Four steps to select breakthrough initiatives in science, technology and innovation

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has just signed and issued Decision No. 2266/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister promulgating the Process of selecting breakthrough initiatives according to the Strategic Action Plan to implement Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.

This process regulates the registration, reception, selection, recognition, assignment and implementation of breakthrough initiatives nationwide.

The process is deployed centrally on the Science and Technology Initiative Portal, ensuring data connectivity via application programming interface (API) with related information systems.

Subjects of application include ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; scientific and technological organizations, enterprises, research institutes, universities; social organizations and individuals at home and abroad who have proposed breakthrough initiatives according to Plan No. 01-KH/BCĐTW.

Requirements to be met by breakthrough initiatives

According to regulations, breakthrough initiatives need to ensure the following requirements: novelty and creativity (having outstanding differences compared to existing solutions); breakthrough (solving bottlenecks and major challenges in terms of institutions, technology, resources or development models); feasibility (ensuring feasibility in terms of technology and resources and having a clear implementation roadmap); impact and spillover (having the potential to create positive, far-reaching influences and contributing to the implementation of key indicators (KPIs) of the Strategic Action Plan); resource mobilization capacity (having the ability to strongly attract resources from society).

Breakthrough innovation selection process

The breakthrough initiative selection process is implemented online, including 4 implementation steps.

Step 1: Propose an initiative (all organizations and individuals submit proposals online through the Science and Technology Initiative Portal).

Step 2: Screen and submit to the Steering Committee ( Ministry of Science and Technology presides over checking the validity of the documents and making a preliminary assessment based on the prescribed criteria.

For breakthrough initiatives with valid dossiers, the Ministry of Science and Technology will establish an Evaluation Council within 3-5 working days, organize meetings or collect written opinions from Council members and ministries, branches and localities directly related to the breakthrough initiative. The deadline for completing the consultation, synthesis and screening is a maximum of 14 working days.

For initiatives that meet the criteria, the Ministry of Science and Technology will synthesize and submit them to competent authorities for consideration and decision; for initiatives that do not meet the criteria, the Ministry of Science and Technology will reject them and send a written response to the proposing organization or individual.

Based on the Council's assessment results, the Ministry of Science and Technology will prepare a Report with a list of initiatives identified as breakthroughs and strategic significance, and submit it to the Central Steering Committee for consideration and decision. For breakthrough initiatives with invalid dossiers, the Ministry of Science and Technology will refuse to evaluate and notify organizations and individuals through the Science and Technology Initiative Portal.

Step 3: Review and Approval (The Central Steering Committee - through the Standing Agency, the Central Party Office - presides over the review of proposed initiatives submitted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with in-depth consultation with the 57 Chief Engineers and the National Advisory Council, before making a final decision and announcing the addition to the list. The maximum review completion time is 30 working days from the date of receipt of the Submission).

Step 4: Assign tasks and organize implementation (after approval, the Central Steering Committee assigns the Government to direct relevant agencies to concretize the initiative into programs, projects and organize implementation depending on scale and nature.

Agencies are assigned to periodically report progress to the Central Steering Committee (through the Ministry of Science and Technology).

Selection criteria

Preliminary screening criteria (round 1 at the Ministry of Science and Technology): Suitability (consistent with the country's policies and strategic orientations); breakthrough (clearly demonstrating new, creative, breakthrough elements, solving important problems); feasibility (having a scientific and practical basis for implementation); non-duplication (no overlap in content with approved tasks)

Criteria for appraisal and recognition (round 2 at the Central Steering Committee): Fully meeting the preliminary screening criteria; potential impact (capable of creating great influence and spreading widely); urgency (solving priority and urgent problems); implementation capacity (enterprises and organizations in Vietnam have enough capacity and resources to implement); ability to mobilize social resources (highly attractive to attract non-budgetary investment)./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/bon-buoc-xet-chon-sang-kien-dot-pha-ve-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-post1070564.vnp