On October 16, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave its opinion on the draft Law on High Technology (amended).
Presenting the report, Permanent Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan said that the draft law consists of 6 chapters and 27 articles, reducing 8 articles and having changes in structure and form compared to the current Law on High Technology.
One of the notable highlights is the addition of regulations on the development of high-tech cities (tech city, smart tech zone).
Accordingly, high-tech urban areas will take high-tech zones as the core, synchronously planned for technical and social infrastructure, with a modern governance mechanism, creating sustainable living and working conditions for the high-tech ecosystem.
Organizations and individuals here will be given priority to participate in national science, technology and innovation programs.
Vice Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Nguyen Phuong Tuan expressed his approval of the proposal for a high-tech park model, but also pointed out some concerns.
According to Mr. Tuan, the concept of high-tech parks in the draft law has changed, removing the regulation allowing mass production but only allowing testing.
If such a regulation is issued, it will affect operating businesses and it is not clear how they will be handled. This issue needs to be clarified.
Regarding the high-tech urban model, the Committee found that this is a new model, which needs to be carefully studied, assessed for impact and refer to international experience to ensure feasibility.
Reporting on the reception and explanation of the issues, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that the thinking about high technology has changed.
According to the Minister, high technology is not only a sector with investment incentives, but has now become a strategic pillar of economic security, national defense and enhancing national competitiveness. It is associated with the national brand.
This leader said that Vietnam has announced a list of 11 strategic technology groups that must be mastered, which is considered a statement of autonomy and self-reliance.
To demonstrate this point of view, the draft law has divided it into high-tech, strategic, and core technologies for management differentiation. core technology is the end-to-end, strategic technology is the outer round and high technology is the outer round.
"High technology is for national development, while strategic technology is a national priority for autonomy, while core technology is what we create and keep" - Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung compared this law amendment to "inserting some new DNA" into the old law, in order to express the new Party's ideas on science and technology without disrupting the foundational structure.
One of the most fundamental changes, according to the Minister, is to clarify the content of high technology and provide stricter incentive conditions.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that the drafting agency will absorb all opinions to complete the draft and submit it to the National Assembly for consideration in the coming time.
