The Ministry of Science and Technology has just issued a Guidance on scientific integrity and professional ethics in scientific research and technology development to serve as a basis for agencies and organizations to develop internal rules and implement them in practice.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has just issued Guidance on scientific integrity and professional ethics in scientific research and technology development attached to Decision No. 2557/QD-BKHCN dated May 25, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, in the context of implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, the Party and State are interested in investing in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. Along with that is the requirement to enhance the responsibility of organizations and individuals in ensuring scientific integrity and professional ethics in scientific research and technology development activities.
The guidance is built on the basis of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation in 2025 and Decree No. 262/2025/ND-CP. The document also refers to the international experience of many OECD countries, Europe, Singapore and China.
Accordingly, the guidance is a framework document, including basic contents that are orienting for funding agencies for scientific research and technology development activities, and scientific and technological organizations to concretize into internal rules and implement them within their management scope.
The document is issued to contribute to protecting intellectual values, research quality, building a culture of scientific integrity and professional ethics, social responsibility and sustainability in research. At the same time, prevent violations of scientific integrity and professional ethics.
The guidelines focus on the rules of ensuring scientific integrity and professional ethics in scientific research and technology development; measures to prevent violations; responsibilities of entities participating in scientific research activities.
This includes the responsibilities of scientific research individuals; presiding organizations, task leaders, research group leaders; science and technology management departments; council members, consultants, critics, and evaluators; heads of funding agencies and science and technology organizations in ensuring scientific integrity and professional ethics.
A noteworthy point is that the guidance has added content related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific research. Accordingly, AI must not be used to create fake data, fake photos or unreal reference materials; do not use content created by AI but not verified as scientific reference materials.
The guidance also mentions violations such as falsifying research data, falsifying data, plagiarism in any form, writing author names that are not true to reality or removing people with real contributions from research works.
According to the document, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the funding agency or science and technology organization may apply measures such as warnings, requesting correction, withdrawing scientific articles, recovering funds or not allowing participation in science and technology tasks for a certain period or indefinitely.
The appendix attached to the guidance also promulgates a sample Decision on the Rules of Scientific Integrity and Professional Ethics for agencies and organizations to refer to when developing internal regulations.
