Hanoi has became the first locality to deploy a range of investment
projects and new policies to promote the role of science and technology
for the city’s socio-economic development, the Vietnam Economic News
reported.
According to Hanoi’s People’s Committee, the city has
many advantages for the development of science and technology including a
capable scientific workforce accounting for 70 percent of the country’s
scientific staff. Hanoi is also home to a large number of research
institutes and universities with high-quality human resources. During
the 2008-2014 period, it has deployed 616 science and technology
research projects and 56 pilot production projects.
According
to Director of Hanoi’s Department of Science and Technology Le Xuan
Rao, Hanoi decided to maintain a two percent of the its budget for
science and technology activities and aims to increase the rate to 2.5
percent by 2020 as part of the efforts to promote the local scientific
and technological development.
Researches have focused on the
study of varieties of plants and animals, new farming technologies; high
tech lines for industrial and agricultural services; engineering
technology, automation, information technology, biotechnology, and
processing.
To date, 192 organisations and businesses across the
city have received guidance and consultancy for establishment of
industrial property and branding such as Ba Vi Milk and Chuong Village’s
Conical Hats.
The city has also conducted technology evaluation
for 187 investment projects in areas of waste treatment and slaughter
lines including North Thang Long-Van Tri and Yen So wastewater
treatment plants and Dong Ke Waste Treatment Plant (Chuong My district).
Hanoi
has organised conferences to promote links between managers, scientists
and manufacturers and facilitate technological transfers, with the
positive participation of lots of experts. The city has been
implementing a series of projects including a technology research,
appraisal and transfer centre, a regular technology exchange centre, and
a biotechnology and food technology centre.
Hanoi’s People’s
Committee recently decided to establish the Hanoi Foundation for Science
and Technology Development, operating as an a non-profit affiliate of
Hanoi’s Department of Science and Technology with legal personality and
its own seal.
The fund will grant a loan up to 30 percent of the
total investment project at zero percent interest during the
implementation term as for applied research projects and experimental
development, and up to 80 percent of total investment project with
preferential interest rates as for organisations and businesses
involving in technology development and transfer of scientific research
results.-VNA