On the morning of May 6, continuing the 9th Session, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, authorized by the Prime Minister, presented the draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.
According to the submission, the draft law has had important adjustments to enhance the effectiveness of basic research activities, balancing between natural science research and social and humanities. Special attention is paid to the requirements for implementing basic research arising from issues that need to be solved from applied research and technology development.
Adjusting the need for basic research comes from practical requirements in applied research, technology development to create cohesion between research types and increase the proportion of research with practical impact.
The research institution is autonomous and self-responsible for implementing research activities, building a apparatus, and spending according to the spending contract mechanism. The State manages the goals, manages the output, manages the results and effectiveness of research, not manages the methods.
This ventilation will speed up the research process. In addition, if a research project does not achieve the expected results, the research organization will not have to bear the responsibility for compensation as before and will be exempted from civil liability for damages caused to the State during the research.
Although risks are accepted for each specific task and project, operational efficiency is still evaluated on the overall organization and research program. Effective organizations will be prioritized for additional funding to continue development.
On the contrary, ineffective organizations will have their resources cut, or even dissolved.
In terms of reasons, assigning autonomy to research organizations and accepting risks in research does not mean loosening responsibility, but to create a more flexible mechanism to encourage innovation.
The boldness to accept risks will motivate scientists to pursue challenging problems, take science further and bring important breakthroughs.
Studies that do not achieve initial goals provide valuable lessons, help avoid repeating mistakes in the future or opening up potential new directions.
In addition, the effectiveness assessment mechanism associated with funding allocation ensures that research finance is allocated appropriately and creates motivation to improve the quality of science and technology.
The most important point in finance for science, technology and innovation is to change the philosophy in the direction of evaluating the results and final effectiveness of scientific, technological and innovation activities as a basis for the state to allocate resources.
The State will invest in scientific, technological and innovative resources for subjects and activities that have a major impact on socio-economic growth and development.
Implement a mechanism to provide funding for science, technology and innovation tasks more openly through a fund mechanism associated with post-inspections.
According to Article 21 of the draft, competent authorities allowing testing, organizations and individuals who directly appraise, license, control, and evaluate testing are exempted from responsibilities when they have properly and fully implemented regulations on testing.
Accordingly, there is no criminal liability according to the provisions of the Penal Code for risks in research, testing, application of scientific, technical and technological advances.
