The science and technology sector in Tien Giang is an important catalyst propelling the province’s innovation and development trajectory. This sector has been accelerating support programs aimed at fostering technological innovation and enhancing operational efficiency within businesses. Our reporter has an exclusive interview with Mr. Le Quang Khoi, Director of the Department of Science and Technology in Tien Giang province, to delve deeper into this matter.
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Could you provide an overview of the notable accomplishments within the Tien Giang science and technology sector?
Scientific and technological activities in Tien Giang province have developed robustly in recent years, closely followed practical requirements, gradually affirmed their driving role in socioeconomic development, and achieved remarkable outcomes as follows.
On policy advocacy for science, technology and innovation
The Department of Science and Technology has strongly recommended the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial Party Committee to enact Resolution 05/2021/NQ-HDND (dated September 17, 2021) outlining the parameters and allocations of state-funded expenditures for the advancement of the innovative startup ecosystem in Tien Giang province until 2025. Additionally, Resolution 06/2022/NQ-HDND (dated July 8, 2022) concerning the support levels for intellectual property protection registration in Tien Giang province has been underscored. Furthermore, the implementation plan for supporting the innovative startup ecosystem in Tien Giang province from 2018 to 2020 and extending to 2025, as articulated in Decision 2952/QD-UBND (dated October 10, 2018), has been brought to attention. Notably, Decision 23/2023/QD-UBND (dated November 2, 2023) by the Provincial People's Committee delineates regulations governing the management of state-funded scientific and technological tasks in Tien Giang province. Complementing these initiatives are Plan 224/KH-UBND (dated July 16, 2021) and Plan 07/KH-UBND (dated January 11, 2022), addressing the implementation of the National Program for business support and the Intellectual Property Strategy and Development Program, respectively, aiming to enhance productivity and product quality in Tien Giang province through 2025 and vision to 2030.
The above legal documents have helped enhance the effective management and operation of science, technology and innovations; created a favorable legal environment for businesses and people to apply, transfer and upgrade technologies; supported innovative startups; assisted branding; improved productivity, quality and competitiveness of products and goods.
Scientific and technological research and application
The Department of Science and Technology recommended that the Provincial People's Committee institute an advisory council tasked with identifying a comprehensive list of science and technology initiatives. This effort involves engaging proficient institutes, schools, and research organizations to select or directly undertake assigned tasks in a manner characterized by transparency, objectivity, and public scrutiny. The research endeavors are aligned to address the practical demands of production and daily life, emphasizing the judicious utilization and preservation of energy and resources. Furthermore, the focus extends to fostering innovation and the application of cutting-edge technology, advanced high technology, and biotechnology.
In the realm of sustainable agricultural development, the research and development initiatives for key products in each locality are tailored to the distinctive natural and ecological soil conditions and climate. The Department is dedicated to the incorporation of advanced technology, biotechnology, and intelligent irrigation methods. This includes the adoption of organic fertilizers and biological pesticides that are both safe and environmentally friendly. Notably, advanced technology is applied to enhance disease examination, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, addressing critical concerns in the realms of medicine and education.
Business support and development
The Department of Science and Technology has robustly guided companies in establishing science and technology companies, regularly contacted potential companies to learn about their obstacles; mobilized and supported companies to establish science and technology companies (guiding documents and procedures; accepting privately funded science and technology tasks). In 2018-2023, the department supported forming five scientific and technological companies (the province has a total of eight scientific and technological companies to date) and commercializing privately invested scientific and technological products and industrial designs for eight companies with 16 scientific and technological products; assessed technological levels and capacity of local businesses.
The department facilitated the participation of 20 enterprises in national quality award competitions, resulting in many awards. Furthermore, it provided assistance to 22 companies in the development and implementation of sophisticated management systems and methodologies, significantly boosting their productivity and elevating the quality of their products.
Besides, the Department of Science and Technology seriously focused and actively supported the registration of intellectual property rights for protection of local specialties linked with local landmarks like Cai Lay sausage, Go Cong rice, Go Cong watermelon, Tan Phuoc pineapple candy and Go Cong bonsai. The department instructed organizations/individuals to prepare documents to register 174 trademarks and five utility/solution patents.
Every year, the Department of Science and Technology advises the Provincial People's Committee on the support plan for the local innovative startup ecosystem and organizes training classes and skills training for subjects in the business startup ecosystem, thus spreading and nurturing entrepreneurship and creativity of organizations, individuals and businesses. At the same time, the department disseminates mechanisms and policies on support for organizations, individuals, and businesses to better utilize intellectual property and existing resources to apply and transfer new technologies in production/business and helps them with more successful, more effective and more assured business models after they start up.
The conference introduces scientific and technological research results
Given these accomplishments, what initiatives should the Tien Giang science and technology sector undertake to maintain or enhance its progress?
In the coming time, economic growth will have to rely more and more on increased labor productivity. The most important productivity growth drivers are science, technology and innovation.
Therefore, the sector will continue to comprehensively reform administration, implement open, transparent scientific and technological tasks and simplify administrative procedures; digitally transform management processes and databases on science, technology and innovation resources; facilitate companies to carry out scientific and technological tasks; review and amend regulations on management of scientific and technological tasks to remove difficulties and obstacles in transferring assets formed from State-funded science and technology tasks.
The sector will restructure scientific and technological tasks according to the product value chain and create added values; form large scientific and technological programs in key areas that are strong and have potential to address important long-term matters in local socioeconomic development.
The sector will create a favorable environment to promote and support a startup ecosystem and startup activities, with priority given to potential and competitive advantages in local socioeconomic development.
It will create and develop domestic and foreign intellectual property for specific products and strong specialties of the province to enhance product competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
It will strongly develop the science and technology market in the province; focus on developing the province's science, technology and innovation database; and link with other localities and the whole country.
The sector will guide companies to develop, announce and apply basic standards, national standards and international standards; guide and support them to certify/announce standard/regulation conformity; strengthen communications and promote guidance and support for them to build and apply advanced quality management systems, quality improvement tools, quality productivity activities and take part in National Quality Awards.
Thank you very much!
By Tran Cong, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
