On January 20, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation (Steering Committee) held its first meeting, according to VNA.
General Secretary To Lam, Head of the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation, chaired the meeting.
Attending were members of the Steering Committee and representatives of relevant ministries and branches.
Removing institutional barriers to develop science and technology
After listening to the report on the 2025 Work Program of the Steering Committee and the discussion of the Steering Committee members, General Secretary To Lam made a concluding speech emphasizing the need to thoroughly grasp a number of principled viewpoints: The implementation of tasks must have focus and key points, emphasizing the core contents stated in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, especially focusing on removing institutional barriers to develop science and technology.
Regarding the 2025 Work Program, the General Secretary basically agreed with the draft of key and specific tasks that the Party Central Office - the Standing Office of the Steering Committee - has developed, in which each member has been assigned responsibility for implementation; and suggested that during the implementation process, issues arising from practice should continue to be supplemented.
In the process of implementing tasks, it is necessary to select key issues to focus on, creating a spread in society.
Regarding the National Advisory Council, the General Secretary noted that the structure of the Council must ensure a balanced ratio of scientists and leading experts in various fields, giving priority to prestigious people with outstanding achievements; there should be more representatives from a number of businesses and managers to ensure practical effectiveness.
The General Secretary highly appreciated the proposal to develop a set of indicators to monitor, supervise and evaluate the implementation results of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW and requested to urgently complete and put it into use in the second quarter of 2025 to assess the actual results and promptly remove bottlenecks.
Reorganizing scientific and technological organizations
Regarding a number of key tasks that need to be carried out immediately in the first quarter of 2025, the General Secretary stated that the Standing Secretariat and the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front direct the development and promulgation of action plans or programs to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo.
The Head of the Central Organizing Committee submitted to the Secretariat instructions on the consolidation and arrangement of cadres with scientific and technological expertise in Party committees at all levels.
The Government Party Committee needs to direct the review and supplementation of the Power Plan 8, effectively exploit potentials such as wind power and solar power, deploy the construction of nuclear power plants, ensure sustainable power sources; effectively manage, exploit and protect minerals, especially rare earths.
The Prime Minister, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee, will direct relevant agencies to launch an emulation movement to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW throughout the political system; study and propose plans to reform the financial management mechanism in performing science and technology tasks, innovation and digital transformation; simplify administrative procedures to the maximum; grant autonomy in using funds for scientific research and technology development; develop plans to organize and reorganize science and technology organizations; focus on key investments to develop research organizations.
The Government needs to have a specific plan to build high-quality human resources, especially science and technology talents; develop a draft special mechanism to attract overseas Vietnamese and highly qualified foreigners to return to Vietnam to work, live, and contribute to the development of science and technology in the country.
The General Secretary requested the Prime Minister - Deputy Head of the Steering Committee - and the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly - Deputy Head of the Steering Committee - to, according to their functions and duties, direct competent agencies to study, amend, supplement and pass relevant laws.
For the members of the Steering Committee, the General Secretary requested the Minister of Public Security to direct the development of the Project 06 ecosystem and the National Data Center, and soon put utilities into service for people and businesses.
The Minister of Information and Communications directed the deployment of 5G broadband mobile network nationwide.
The Minister of Science and Technology directs the development and submission to competent authorities for promulgation of the Strategic Technology and Industrial Development Program.
The Minister of Finance directed the allocation of state budget for science and technology to serve strategic technologies, meeting the requirements of Resolution No. 57.
The Minister of Planning and Investment directs the development and submission to competent authorities for promulgation of public-private partnership policies to develop science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation.
The General Secretary pointed out that each member of the Steering Committee must proactively develop a personal action program to carry out assigned tasks.
