Discussion on contributing opinions to the Draft Law on Science and Technology organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on March 25, 2013. The discussion had the participation of experts and managers in the field of policy science inside and outside the university.At the discussion, experts all affirmed that after 12 years of implementation, the Law on Science and Technology (LST) 2000 has revealed some points that are no longer suitable and do not meet the requirements of state management of science and technology in the current period. This reality requires amending the law, creating momentum for science and technology activities to have new developments. The comments on the Draft Law on Science and Technology are quite specific, from clarifying the concepts defined in the Draft Law to unreasonable points in the process of science and technology activities; the role and responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology in managing science and technology activities; determining the subjects and roles of subjects of scientific research activities; investment and finance issues for scientific research activities... According to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Dam - Director of the Center for Research and Policy Analysis: "there are many gaps in the draft Law on Science and Technology". According to UNESCO's definition, science and technology activities include 4 activities: research and development; knowledge transfer; technology development; science and technology services. When referring to science and technology activities, the Draft Law completely lacks the content on technology development with the meaning of "post-research activities to master, perfect and replicate the effects of new technology". In addition, the Draft Law's statement that scientific research activities include basic research and applied research is not accurate, completely lacking the part on "experimental implementation" with the meaning of "experimental activities to turn theories obtained from basic research and principles obtained from applied research into practical applications". Regarding the subject of science and technology research activities, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Dam said that the Draft Law was flawed when it did not mention the role of individuals/organizations and enterprises in the civil sector but only mentioned the science and technology activities of State agencies first. In addition, there are some unreasonable regulations on investment capital and finance for science and technology activities... Some other opinions say that there should not be too detailed and specific regulations in the Law on Science and Technology such as: Article 9, Chapter II on Planning the system of science and technology organizations should be removed; the content of regulations on the responsibility of the Ministry of Science and Technology in planning the development of science and technology human resources in the country should be reviewed; Chapter IV on "determining and organizing the implementation of science and technology tasks" should be issued in the form of a circular, in accordance with the authority of the Ministry of Science and Technology; registration of science and technology activities should not be regulated in too much detail as in the Draft Law...
At the discussion, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh (Vice Rector) affirmed that the discussion is an important activity, demonstrating the responsibility and mission of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - the country's leading center for training and research in Social Sciences and Humanities - in advising on policy development for State policy-making agencies. It is expected that activities to contribute to the Draft Law will continue to be organized in the coming time to widely collect opinions from scientists inside and outside the university, promptly contributing to the completion of the Draft Law on Science and Technology before it is submitted to the National Assembly for approval next May.
