The Minister of Science and Technology has issued Circular No. 49/2026/TT-BKHCN, regulating the financial mechanism for strategic technology research and development tasks under the special national science, technology, and innovation programme on strategic technologies.
This mechanism applies to tasks aimed at mastering core technologies and foundational technologies, and creating strategic technology products. These are activities of high complexity and risk, requiring high-quality human resources and the ability to bring research results into production, transfer, and commercialisation.
Raising remuneration ceilings to attract high-quality human resources
One notable point of the Circular is the overhaul of the methodology for determining remuneration for task participants.
Spending levels are determined according to job position, professional requirements, responsibility, participation time, and output products, instead of being based mainly on administrative titles or working days.
Accordingly, chief engineers may receive a maximum remuneration of 300 million VND per month, while task leaders may receive up to 150 million VND per month. Key members may receive up to 100–120 million VND; direct implementing members 70–90 million VND; and technicians and professional support staff up to 45 million VND per month.
These are ceiling levels for the formulation, appraisal, and approval of cost estimates. The actual remuneration of each individual is calculated according to job position, number of months, and the proportion of time spent participating in the task.
This mechanism was developed by referencing the research personnel model of A*STAR in Singapore, before being adjusted for purchasing power parity and competitive requirements in attracting highly skilled technology personnel.
The Circular also broadens the scope for hiring domestic and foreign experts in fields where Viet Nam still lacks human resources or needs to quickly access international knowledge and technologies.
Expert hiring costs are determined based on professional requirements, capacity, experience, participation time, market prices, and international practice. The normal hiring rate must not exceed the remuneration of the task leader. In special cases, experts may receive up to 300 million VND per month if this is justified and approved in accordance with regulations.
Funding allocated according to research results
A foundational change is that funding is managed according to each work package and assessment milestone, rather than focusing on procedures.
Each work package must clearly identify its objectives, scope, output products, funding, responsible organisation or individual, and implementation timeline. Results at each milestone serve as the basis for payment, settlement, and funding allocation for the next stage.
An assessment milestone may become a “Go/No-Go” decision point, meaning whether to continue, adjust, or stop an option based on actual results. Research directions that are no longer suitable may be early, thereby concentrating resources on more promising solutions.
Implementing organisations are given greater autonomy, while also being required to ensure accountability and submit to post-inspection reviews.
Accepting controlled risks
Strategic technology development always involves risks, and not every research option succeeds. Therefore, the Circular allows contingency funding of up to 10% of the total State budget estimate to be arranged to handle issues arising during implementation.
For risks that fall within cases accepted by law, the host organisation is not required to return the portion of State budget funding that has been used in line with the objectives, contents, scope, and regulations. Funding used for improper purposes must be returned, while acts of fraud or intentional violations will be handled in accordance with regulations.
The new mechanism also encourages joint investment by the State and enterprises. Counterpart resources may include cash, machinery, equipment, technology lines, laboratories, testing infrastructure, intellectual property rights, software, and human resources.
The host organisation is granted greater autonomy in arranging personnel, mobilising resources, selecting contractors and suppliers, and adjusting funding within the permitted scope. In return, the unit must take responsibility for products, technical indicators, progress, and the effective use of the budget.
Circular No. 49/2026/TT-BKHCN directs public resources towards four priorities: investing in people; managing by results; granting authority linked with responsibility; and accepting controlled risks. The goal is not only to complete research tasks, but also to master technologies, create products, and promote transfer and commercialisation.
