector to implement the above-mentioned solution groups effectively.

Numerous outstanding results in science and technology in the 2021–2025 period

Presenting the report at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, stated that science and technology activities in the 2021–2025 period have achieved many positive results compared to the 2016–2020 period.

Across the sector, 225 crop, livestock, seafood, and forestry varieties have been recognized, an increase of 6.6%, along with 150 technical advances, up 1.8%. A total of 158 patents, intellectual property certificates, and utility solutions were granted, up 34% from the previous period.

Science and technology also contributed 72 scientific foundations for the development of legal documents and state management tasks.

Many innovations have been put into practice, reflected in 1,000 production models applying science and technology, 31 new pieces of equipment and materials, and strong growth in international research publications, with 3,665 international papers (up 49%) and 6,540 domestic papers (up 34%).

In training, institutes and universities have trained 415 master's and 212 doctoral students during this period. The Ministry has also developed and announced 193 national technical regulations and issued 1,864 national standards while continuing to create an additional 3 national technical regulations and 82 national standards for completion in 2025.

According to Mr. Long, these outcomes have been widely applied, helping enterprises and farmers reduce investment costs, increase profits, and improve production efficiency by 10–30%. Many major enterprises have invested in high-tech agriculture, creating value chains and applying modern production processes that contribute significantly to sectoral growth.

The Ministry's science and technology activities have been recognized with one Ho Chi Minh Prize, three State Awards on Science and Technology, and numerous other awards, including Nhan Tai Dat Viet (Vietnamese Talent) and the 2024 Scientific Initiatives Award.

Developing an innovation ecosystem at VNUA

Speaking at the conference "Promoting Breakthroughs in Scientific Research, Technology, and Innovation Associated with Training," Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan stated that VNUA is honored to be selected by the Ministry, together with the Department of Science and Technology, to co-host this important event, at a time when the Party and State are placing strong emphasis on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, in the era of the knowledge economy, building an innovation ecosystem is mandatory for universities and is also the direction the university has consistently pursued. Guided by the Party's and the State's policies, the University has proactively developed an innovation ecosystem model tailored to the characteristics of agriculture, ensuring all components while absorbing the essence of advanced models worldwide.

In recent years, the university has effectively leveraged its resources to build an innovation ecosystem with its own identity. It places people at the center, prioritizes investment in research and technology infrastructure, focuses on improving research quality, promotes commercialization and technology transfer, considers digital transformation as a new driving force, and builds a culture of creativity and quality as the foundation for development. Its core values—Solidarity, Ethics, Leadership, Responsiveness, and Excellence—together with its motto, "Quality is vital; scientific research is the lifeblood of the university," have become a source of pride for every member of the university.

To promote the innovation ecosystem and effectively implement policies on science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in line with Resolution 57 and other key directives, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan proposed several recommendations:

Continue developing the legal framework to promote research, innovation, intellectual property, and the commercialization of scientific and technological products, creating space for universities to develop innovation ecosystems, particularly in technology valuation, spin-off development, and international intellectual property registration.

At the same time, invest in robust laboratory systems and research facilities that enable universities to achieve breakthroughs in accordance with the spirit of Resolutions 57 and 71.

Further strengthen investment in research and technology infrastructure, such as GMP, technology demonstration zones, sandboxes, and innovation areas to foster linkages among universities, enterprises, and localities in research and technology transfer.

Finally, consider investing in an Agricultural Innovation Center at VNUA to enhance connectivity for innovation among training institutions and across the entire agriculture and environment sector.