Professor Ngo Bao Chau, the first Vietnamese mathematician to win the
Fields Medal, talked to Lao Dong Cuoi Tuan (Weekend Labour) newspaper
about how Vietnam can draw more researchers.
*What is the role of science and technology in the country’s socio-economic development?
In
recent years, Vietnam’s economy has gained significant progress.
However, in order to maintain and develop such achievements, we need to
develop our science and technology sector. An economy can’t have a
breakthrough without the science and technology pillar.
It’s the
way that all developed countries in the world have chosen to develop
their economies. I think the Government needs to have more appropriate
policies to attract experts – Vietnamese and foreign scientists as well
as investment projects and enterprises with much creativity in science
and technology – to invest in Vietnam.
*What do you think are the appropriate policies?
I
think many scientists who are working abroad will want to contribute to
the country if the Government has open policies that create favourable
conditions for them to work in the proper working environment.
Regarding
policies to attract human resources, we can start with activities and
projects that bring about practical products to the community.
*Can you talk a bit about the Fostering Innovation through Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) project?
The
FIRST project aims to support science, technology and innovation (STI)
in Vietnam by designing and piloting STI policies, enhancing the
effectiveness of project-aided research and development institutions and
encouraging the development of innovative technology enterprises.
I
believe the project will be successful. Once you’ve decided that you
want to work in science research, you have to take all the difficulties
and challenges and you’ve got to try and try consistently. I started
doing science research 10 years ago. What I’ve learnt is that many
Vietnamese living abroad still want to contribute to the country’s
development with what they’ve learnt abroad.
However, the
reality is that they have to come across quite a number of difficulties.
The biggest hindrance is the income policies and the working
environment. We have a huge number of topnotch Vietnamese scientists
working abroad now, but we have wasted quite a lot of time on
achievements that could have been done much earlier.
With the
FIRST project, we hope that those who wish to contribute to the
country’s development will have the chance to come back and do so.
However, we should focus on specific and leading industries of the
country. This can be considered the first hope for the science and
technology of our country to develop.
*In order to develop,
enterprises need to themselves be innovative. What do you think can
encourage enterprises to have more innovations and incentives?
FIRST
is a big project. We have done surveys with big enterprises which have
the tendency to innovate on their operations through science and
technology research. But only a few have done this.
I think
there is a lack of trust between scientists and enterprises and vice
versa. The FIRST project is the first attempt to address this problem.
This is a chance to gather devoted scientists and science managers who
have the same will to work out a practical solution.
In the
implementation process, with initial efforts, the product might have not
been made. This will be a big pressure for leaders in science research.
This phase will need a lot of encouragement and support from the
Government, so that participants can have the motivation to continue
with their work to make high-quality practical products.
I
believe the project and the Government’s support will create such
products for society in the future, as well as the motivation for
sustainable development for enterprises themselves.-VNA