Creating a "golden season" of science and technology: When talent is placed at the center

“A talented person needs confidence and a good environment to develop his or her full potential. If a research institute does not meet the requirements, it will be difficult for a scientist, no matter how talented, to contribute. We must comprehensively restructure the research system,” affirmed Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy in the program “The Era of Rising” broadcast on VTV1 with the theme “Attracting and Reusing Talents”.

The program raises a series of big questions: How to discover, nurture and make good use of talented people? How can Vietnam truly have a "golden season" of science and technology?

On July 6, 2025, the Party Central Office announced the urgent direction of General Secretary To Lam to the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit a treatment mechanism beyond the framework within 2 months, aiming to bring at least 100 leading science and technology experts back to work in the country.

Immediately after that, the Prime Minister continued to assign the Ministry of Home Affairs to develop a project to recruit and provide special treatment for 100 chief engineers and chief architects, playing a leading role in implementing breakthrough initiatives. At the same time, the Ministry of Science and Technology was assigned to develop and implement a strategy to attract science and technology talents until 2030, with a vision to 2050, affirming the central role of high-quality human resources in national development.

Overview of the program.

Putting scientists in the position of "chief engineer"

In a recent speech, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that scientists are no longer passive subjects but authors of fundamental works, opening a turning point in thinking in the policy of employing talented people.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy, to realize that, the State needs to create an effective system of ordering science and technology, empowering leading scientists - the "chief engineers and chief architects" of national products and projects. At the same time, it is necessary to shift thinking from purely scientific research to product-oriented, product-centered, thereby arousing the creative potential and responsibility of intellectuals in the cause of national development.

What is special is that the concept of "chief engineer" - familiar in advanced scientific countries - is officially mentioned for the first time in policy at the highest level. This reflects the breakthrough vision of the leadership, considering science and technology as the central driving force of development.

Sharing the same view, Dr. Bui Thanh Duyen, Scientific Director and co-founder of Genetica Company, said that a big problem will have many research groups participating, but to be successful, it requires a chief engineer who knows how to gather, coordinate and attract talented people, like a chief architect who unifies all ideas to create a project. However, Dr. Bui Thanh Duyen said that the institutional bottleneck is still "narrow": "If the research infrastructure is not invested in the right focus, then even if the red carpet is rolled out, it will be difficult to retain talent."

From a management perspective, Deputy Minister Bui The Duy frankly shared: "Good people need trust and a good environment to develop their full potential. If a research institute does not have the right conditions, it will be difficult for scientists, no matter how talented, to contribute. We must comprehensively restructure the research system."

Long-term investment and business engagement

Deputy Minister Bui The Duy emphasized that to increase autonomy for scientists, it is necessary to first give more power to research institutes and universities. More importantly, it is necessary to clearly define the philosophy: "Investing in science and technology is a long-term investment, bringing indirect benefits, not just looking at short-term profits. The State must become a midwife - creating seed capital for risky research. When the State accepts risks, businesses dare to follow." Along with that, there must be a close connection between training, research and businesses. Although Vietnam's general education system trains quite well in natural sciences, from university level and above, the quality of training human resources for science and technology is still limited, inferior to many countries in the region.

The Deputy Minister said that the connection between training, research and production practice is still loose. Universities must become research and development (R&D) centers and only when businesses place strong orders can the capacity of students and trainees be improved.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy shared his views at the program.

Another direction mentioned by the Deputy Minister is to encourage scientists to participate in owning shares in startups and technology enterprises with their own intelligence. When benefits are linked, the motivation for innovation will be sustainable. In addition, it is necessary to build a culture of honest and practical research, invite CEOs, doctors, and technology experts to be guest lecturers, help students access practical knowledge, and shorten the gap between academia and production.

In the development orientation for 2021-2030, the Resolution of the 13th National Congress emphasized attracting and utilizing talents, especially in the field of technology, as a strategic solution to realize Resolution 57 of the Politburo. This is considered one of the key pillars, aiming at the goal of Vietnam becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045 - on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the country's founding.

If implemented synchronously, this strategy can create a historic boost, opening a period of knowledge-based development. When the top minds no longer leave Vietnam, when the institutions, processes and management thinking are reformed, Vietnam will truly enter a "bumper harvest" - the golden season of science and technology, creating a solid foundation for the country's breakthrough.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/kien-tao-mua-vang-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-khi-nhan-tai-duoc-dat-vao-vi-tri-trung-tam-197251011001621632.htm