Continue to implement outstanding policies to promote scientific research capacity and participate in solving global problems.

VNU President Le Quan and VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son co-chaired the dialogue session.
Attending the program were professors, members of the professional council, representatives of the Office's leaders, functional departments, representatives of the leaders of member units and affiliated units of VNU, leaders of science and technology departments/divisions, representatives of strong research groups, key laboratories/research centers of VNU.

Attending the program were professors, members of the professional council, representatives of the Office's leaders, functional departments, representatives of the leaders of member units and affiliated units of VNU, leaders of science and technology departments/divisions, representatives of strong research groups, key laboratories/research centers of VNU.
The program is a bridge between the Board of Directors of VNU and scientists working at member units and affiliated units of VNU. This is also a forum to share and update information on science and technology (S&T) policies of VNU and related ministries and branches; at the same time, to remove difficulties and obstacles in the process of implementing S&T policies and propose solutions and recommendations.
At the dialogue session, Head of the Science and Technology Department Tran Thi Thanh Tu reviewed the results of the second dialogue session in 2024 held in July 2024. Accordingly, the Institute for Education Quality Assurance was assigned to be the focal point to support international publications published in 2023, with 190/197 scientific works from 10 member and affiliated units having been assessed and qualified for support with a total estimated budget of more than 4.5 billion VND.
Regarding the Pilot Program to implement financial support policies for outstanding scientists according to Notice No. 3138/TB-DHQGHN, to date, VNU has received registrations from 38 scientists with 173 outstanding works, including 114 articles (01 Top 1% article, 18 Top 5% articles, 55 Q1 articles, 40 Q2 articles), 59 intellectual property registration applications including 54 patent applications, 05 utility solution applications. VNU has provisionally provided 50% of the funding according to the first proposed data of 2.2 billion VND.

Continuing to carry out the pioneering mission in science and technology development, VNU's investment policy is focused on promoting and developing strong research groups and excellent scientists through science and technology tasks. The total budget for VNU's key science and technology programs in 2024 is more than 40 billion VND, expected to be more than 70 billion VND in 2025, including many tasks in priority science and technology fields such as: Research, design, manufacture of new generation chips and smart devices; Research and application of science and technology to improve the capacity of diagnosis and treatment of diseases and development of products from medicinal herbs; Science and technology program to attract investment, develop socio-economic development of coastal provinces; Cultural and creative industry program; Synthetic Biology program to serve green growth; Program to promote innovative economy; Ethnic cultural resources program; Pelletron Research and Application Development Program for Sustainable Development.
The total funding for strong research groups and key laboratories in 2024 is more than 13 billion VND. The total funding attracted from domestic and international science and technology cooperation tasks in 2024 is nearly 180 billion VND with 92 tasks, including 32 international cooperation tasks and 60 domestic cooperation tasks.As of December 23, 2024, VNU scientists published nearly 2,000 international articles in ISI/Scopus journals, an increase of 20% compared to 2023. Notably, Associate Professor, Dr. Le Duc Minh (University of Natural Sciences) is the co-author of 03 articles in Nature Magazine; Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thanh Ha and a group of scientists from the University of Technology were granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the Eye Movement Communication Support System (Blife); Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Manh Tri is one of two scientists awarded the Ta Quang Buu Award.
Sharing about the science and technology policies being implemented, Head of the Science and Technology Department Tran Thi Thanh Tu said that VNU has notified the units to propose science and technology tasks at VNU level in 2025, focusing on priority areas; at the same time, continuing to implement the pilot policy of financial support for excellent scientists in the second phase.
Along with that, VNU is also researching and developing the Project "Developing excellent scientists and research groups". Thereby, the support policies, especially financial support for scientists of VNU, have many significant new points. Through this pilot policy, it will be the basis for evaluating the determination of one of the criteria for excellent scientists that VNU is currently developing. The new points of this policy will provide practical support, contributing to motivating scientists to promote the quantity and ensure the quality of scientific publications. Speaking at the dialogue, VNU President Le Quan shared strategic orientations to develop scientific resources, build a superior research environment and elevate VNU to become a leading national and regional scientific center.
According to Director Le Quan, the leaders of VNU focus on four main groups of tasks to build a top-notch scientific, technological and innovative research environment at VNU. First of all, it is to select and attract excellent talents. This is a key task, aiming to build international standard research centers. We need to seek and nurture the most outstanding individuals to develop into internationally qualified scientists. In addition, it is necessary to proactively seek funding and investment sources to provide adequate resources for scientists to conduct research, implement projects, and participate in major programs. At the same time, it is necessary to build a favorable working environment, protect scientists from risks and unfavorable factors as well as encourage innovation. Along with that, it is necessary to reform administrative procedures, simplify processes related to science and technology management, increase transparency and efficiency, thereby helping scientists focus on their expertise.
VNU President Le Quan affirmed that the mission of VNU is to fulfill national responsibilities, solve problems of the times, and bring practical benefits to the community through research, application, and transfer of science and technology. Therefore, VNU focuses on investing in developing strong research groups and training excellent scientists. VNU will select the 50 most outstanding scientists out of more than 5,000 scientific staff to focus on investing in and nurturing them into scientists who meet international standards. The priority target for VNU support is young PhDs under 40 years old. This is the successor team for the research activities of the country's leading scientific research center.
VNU also encourages member units, affiliated units, research groups/laboratories to strengthen cooperation with international experts to conduct research of global stature.
Scientists participating in the dialogue had their concerns about the implementation of science and technology policies in recent times answered by VNU President Le Quan, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son, and Head of the Science and Technology Department Tran Thi Thanh Tu. Sharing his views on the relationship between restructuring and scientific, technological and innovation activities, Prof. Dr. Pham Hung Viet said that VNU needs to set a goal of optimizing the management apparatus, thereby increasing the operational efficiency of the entire system. At the same time, focusing on investing in key laboratories and advanced technology, this is a solid foundation for innovation and international cooperation. Prof. Pham Hung Viet also said that developing high-quality human resources is a vital factor to meet global research requirements in the context of integration. According to Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Hai, university autonomy is a prerequisite for improving the quality of education and research; it is necessary to create a favorable environment for universities to make their own decisions and take responsibility. Prof. Truong Quang Hai also expressed his agreement with the view that it is necessary to promote administrative reform, reduce unnecessary procedures and optimize resources to better support scientists. Dr. Le Van Giang - Institute of Natural Resources and Environment believes that cooperation with the world's leading universities and research centers such as Beijing, Tokyo... and prestigious research organizations in the world will open up great opportunities for VNU. At the same time, he believes that it is necessary to strongly support young research groups through funding and specific mechanisms, especially focusing on scientific products with high application value. Dr. Duong Anh Hao - School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts pointed out a number of challenges in the actual implementation of scientific activities at the unit. Accordingly, the lack of facilities, especially equipment and laboratories, is a major obstacle. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly introduce new mechanisms to improve this situation. This scientist also expressed the view that retaining talents and maximizing their potential is an important task, otherwise, we will face the risk of "brain drain" in the context of international competition. Within the framework of the program, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son signed a contract between the Science and Technology Development Fund and 04 scientists approved to participate in the pilot policy of financial support for outstanding scientists of VNU.

In 2024, VNU will continue to implement many policies to "increase" investment in scientists and research groups, enhance the capacity of key laboratories and strong research groups, reform administrative procedures in science and technology management... Last year, 7 more research groups were recognized as strong research groups at VNU level, bringing the total number of strong research groups at VNU level to 43.
In addition, VNU has also issued many policies to remove difficulties in intellectual property, transfer and commercialization of science and technology products, establishment and development of enterprises in VNU... These policies have been implemented synchronously, contributing to liberating the creativity of scientists to create many high-value science and technology products, many of which have been and are being applied in practice, contributing to affirming the prestige and position of VNU in the science and technology sector of Vietnam.
With the mission of being the country's leading center for training, scientific research, technology application, innovation and knowledge transfer, in recent years, VNU has always prioritized investment and promotion of science and technology activities, innovation and startups. In particular, many products from VNU's science and technology activities have been widely applied in agencies and enterprises, contributing to improving competitiveness, improving and diversifying products and services; and developing markets for enterprises.