Circular No. 06/2021/TT-BKHCN guiding the management of the National Technology Innovation Program until 2030

CIRCULAR

Hguiding management Cprogram for national technological innovation until 2030

________________________

Pursuant to the Law on Technology Transfer dated June 19, 2017;

Pursuant to the Law Science and Technology June 18 June 2013;

Decree No. 76/2018/Decree No. 15/2018/NĐ-CP dated May 15, 2018 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Technology Transfer;

Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2017/NĐ-CP dated August 16, 2017, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Technology Application and Development and the Head of the Legal Department;

The Minister of Science and Technology issues this Circular to guide the management of the National Technological Innovation Program until 2030.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular guides the management of the National Technological Innovation Program until 2030 approved by Decision No. 118/QĐ-TTg dated January 25, 2021 of the Prime Minister (hereinafter referred to as the Program).

2. This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in, implementing, and managing the Program.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Technology map is a set of documents describing and analyzing the current status and potential use of technology at a specific time; the correlation between types of technology with requirements for appropriate technological development; identifying trends in technological development, prioritized technologies, and forecasting technology needs.

2. Technological innovation roadmap is the process of determining goals and contents of technological innovation; the sequence and plans for using resources to implement technological innovation activities within a defined period of time.

3. Key products, priority products are products identified by the Prime Minister, Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities in the national strategy, planning, and plans of ministries, sectors, and localities.

4. Sustainable agricultural production model applying advanced technology is a production model that creates agricultural products with high added value and competitiveness, suitable for each ecological region; contributing to economic and social development and environmental protection.

5. Steering Committee of the National Technological Innovation Program (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee) is an advisory organization assisting the Minister of Science and Technology in organizing and implementing the Program, established and regulated by the Minister of Science and Technology.

Article 3. Tasks under the Program

1. Tasks to build and implement a roadmap to enhance national technological capacity, including research topics, projects, and programs:

a) Building the national technology map and a roadmap for technological innovation in key product and main product sectors;

b) Building and implementing a roadmap for technological innovation for enterprises;

c) Organizing training and supporting training on technology management, technology governance, and updating new technologies for enterprises and educational institutions; training and upgrading managerial staff and technical teams in enterprises;

d) Studying and perfecting mechanisms and policies to promote technological innovation activities and the formation of research and development organizations in enterprises.

2. Tasks to research, apply, and master advanced technologies in producing key products, priority products with high added value in the value chain and high competitiveness in the market, including research topics and projects:

a) Implementing research, application, and mastery of advanced technologies to support enterprises in improving product performance, equipment, production lines, and technological processes to produce key products and priority products;

b) Promoting cooperation between enterprises and scientific and technological organizations to seek, transfer, apply, master, and decode new and advanced technologies;

c) Supporting cooperation between enterprises and scientific and technological organizations to implement investment projects for technological innovation and infrastructure development for research and technological application and innovation;

d) Applying smart management and business models for enterprises in producing key products and priority products.

3. Tasks to support small and medium-sized enterprises in technological innovation, including projects:

a) Receiving, transferring, researching, testing, applying new and advanced technologies; producing new products and changing technological processes to create products with large consumption and market dominance;

b) Establishing enterprise resource management information systems, applying digital transformation, exploiting technology data and technology experts.

4. Tasks to strengthen support for technological innovation activities in rural, mountainous, and economically disadvantaged areas, including projects:

a) Applying advanced and automated smart agriculture models, post-harvest and agricultural product processing technologies; improving crop and livestock varieties with high yield and quality, adaptable to climate change; enhancing large-scale seed production, cultivation techniques, breeding, and disease control technologies;

b) Innovating traditional craft industries and trades;

c) Supporting enterprises operating in preferential investment sectors to receive technology transfers from scientific and technological organizations.

5. Other periodic tasks to support technological innovation development include:

a) Investigating, evaluating, building, and updating current status databases, technological levels, and capacities in various industries and fields; building, collecting, and updating databases on new and advanced technologies, technology needs, and technology experts; establishing evaluation standards for technological innovation implementation and enterprise competitiveness (supplementing statistical systems and assessment indicators for enterprise technological innovation activities); investigating and surveying science and technology progress models according to regional characteristics to develop planning and form networks of technological innovation models for specific regions.

b) Support the establishment of an automatic advisory connection network; support enterprises in exploiting industrial property databases for application in production and business activities, serving technological innovation; promote technology transfer, evaluate, appraise, and inspect technology;

c) Identify models of applying scientific and technological progress according to the characteristics of each region to serve as a basis for selecting support for the application, transfer, and replication of successful technological models;

d) Support centers performing functions of researching and applying scientific and technological progress and points connecting supply and demand for technology in activities such as technology transfer, service connection, technical support in implementing technology applications, connecting with markets and promoting products created from technology applications, searching and connecting with domestic and foreign partners, enhancing capacity in disseminating and replicating successful application models;

đ) Organize communication activities on technology application, transfer, and innovation, honor and reward enterprises, organizations, and individuals with outstanding achievements in creative and innovative technology activities that bring economic and social benefits;

e) Support international cooperation activities in technology application, transfer, and innovation;

The tasks under this Clause shall be determined and organized for implementation in accordance with the provisions of Article 11 of this Circular;

6. Management activities of the Program include:

a) Activities of the Program Steering Committee; management and organization of the Program's implementation by the Agency for Science and Technology Application and Development, the National Innovation Fund, and relevant units under the Ministry of Science and Technology;

b) Organizing roundtable discussions and seminars on the management and organization of the Program's implementation;

c) Summarizing and evaluating annual results to report to the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

d) Other management and organizational activities for the Program's implementation;

Article 4. General Principles for Selecting Tasks

1. Tasks must comply with the corresponding provisions of Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Article 3 of this Circular;

2. The objectives of the tasks must be clear and quantifiable, having a positive impact on the promotion of national, regional, sectoral, and field economic and social development;

3. Prioritize tasks of domestic enterprises and science and technology organizations; tasks implemented in regions with difficult socio-economic conditions; tasks involving technology transfer, application, and mastery encouraged by the provisions of Article 9 of the Technology Transfer Law; tasks supported financially or committed to specific applications by ministries, sectors, and localities;

4. Tasks must be feasible, where the leading organization has the professional capacity, material resources, financial resources, or can demonstrate the ability to mobilize external resources to implement the task;

Article 5. Task Codes within the Program

Task codes within the Program are recorded as follows: ĐM.DA.XX/YY or ĐM.ĐT.XX/YY or ĐM.ĐA.XX/YY or ĐM.ĐK.XX/YY;

Where:

- ĐM is the abbreviation code for the National Technology Innovation Program;

- DA is the abbreviation code for projects; ĐT is the abbreviation code for research topics; ĐA is the abbreviation code for programs; ĐK is the abbreviation code for periodic implementation tasks;

- XX includes two digits indicating the serial number of the Program's tasks according to each project, topic, program, or periodic task;

- YY represents the year (the last two digits) when the task begins;

Chapter II

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING TASKS UNDER THE PROGRAM

Article 6. Tasks for building and implementing a roadmap to enhance national technological capacity

To serve management and strategic planning for technology development by the Government, Ministries, sectors, fields, and enterprises, among which, the group of tasks for developing a technology map and a roadmap for technological innovation must meet the criteria set out in the A1.2-PDX-BDCN-LTCN proposal form, and the group of training tasks must meet the criteria set out in the A1.3-PDX-NVDT proposal form attached hereto as Appendix.

Article 7. Tasks for researching, applying, and mastering advanced technologies in the production of key products, important products with high added value in the value chain and strong market competitiveness

1. Implement research, application, and mastery of advanced technologies to support enterprises in enhancing product performance, quality, equipment, production lines, and technological processes to produce key products and important products that must meet the following criteria:

a) The produced products must have higher performance, quality, and competitive ability compared to similar products manufactured domestically or imported;

b) Research, application, and mastery of advanced technologies in production must contribute to increasing the value of products by at least 5%, and labor productivity must be higher than before the project implementation;

c) National product manufacturing organizations, key product manufacturing organizations, and important product manufacturing organizations must commit to applying researched and mastered technologies in at least two years following the project completion and establishing a research and development organization within the enterprise (if not already established) after the project completion;

2. Promote cooperation activities between enterprises and scientific and technological agencies, organizations, and individuals to seek, transfer, apply, master, and decode new and advanced technologies that must meet the following criteria:

a) There must be collaboration between enterprises and domestic and foreign scientific and technological agencies (which may include scientific and technological organizations under companies or groups) or through scientific and technological organizations cooperating with foreign enterprises;

b) Identify the required technology: necessity, urgency, suitability, clarity, and evaluate its role and impact on the enterprise;

c) Propose methods for seeking, discovering, decoding technologies according to requirements or orders from organizations and enterprises; determine conditions for technology transfer;

d) Demonstrate the capability to effectively apply, master, transfer, and exploit the sought-after technology;

đ) The technology to be transferred, applied, mastered, and decoded must be new and advanced technology serving the economic and social development of the country, sector, region, or locality;

3. Support cooperation activities between enterprises and scientific and technological agencies, organizations, and individuals to implement investment projects for technological innovation and infrastructure development for research and application of technology and technological innovation that must meet the following criteria:

a) Collaboration between enterprises and scientific and technological agencies for scientific and technological activities;

b) Feasibility report for research, application of technology, and technological innovation;

c) Organizations and enterprises implementing investment in technological innovation and infrastructure development for research and application of technology and technological innovation must commit to conducting scientific research and technological development activities in at least two years following the project completion;

4. Implement management and business models for enterprises towards smart production in the manufacture of key products and important products that must meet the following criteria:

a) Smart management and production models focus on priority and leading industries and high-value-added service sectors;

b) Implementation of the model must contribute to improving the efficiency of enterprise production and business operations, increasing product value;

c) Anticipate the scale of application and market expansion of the model.

Article 8. Tasks to support small and medium-sized enterprises in technological innovation

1. Receiving, transferring, researching, trial producing, applying new technologies and advanced technologies; producing new products and changing production processes to create products with high consumption and market dominance must meet the following criteria:

a) The organization has sufficient capacity to implement, for research and trial production projects, the leading organization must ensure at least 30% of the project's workforce have university-level qualifications;

b) The product created has high competitiveness, potential social and economic benefits, helping the enterprise develop rapidly in terms of quality and scale;

c) Demonstrate the effectiveness of the project:

- For projects receiving, transferring, researching, and trial producing, the results and products expected must have application addresses or transfer destinations;

- For projects applying new technologies and advanced technologies, they must produce products and services deployed at a minimum provincial or centrally-administered city level;

- For projects producing new products, they must create products that are competitive in features, quality, and price compared to domestically produced or imported similar products;

- Changing production processes contributes to increasing the value of products by at least 5%, and improving labor productivity.

2. Building a management information system for business resources, applying digital transformation, and exploiting technology data and technology experts must meet the following criteria:

a) Having clear plans for operations, data exploitation, and business, ensuring resources for project implementation and maintenance;

b) Identifying specific needs and economic-technical efficiency of applying a management information system for business resources and promoting products;

c) The leading organization must demonstrate its ability to mobilize sufficient non-budgetary funds and utilize project results; prioritizing support for businesses using funds from their own science and technology development fund.

Article 9. Tasks to strengthen support for technological innovation activities in rural, mountainous, and economically disadvantaged regions

1. Applying advanced technology, automating smart agricultural cultivation models, post-harvest technology, and agricultural product processing; improving crop and livestock varieties with high yield and quality, adaptable to climate change; enhancing seed production technology, cultivation techniques, and disease control at large scales must meet the following criteria:

a) Determining the market and competitiveness of the product; addressing economic and social development issues of the project implementation area and ensuring environmental protection requirements;

b) The model is suitable for regional development needs and actual conditions, and the program's objectives;

c) The leading organization must demonstrate its ability to mobilize sufficient counterpart funds and utilize and replicate the project model; prioritizing support for businesses using funds from their own science and technology development fund.

2. Technological innovation in traditional industries and craft villages must meet the following criteria:

a) Support targets and contents for technological innovation align with local economic development planning;

b) Identifying the potential and strengths of products in regions and traditional craft villages;

c) Possessing the capability to coordinate with industrial promotion, agricultural extension, and fisheries extension programs to build research and application projects based on regional strengths and characteristics;

d) Prioritizing projects contributing to forming sustainable agricultural production models applying advanced technology in each ecological region.

3. Supporting enterprises operating in preferential investment sectors to receive technology transfers from scientific and technological organizations must meet the following criteria:

a) Proving legitimate ownership rights over transferred technology;

b) Having a principle agreement or documentation proving technology transfer activities; committing to application addresses for implementing and applying transferred technology locally;

c) Transfer targets and contents belong to preferential investment sectors and align with economic development planning in preferential investment areas;

d) Determining appropriate technology for the area; advanced technology that improves product productivity and quality compared to old technology.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION OF TASKS UNDER THE PROGRAM

Article 10. Determination and organization to implement scientific and technological tasks under the Program

1. Proposing and determining tasks

a) On the basis of the objectives, contents of the Program and the criteria for tasks stipulated in Chapter II of this Circular, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial people's committees under central cities, the Steering Board of the Program, organizations, and individuals responsible shall propose tasks and propose to order tasks to be sent to the Ministry of Science and Technology, which will organize the determination and approval of the list of tasks under the Program.

The proposal forms for tasks apply Form A1.1-PĐX (proposal form for research topics and projects), A1.2-PĐX-BĐCN-LTCN (proposal form for groups of tasks to build technology maps and innovation roadmaps, groups of tasks to develop and implement innovation roadmaps), A1.3-PĐX-NVĐT (proposal form for training task groups) attached to this Circular. The proposal form for plans applies Form A1-ĐXNV in the Appendix of Circular No. 03/2017/TT-BKHCN dated April 3, 2017, amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN.

b) The procedures for determining and approving the list of tasks to be implemented shall be carried out according to the provisions of Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN dated May 26, 2014, on the procedures for determining national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds, and Circular No. 03/2017/TT-BKHCN dated April 3, 2017, amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN.

The opinion forms for reviewing and evaluating tasks apply Form A2.1-PĐG (opinion form for reviewing and evaluating research topics and projects), A2.2-PĐG-BĐCN-LTCN (opinion form for reviewing and evaluating groups of tasks to build technology maps and innovation roadmaps, groups of tasks to develop and implement innovation roadmaps), A2.3-PĐG-NVĐT (opinion form for reviewing and evaluating training task groups) attached to this Circular. The review and evaluation form for plans applies Model B2-TVHĐ in the Appendix of Circular No. 03/2017/TT-BKHCN dated April 3, 2017, amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN.

2. Selection and direct assignment of tasks

The principles, conditions, procedures, and processes for selecting and directly assigning organizations and individuals to perform tasks shall be carried out according to Circular No. 08/2017/TT-BKHCN dated June 26, 2017, on the selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals to perform national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds.

The detailed descriptions of research topics and projects apply Form B1.1-TMĐT (detailed description of research topics), B1.2-TMDA (detailed description of projects), B1.3-TMNVĐT (detailed description of research topics and projects for training task groups) and the evaluation forms for task application files apply Form B2.1-PĐG-TMĐT (evaluation form for registration files for selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals leading research topics), B2.2-PĐG-TMDA (evaluation form for registration files for selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals leading projects), B2.3-PĐG-TMNVĐT (evaluation form for registration files for selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals leading research topics and projects for training task groups) specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular. The detailed descriptions of plans and the evaluation forms for plans apply Circular No. 08/2017/TT-BKHCN dated June 26, 2017, on the selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals to perform national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds.

3. Reviewing the budget for tasks

The budget review team for tasks consists of five members, including: The team leader is the head of the Department of Technology Application and Development; The deputy team leader is the representative of the Planning and Finance Department; One member is the representative of the Steering Board of the Program; One member is the representative of the National Innovation Fund; One member is the Chairman or Vice-Chairman or reviewer member of the selection council.

In special cases, the Minister of Science and Technology may decide on the number of members of the budget review team differently from this provision.

The principles, procedures, forms, and content of work of the budget review team for tasks and the approval of tasks shall be carried out according to Circular No. 08/2017/TT-BKHCN dated June 26, 2017, on the selection and direct assignment of organizations and individuals to perform national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds.

4. Signing contracts to implement tasks (according to the model research and development contract issued together with Circular No. 05/2014/TT-BKHCN dated April 10, 2014, of the Minister of Science and Technology).

5. Periodic inspection, evaluation, adjustment, and termination of contracts during the implementation of tasks

The procedures for periodic inspection, evaluation, adjustment, and termination of contracts during the implementation of tasks shall be carried out according to the provisions of Circular No. 04/2015/TT-BKHCN dated March 11, 2015, on the inspection, evaluation, adjustment, and termination of contracts during the implementation of national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds.

6. Evaluation, acceptance, recognition of results, and termination of contracts implementing tasks

The procedures for evaluation, acceptance, recognition of results, and termination of contracts implementing tasks shall be carried out according to the provisions of Circular No. 11/2014/TT-BKHCN dated May 30, 2014, on the evaluation and acceptance of results of national-level scientific and technological tasks using state budget funds. The comprehensive report on the results of the task applies Form B3-BCTH (comprehensive report on task results) in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

7. Registration, retention, handling of assets, ownership rights, and usage rights of the results of task implementation

a) The registration and retention of the results of performing tasks in accordance with Circular No. 14/2014/TT-BKHCN dated June 11, 2014, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology on the collection, registration, retention, and publication of information about science and technology tasks.

b) The handling of assets, transfer of ownership and usage rights to the results of performing tasks in accordance with the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets and related current regulations.

Article 11. Determination and Implementation of Other Tasks Carried Out Periodically to Support Technological Innovation Development

1. Each unit under the Ministry shall submit annually a description form for periodic tasks aimed at supporting technological innovation development according to Form C1-TMĐK stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular to the Agency for Technology Application and Development for coordination with the Department of Planning and Finance to review, compile, and submit to the Minister of Science and Technology for approval of the list of tasks.

2. Based on the Decision approving the list of tasks as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, the Agency for Technology Application and Development shall propose to the Minister of Science and Technology to establish an Advisory Board and a Financial Review Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Review Committee).

3. The Review Committee:

a) The members of the Review Committee consist of five members, including: The Chairman is a representative of the Program Steering Committee; The Deputy Chairman is an expert in the field of technological innovation; One member is a representative of the Agency for Technology Application and Development; One member is a representative of the Department of Planning and Finance; One member is a representative of the National Innovation Fund. The administrative secretary of the Review Committee is responsible for preparing and sending documents to all members of the Committee.

b) Principles of operation of the Review Committee:

- The Committee convenes when at least 4/5 of its members are present, including the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman authorized.

- The minutes of the review of the content and budget for implementing the task according to Form C2-BBTĐĐK stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular.

4. Based on the results of the Review Committee's review, the Agency for Technology Application and Development shall submit to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and approval of the leading organization, the head of the task, the budget for implementation, and the time frame for the task.

5. Based on the Decision approving the leading organization, the head of the task, the budget for implementation, and the time frame for the task, the Agency for Technology Application and Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the National Innovation Fund to sign a contract for implementing the task with the leading organization according to Form C3-HĐ stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular.

6. The leading organization implementing the task shall be responsible for preparing a report on the results of the task according to Form C4-BCKQ stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular, to be sent to the Agency for Technology Application and Development for compilation and submission to the Minister of Science and Technology for establishment of a Task Completion Evaluation Committee.

7. The Task Completion Evaluation Committee:

a) The members of the Task Completion Evaluation Committee consist of five members, including: The Chairman is a representative of the Program Steering Committee; The Deputy Chairman is an expert in the field of technological innovation; One member is a representative of the Agency for Technology Application and Development; One member is a representative of the Department of Planning and Finance; One member is a representative of the National Innovation Fund. The administrative secretary of the Task Completion Evaluation Committee is responsible for preparing and sending documents to all members of the Committee.

b) Principles of operation of the Task Completion Evaluation Committee:

- The Committee convenes when at least 4/5 of its members are present, including the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman authorized.

- The minutes of the evaluation of the completion of the task according to Form C5-BBNTĐK stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular.

8. Based on the minutes of the evaluation of the completion of the task, the Agency for Technology Application and Development shall submit to the Minister of Science and Technology for consideration and decision to recognize the results of the task. The procedure for terminating the contract for implementing the task according to Form C6-TLHĐ stipulated in the Appendix accompanying this Circular.

Article 12. Funding for the Implementation of the Program

1. The funding for the implementation of the Program shall be guaranteed from the following sources: state budget; capital of organizations and enterprises; National Science and Technology Development Fund; Enterprise Science and Technology Development Fund; financial support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals; other lawful funding sources as prescribed by law.

2. The funding from the state budget for the implementation of the Program shall cover the costs for implementing tasks and managing activities of the Program as stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular.

3. Financial management for the implementation of the Program shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations on finance for national science and technology programs and related documents concerning the management and implementation of science and technology tasks using state budget funds.

4. After the Minister of Science and Technology approves the organizing entity, the principal investigator, funding, and time frame for the task, the enterprise may implement the contents within the counterpart funding outside the state budget to carry out the project.

Chapter IV

MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM

Article 13. Responsibilities and Authorities of the Ministry of Science and Technology

1. Direct and manage the organization's implementation of the Program according to the division of labor of the Prime Minister as stipulated in Decision No. 118/QĐ-TTg dated January 25, 2021, issued by the Prime Minister regarding the National Technological Innovation Program until 2030.

2. Guide the determination, selection, direct assignment, and assessment of task funding; approve the list of tasks; approve the content and funding of tasks; sign contracts for task implementation; organize inspections and supervision of task implementation; adjust and terminate task implementation contracts; approve plans for selecting contractors for purchasing machinery, equipment, goods, raw materials, and services funded by the state budget for tasks; organize evaluations, acceptance, recognition of results, and termination of task implementation contracts under the Program.

3. Compile and settle annual funding accounts of tasks under the Program and submit them to the Ministry of Finance.

4. Approve the content and funding for common activities of the Program; compile and balance the total budget estimate for implementing the Program to allocate it into the annual state budget for science and technology. Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment in ensuring financial support for the Program's activities.

5. Evaluate results and conclude the Program's activities; report

6. Perform other tasks delegated by the Chairman of the Steering Committee.

Article 14. Units Managing Tasks of the Program

The unit managing tasks of the Program is the Agency for Technology Application and Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which has the responsibility to:

1. Lead the call for proposals, receipt, and compilation of the list of proposed tasks under the Program; organize the determination, selection, direct assignment, and assessment of task funding; sign contracts for task implementation; confirm the volume of work; evaluate, accept, recognize results, and terminate task implementation contracts under the Program.

2. Submit to the leadership of the Ministry plans for selecting contractors for purchasing machinery, equipment, goods, raw materials, and services funded by the state budget for tasks.

3. Lead the development of plans, prepare budget estimates, organize the implementation of the Program; develop periodic reports, mid-term summaries, evaluation reports, and conclusions on the implementation of the Program; organize mid-term and final summaries of the Program's activities.

4. Coordinate with the National Science and Technology Innovation Fund to conduct regular or ad hoc inspections and evaluations of tasks; adjust funding, terminate contracts during task implementation, and handle assets after the completion of Program tasks.

5. Propose to the Minister of Science and Technology forms of honor and rewards for organizations and individuals with outstanding achievements in creative and technological innovation activities that have economic and social benefits.

6. Implement periodic management tasks aimed at supporting technological innovation; build and update databases on the status, level, and capacity of technology in various industries and fields; on new technologies, advanced technologies, technology experts, and automatic advisory networks to exploit these databases to serve technological innovation.

7. Develop, maintain, and update the implementation status of tasks on the Program's electronic news site; disseminate information about the Program's activities; popularize and expand the results of task implementation under the Program; operate technological utilities, management software, and organize the implementation of the Program online/offline.

8. Perform other tasks assigned by the Minister of Science and Technology.

Article 15. The unit managing the financial resources to implement the tasks of the Program

The unit managing the financial resources to implement the tasks of the Program is the National Science and Technology Innovation Fund under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which is responsible for:

1. Taking the lead and coordinating with the Department of Technology Application and Development to perform the task of receiving financial files, managing financial resources, disbursing funds, confirming funds, settling accounts; periodically or randomly inspecting and evaluating tasks, adjusting financial resources, terminating contracts during the implementation of tasks; handling assets after the completion of Program tasks and other assigned tasks related to the management of financial resources for implementing the Program according to the financial management regulations of the Program and current regulations on the use of state budget funds.

2. Coordinating with the Department of Technology Application and Development to develop plans, prepare budget estimates for implementing the Program; selecting, directly assigning, and appraising financial resources for tasks; signing contracts to implement tasks; evaluating, accepting, recognizing results, and terminating contracts for Program tasks; submitting to the Ministry's leadership the plan for selecting contractors to purchase machinery, equipment, goods, raw materials, and services using state budget funds for tasks.

3. Cooperating with relevant units to build periodic reports, mid-term reviews, evaluation reports, and final summaries of the Program's implementation; organizing mid-term and final reviews of the Program's activities according to the functions assigned.

Article 16. Steering Committee of the Program

1. The Steering Committee of the Program is established by the Minister of Science and Technology. The Steering Committee of the Program consists of nine to eleven members, including the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary Member, and other members appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology.

2. The Steering Committee of the Program performs its tasks as stipulated in Article 8 of Circular No. 05/2015/TT-BKHCN dated March 12, 2015, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology, regarding the organization and management of national science and technology programs and the operational rules of the Steering Committee of the National Science and Technology Innovation Program until 2030 issued by the Minister of Science and Technology.

Article 17. Responsibilities and Authorities of Ministries, Agencies Equivalent to Ministries, Government Agencies, People's Committees of Provinces and Central Cities

1. Guiding organizations and individuals to register their participation in the Program.

2. Proposing tasks and ordering scientific and technological tasks to participate in the Program and submitting them to the Ministry of Science and Technology according to Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN dated May 26, 2014, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology, detailing the procedures and formalities for determining national scientific and technological tasks funded by the state budget, and Circular No. 03/2017/TT-BKHCN dated April 3, 2017, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology, amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular No. 07/2014/TT-BKHCN. Organizing the implementation of scientific and technological tasks within their management authority that fall within the scope of the Program.

3. Cooperating with the Ministry of Science and Technology to determine tasks, monitor, inspect, and supervise the implementation of scientific and technological tasks proposed by ministries, sectors, and localities.

4. Annually reporting the situation of Program implementation to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Article 18. Responsibilities and authorities of the leading organization and head of the task

1. The leading organization has responsibilities and authorities as follows:

a) Building and perfecting the selection and evaluation dossier for the task in accordance with regulations;

b) Signing the contract to implement the task with the Ministry of Science and Technology: responsible for organizing the implementation, management, exploitation, and transfer of the results of the task, registering intellectual property rights protection for the results of the task, and managing assets formed from the task in accordance with the law;

c) Regularly reporting on the situation and results of the task to the Ministry of Science and Technology (every six months, annually); stating arising issues, proposing solutions, and reporting to the Ministry of Science and Technology;

d) Managing and using funds for their intended purpose effectively; implementing reports and finalizing accounts for the task's funds according to regulations; compiling and reporting to the Ministry of Science and Technology on the situation of allocation, use, and finalization of accounts annually and overall finalization when the task ends;

đ) Leading the self-evaluation of the task's implementation results in accordance with Circular No. 11/2014/TT-BKHCN dated May 30, 2014, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology on the evaluation and acceptance of national science and technology task results funded by the state budget;

2. The head of the task has responsibilities and authorities as follows:

a) Organizing the implementation and being responsible for the scientific value, technological level, and effectiveness of the task; having plans to apply the results or commercialize products derived from the task's results;

b) Managing and using funds for their intended purpose effectively; implementing reports and finalizing accounts for the task's funds according to regulations;

c) Proposing and recommending necessary adjustments during the task's implementation to the leading organization (if any);

d) Cooperating with the leading organization to carry out the publication, submission, transfer of results and products of the task, registering intellectual property rights protection, and handling assets after the task's completion in accordance with the law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 19. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from August 2, 2021, and replaces Circular No. 09/2013/TT-BKHCN dated March 15, 2013, issued by the Minister of Science and Technology guiding the management of the National Technological Innovation Program until 2020.

2. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be implemented according to the provisions of the new document.

Article 20. Responsibility for Implementation

1. Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall guide agencies, organizations, and individuals participating in the Program based on this Circular.

2. In case of difficulties during implementation, agencies, organizations, and individuals are advised to report to the Ministry of Science and Technology for research, consideration, and appropriate amendments and supplements./.