PM asks science ministry to take measures to attract talents

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to introduce mechanisms for attracting high-quality human resources in order to boost innovation for socio-economic development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the working session with the Ministry of Science and Technology (Photo: VGP)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the working session with the Ministry of Science and Technology (Photo: VGP)

The head of government made the request during a working session with the ministry leaders on May 27.

The PM stated that investment in science and technology must focus on select fields and come in accordance with the strengths and potentials of each region, helping to enhance productivity and increase the human development index.

He added that scientific and technological research and application must concentrate on what is needed, not what is already available, and that difficulties and challenges should act as motivation for the sector’s growth.

The PM also called for further devolution in state management and measures to encourage innovation such that enterprises are given more leeway to do what they do better than the government.

According to MOST Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, Vietnam’s innovation index has been climbing rapidly in recent years, ranking 42nd out of 131 countries in 2020, and third in ASEAN after Singapore and Malaysia.

Science and technology also plays an important role in economic growth, with the contribution of total factor productivity to GDP having risen from 33.6% during the 2011-2015 period to 45.2% during the 2016-2020 period.

At the meeting, many stated that the fastest way to increase investment in science and technology is tapping into the resources of enterprises and society, but that this is being hampered by current regulations.

Therefore, they suggested accelerating the revision of such regulations in order to translate potentials into actual drivers.