The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) had a working session with Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) on the afternoon of June 21 to discuss science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
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| Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung, and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh attended the working session with Vietnam National University of Agriculture on the afternoon of June 21. |
The working session aimed to implement the Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on strategic breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. It also aimed to identify challenges and propose fundamental solutions for advancing science and technology, and innovation to address major issues in agriculture and the environment. Additionally, the session discussed mechanisms and policies to create breakthroughs in scientific and technological development in agriculture.
Reporting to the delegates about the universities’ scientific research and innovation activities, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA president, shared that the VNUA currently consists of 14 faculties, 16 functional units, 23 affiliated institutes and centers, one veterinary hospital, one plant hospital, two companies, and 48 core research groups. VNUA has nearly 1,300 staff, including 90 professors and associate professors, 379 PhDs, and over 100 recognized excellent educators.
The university is currently training around 29,000 undergraduate students, 800 master's students, and 100 doctoral candidates, offering 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, and 16 doctoral programs.
From 2015 to 2025, the University has implemented 1,187 research projects and produced 102 outstanding scientific and technological products, including 25 patents/utility solutions, 28 technical advancements, 3 recognized animal breeds, and 46 recognized plant varieties. In 2025, VNUA has been ranked the 5th among Vietnam’s scientific research institutions by the SCImago Institutions Rankings.
The University always prioritizes the “golden triangle” model of collaboration among scientists, research institutes/universities, enterprises, and the State, which is consistently applied in managing research and training activities. The University has established partnerships with over 200 enterprises in agriculture, processing, and export to support output for its activities and maintains close collaboration with over 200 international organizations.
Mrs. Lan also shared that the University has mastered many scientific processes, technologies, and products that are ready for transfer, such as: breeding plant and animal varieties using molecular biology, tissue culture, aeroponics-hydroponics, producing functional foods from microalgae, fresh embryo transfer technology, sperm sexing, vaccine production, and diagnostic kits. Potential products include pure and hybrid rice varieties, ELISA kits, a gene-edited beef-specialized yellow cattle breed using CRISPR/Cas9, African swine fever diagnostic kits, immune-support antibodies for poultry and pigs, among others.
At present, VNUA has 52 laboratories (6 of which are ISO-certified), and 82 science and technology models. Notably, the University has established a Center of Research Excellence and Innovation with 20 modern and specialized labs, which host elite, excellent, and core research groups with the goal of producing breakthrough products for agriculture and the environment.
To implement the Resolution 57, the University has developed two key science and technology projects, including more than 60 tasks, of which 11 are application projects and 13 are basic research tasks, focusing on core commodities and issues in agriculture. These projects target producing products that can be transferred to enterprises or commercialized with economic efficiency.
During the working session, scientists and lecturers of VNUA had the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with the two ministers, and representatives from relevant departments and institutes of both Ministries.
In an open dialogue, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung directly answered series of questions about mechanisms, policies, and development directions for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in agriculture.
Minister Hung emphasized that scientists do not become wealthy through titles or degrees, but through the socio-economic value created by their research outcomes. Relying solely on research allowances will not bring wealth; research results must be commercialized.
According to Minister Hung, only when enterprises use the University's research results to generate revenues and added value 5–10 times greater than the research cost, can the University be considered to have made a true economic impact. The ultimate goal of the University's scientific and technological research is to drive economic growth, contributing to the national strategic goal of achieving double-digit GDP growth and transforming Vietnam into a high-income country.
Minister Hung stated that the State will base research funding decisions on the socio-economic impact of the outcomes. The MOST will also monitor the entire project lifecycle from the start of research to its application in production. Research results must be commercialized to generate income for the University and tax revenue for the State.
The State has a policy to develop universities into centers of scientific research, technology, and innovation. VNUA is positioned to become a national focal point for science, technology, and innovation in agriculture, and the MOST will support the University in fulfilling this mission. VNUA is expected to develop a new strategy aligned with the era and the Party-State orientation, integrating research with digital transformation and technological mastery.
The MOST will work closely with VNUA to implement the 2025 research agenda. Research results must be measurable in terms of added value for the economy, agriculture, environment, and farmers.
Mr. Hoang Trung, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment commended VNUA as one of the leading institutions in training and scientific research in the sector. With the support of the MOST, the MAE expects the University to maximize its strengths in successfully implementing key tasks especially in scientific research, technology transfer, training, and high-quality human resource development.
The MAE will provide support, consider resource allocation, and create favorable conditions for VNUA to participate in breakthrough missions for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation at the national level.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung also expressed his expectation that the MOST would support the MAE and VNUA in improving policies and regulations for science and technology management, innovation, and digital transformation; planning a streamlined and effective network of scientific organizations; investing in infrastructure, equipment, and national key laboratories to ensure modernity and readiness for breakthrough product development.
He also called for the establishment of a unified platform for managing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation nationally, and for evaluating the impact of scientific contributions to ensure effective investment in research, technology transfer, and product commercialization. The MAE seeks priority support and resources to address the sector’s major and strategic challenges.
Translated the news from https://nhandan.vn/