Launch of the book "Science and Technology Enterprises: From Theory to Practice"

Since the mid-20th century, humanity has witnessed enormous and profound changes in all aspects of social life. These massive transformations have completely altered the political, economic, and social landscape on a global scale. In fact, human society has witnessed a tremendous turning point, transitioning to a qualitatively new era: the knowledge age, driven by the new scientific and technological revolution. Unlike previous revolutions, in this new scientific and technological revolution, the strengths of traditional factors of production such as natural resources and cheap labor are no longer decisive. In the process of social development, high-knowledge industries with extremely high competitiveness have shifted intellectual capital, intelligence, and scientific and technological potential to the forefront.

The Vietnamese government has issued a series of new policies and mechanisms, creating favorable conditions for strong innovation in science and technology and contributing effectively to national economic development. The Prime Minister has issued a comprehensive strategy, plans, and programs for national science and technology development until 2020, linking science and technology development goals with socio-economic development goals of sectors, fields, localities, and the entire economy. The reformed management mechanisms for science and technology have initially unleashed the creativity of the research community and science and technology enterprises, hopefully generating many outstanding research results and promoting the application of science and technology achievements in various sectors to serve socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, and improve the quality of life for the people.

Despite facing many challenges, in 2014 Vietnam ranked 132nd out of 143 countries globally in terms of GDP per capita. However, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ranked Vietnam 71st out of 143 countries in terms of innovation level and 5th out of 35 lower-middle-income countries. The potential for science and technology has developed rapidly. Public science and technology organizations have recently shifted to a self-governing and self-responsible mechanism. Financial resources for science and technology are stipulated by the 2014 Law on Science and Technology at 2% of total state budget expenditure, and total social investment in science and technology in 2014 reached approximately 1.3% of GDP. More than 20 provinces and cities and hundreds of large enterprises have established science and technology development funds, with some enterprises allocating up to 20% of their after-tax profits to science and technology activities. The system of high-tech zones has also been invested in and developed, with 3 national high-tech zones, 8 concentrated software parks, and 12 high-tech agricultural zones in various localities.

In recent years, the technology market and science and technology services have begun to take shape, promising great potential. Intellectual property rights, the right to trade and buy/sell technology are protected by the State. Every year, over 100 inventions by Vietnamese people are established, and tens of thousands of Vietnamese trademarks are protected. Consulting, appraisal, and valuation services for intellectual property and product quality management have been strengthened. Techmart technology and equipment markets, demonstration activities, and technology supply-demand connections between businesses in general and science and technology businesses in particular have been implemented, and innovation activities have received attention from the whole society.

In your hands is the book.Science and technology enterprises: From theory to practiceThe book focuses on clarifying the content and role of science and technology enterprises, the institutions that support and facilitate their formation and development. In addition, the authors have analyzed the experiences of many countries around the world in forming and developing science and technology enterprises. Specifically, the book objectively describes the practical situation in Vietnam from two perspectives: the institutions that support and facilitate the formation and development of this type of enterprise before and after the Government issued the Decree on Science and Technology Enterprises (Decree No. 80/2007/ND-CP dated May 19, 2007), as well as some proposed measures and policies for the future development of this specific type of enterprise in Vietnam.

This book can be considered the first in Vietnam to comprehensively synthesize and analyze various aspects, both theoretical and practical, related to science and technology enterprises. The authors have meticulously consulted and updated numerous research works and documents, gathered a wealth of practical data, and structured the chapters systematically, progressing from fundamental, theoretical content to specific, practical issues and proposed feasible solutions.

This book is the culmination of nearly 10 years of practical experience in implementing policies aimed at forming science and technology enterprises in Vietnam. It is truly useful for policymakers, science, technology and innovation managers, researchers, technologists, inventors, and entrepreneurs with a scientific spirit, offering a fresh perspective on the crucial force that creates wealth for society: science and technology enterprises.

We are pleased to introduce this to our readers!