Need to strengthen incentive and support policies
On the morning of June 9, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave its opinion on explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law on Science, Technology (amended) and Innovation.
Reporting on a number of major issues on the explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Law on Science, Technology (amended) and Innovation by Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Le Quang Huy, taking into account the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the draft Law has supplemented regulations on types of risks, risk acceptance in scientific, technological and innovation activities; assigned the Government to specify in detail the criteria for determining risks, assessment processes, protection mechanisms for implementors, managers of scientific, technological and innovation tasks.
With the desire for the law to be more breakthrough and groundbreaking, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man proposed to "strengthen incentive and support policies. If it is not enough or not complete, it must be fully supplemented after this meeting.
At the same time, focus on protecting national interests and the interests of the people. Refer to international experience and domestic practice to amend the law, not to be outdated compared to the world situation".
It is necessary to clarify the " boundary" between accepted risks and law violations
Regarding exemptions in scientific, technological and innovation activities, the draft Law only stipulates exemptions from liability for damages caused to the State; related to the state budget and funding of state-owned enterprises.
For damages caused to people, depending on the nature, extent, the organization or individual causing the damage will have to compensate according to the provisions of the law on civil matters and may be handled according to the provisions of the law on administration and criminal law.
Regarding the content of accepting risks in scientific, technological and innovation activities, Chairman of the Delegation Affairs Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai said that this is a legal support and confidence for scientists.
"Sciences have tried, there are mistakes, 100 studies only have one correct result, but 99 wrong results are a premise, if research is found to be wrong, other scientists will not follow that path anymore. We must do things to make scientists feel confident, as long as they are pure, study with all their heart and study in accordance with legal regulations, creating breakthrough strength in research - Ms. Hai analyzed.
However, the Chairman of the Delegation Affairs Committee suggested that it is necessary to clarify the " boundary" between accepted risks and law violations to avoid abuse and waste.
In addition to accepting risks, Ms. Hai also frankly pointed out inadequacies in funding for scientific tasks. Accordingly, scientists have recently encountered many difficulties in accessing and using, although the funding source does not use all 2% of the total budget, settlement is still complicated, time-consuming...
From the above practice, Ms. Hai believes that it is necessary to pay great attention and resolve the issue with detailed Government regulations and especially, it is necessary to promote the role of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment in supervising the implementation of legal documents.
Concluding the discussion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan stated that the National Assembly Standing Committee requested the Government to urgently and focus highly, continue reviewing to fully and promptly institutionalize the Party's Resolutions in the draft Law, study and fully absorb the opinions of the National Assembly Standing Committee, National Assembly deputies, experts and scientists to revise and perfect the draft law.
