Promulgating the Process for selecting breakthrough initiatives in science, technology development, innovation and digital transformation

This is an important step to institutionalize Resolution 57-NQ/TW, creating an open mechanism to discover, select and deploy breakthrough initiatives of strategic value, contributing to promoting growth based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

This process specifically regulates the registration, reception, selection, recognition, assignment of tasks and implementation of breakthrough initiatives nationwide. All steps are performed online on the Science and Technology Initiative Portal, ensuring data connectivity with state management systems via application programming interface (API), towards a transparent, effective and synchronous governance.

Promulgating the Process of selecting breakthrough initiatives for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation

The subjects of application include ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, along with science and technology organizations, research institutes, universities, enterprises, social organizations and individuals at home and abroad who have proposed initiatives according to Plan No. 01-KH/BCĐTW.

According to regulations, breakthrough initiatives must meet the following core criteria: Novelty and creativity, demonstrating difference and superiority compared to existing solutions; breakthrough, solving major bottlenecks in institutions, technology, resources or development models; high feasibility with a clear implementation roadmap; strong impact and spread, contributing to the targets of the Strategic Action Plan; and at the same time having the ability to mobilize social resources, attracting the participation of the private and international sectors.

The selection process is designed to be flexible, transparent and completely online, consisting of four steps: Proposing initiatives, screening and submitting to the Steering Committee, reviewing and approving, assigning tasks and organizing implementation. In the first step, organizations and individuals submit applications online through the Science and Technology Initiative Portal. The Ministry of Science and Technology is the standing agency, responsible for checking the validity and making a preliminary assessment of the applications within 14 working days, and establishing an Evaluation Council to review proposals that meet the criteria.

Based on these results, the Ministry will synthesize and submit them to the Central Steering Committee for consideration and decision. In the review and approval step, the Central Steering Committee, through the Standing Agency, the Party Central Office, will preside over the review and in-depth consultation with the 57 Chief Engineers and the National Advisory Council, before making the final decision and announcing the addition to the list of breakthrough initiatives. The maximum review completion period is 30 working days.

After approval, the Central Steering Committee assigns the Government to direct relevant agencies to concretize the initiative into appropriate programs, projects or tasks, depending on the scale and nature. The assigned agencies are responsible for periodically reporting the implementation progress to the Central Steering Committee through the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The selection process consists of two rounds of evaluation: a preliminary screening round at the Ministry of Science and Technology and an appraisal and recognition round at the Central Steering Committee. In round 1, initiatives are considered based on criteria of conformity with national strategic orientation, breakthrough, feasibility and non-duplication with approved tasks. In round 2, the criteria are expanded, assessing potential impact, urgency, implementation capacity and ability to mobilize social resources, ensuring that only initiatives with real impact and that can be implemented in practice are recognized.

The issuance of the Breakthrough Initiative Selection Process is expected to create a solid institutional foundation for the discovery and replication of national initiatives, encouraging the active participation of all social sectors in innovation. This is also a tool to connect the entire innovation ecosystem where new ideas, solutions and technologies can be evaluated, appraised and deployed synchronously, contributing to the successful implementation of the goal of making science and technology, innovation and digital transformation become the main driving force to promote rapid and sustainable development of the country, realizing the vision of Vietnam becoming a country with leading innovation capacity in the region by 2045.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/ban-hanh-quy-trinh-xet-chon-sang-kien-dot-pha-phat-trien-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-chuyen-doi-so-19725101519575352.htm