Decision No. 14/2008/QD-TTg on approving the "Overall Plan for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020"

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the Approval of the "Comprehensive Plan for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020"

application of biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020”

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Decision No. 188/2005/QĐ-TTg dated July 22, 2005 of the Prime Minister on the issuance of the Government's Action Program to implement Directive No. 50-CT/TW dated March 4, 2005 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on accelerating the development and application of biotechnology to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country;

The Government’s issuance of the Program of Action of the Government to implement Directive No. 50-CT/TW dated March 4, 2005, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on accelerating the development and application of biotechnology to serve the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Science and Technology,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the "Comprehensive Plan for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020" (hereinafter referred to as the Comprehensive Plan) with the following main contents:

I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. Research, development, and application of biotechnology must meet the requirements for developing a key scientific and technological direction; building and developing the biotechnology industry in our country into a leading economic and technical sector, playing an important role, effectively serving the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country.

2. The development and application of biotechnology should focus mainly on the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food processing industry, food safety, health care, environmental protection, while promoting the formation and development of enterprises producing, trading, and providing services related to biotechnology, achieving high efficiency.

3. Develop biotechnology based on building and strongly promoting internal capacity, combining with selective absorption, quickly accessing, and mastering advanced biotechnology achievements of the world, while modernizing traditional technologies.

4. Developing biotechnology requires high investment and modern equipment, therefore, it is necessary to make appropriate choices for correct and synchronized investment directions; select some key products for investment and development.

5. Training a sufficient number of high-quality human resources in science and technology related to biotechnology is one of the most important factors in developing biotechnology in our country.

II. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives:

Conducting research, widely and effectively applying biotechnology in production and daily life; building the biotechnology industry into a high-tech economic and technical sector, capable of producing key products, essential for contributing significantly to national economic growth; concentrating resources, diversifying investment forms, and improving investment efficiency in biotechnology, forming and developing the biotechnology market so that by 2020, Vietnam's biotechnology reaches advanced levels in the region, and some essential areas reach international standards.

II. SPECIFIC GOALS FOR EACH PHASE:

a) Phase up to 2010:

- Receiving, mastering, and researching to create some important technologies; implementing and effectively applying these technologies across various fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare, food processing, environmental protection, defense, and security.

- Researching and strongly applying new products with high productivity, quality, competitiveness, and economic efficiency such as crop seeds, livestock breeds, microbial strains, vaccines, processed industrial products... to serve consumption and export.

- Building and enhancing the research and development capacity of the biotechnology system.

- Establishing some biotechnology enterprises and creating a favorable and transparent market for these enterprises to produce, trade, and provide services effectively.

b) Phase 2011-2015:

- Receiving and mastering the foundational technologies of advanced and modern biotechnology from around the world, on this basis, researching and creating many valuable technologies to serve production and daily life; continuing to strongly apply biotechnology in many fields, practically serving economic and social development and environmental protection.

- Building some research and development centers for biotechnology reaching ASEAN standards.

- Building a developing biotechnology industry ensuring the production of high-quality and competitive key products, well serving consumption and export needs.

c) Vision by 2020:

- Training a sufficient number of high-quality human resources in science and technology related to biotechnology, rich in creative abilities and mastery of technology, effectively serving economic and social development, protecting human health, and living environment.

- Building some advanced and modern research and development centers for biotechnology reaching international standards.

- Strongly developing the biotechnology industry, meeting the production capacity of key and essential products for the national economy.

III. MAIN TASKS

1. Conducting research, widely and effectively applying biotechnology in production and daily life:

a) Fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and rural development:

- For agricultural crops: focusing on scientific research, development, and wide application of gene technology (gene transfer technology and molecular marker methods) to create new crop varieties, genetically modified crops with superior agronomic traits suitable for market demands; tissue culture technology to meet the demand for high-quality, disease-free seedlings; widely applying high technology to optimize crop yields and quality.

- For forestry: conducting scientific research, development, and wide application of cell technology, tissue culture technology to rapidly propagate high-growth-rate, high-quality timber tree species; conducting scientific research, development, and application of gene technology to create forest trees resistant to pests and diseases.

- Regarding livestock breeds for improving reproductive technologies, particularly animal cell technology in freezing semen, embryos, and embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization; applying molecular marker methods and gene transfer technology to select and create new high-yield and quality livestock breeds; applying genetic technology to determine the sex of embryos of important livestock species; researching and enhancing production capacity to ensure sufficient quantities of veterinary vaccines, especially vaccines for avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, and other dangerous diseases.

- Regarding microorganisms: conducting scientific research, developing and applying microbial, enzyme, and protein technology to produce industrial-scale microbial products for crop protection, soil improvement, processing and preserving agricultural products-foods, feed production, purifying drinking water, and treating agricultural and rural waste products.

- Effectively applying genetic technology in the conservation, storage, and rational exploitation of plant, animal, and microbial germplasm to serve breeding improvement work.

- Regarding aquaculture: conducting scientific research, developing and applying biotechnology to control gender for large-scale industrial mono-sex seed production, creating high-quality, disease-resistant aquatic breeds; implementing artificial reproduction methods for economically valuable aquatic species for export purposes; conserving and effectively exploiting the germplasm of endemic aquatic species to serve breeding work; producing biological products to enhance aquaculture productivity and treat aquaculture environments; producing certain types of rapid diagnostic kits for aquatic diseases; researching and applying molecular biology and immunology, microbiology in preventing and treating dangerous aquatic diseases; producing high-quality fish feed to replace imported feed.

- Regarding seafood processing: conducting scientific research, developing and applying enzyme and protein technology to improve product quality and create new products in the seafood processing industry; applying molecular biology methods to ensure hygiene and safety of seafood products; applying biotechnology to treat waste from seafood processing to protect the environment and produce seafood preservation products.

b) Field of healthcare and community health protection:

Vigorously researching, developing, and applying biotechnology in the medical field to create new medical products with high therapeutic effects, advanced medical services to effectively prevent and combat dangerous epidemics, better meeting diverse health care needs of the population.

- Regarding healthcare:

+ Researching, developing, and applying stem cell technology for treatment; expanding the scale of in vitro fertilization technology application to solve infertility issues; developing single-cell line technology and applying it to diagnosis and treatment.

+ Researching, developing, and applying gene technology in diagnosis and treatment, improving the quality of the human gene pool in Vietnam.

+ Researching and producing new generations of vaccines (cell-based vaccines, recombinant vaccines, DNA vaccines) to ensure domestic demand of 80-90% and part for export.

- Regarding pharmaceuticals:

+ Researching bioactive substances from animals, plants, and microorganisms to produce industrial-scale drugs, cosmetics, and functional foods.

+ Researching and producing antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids, proteins using microbial fermentation and recombinant microbial technology.

+ Researching and applying cell technology in the conservation and development of rare medicinal resources.

c) Field of environmental protection and sustainable development:

- Conducting research, developing, and applying biotechnology to create environmentally friendly technologies and products, producing biofuels (biogas, biofuel, biodiesel...) serving cleaner production goals and ensuring energy security.

- Conducting research, developing, and applying biotechnology to treat pollutants, restore and develop natural ecosystems, protect the environment.

- Conducting research, developing, and applying biotechnology to conserve, store, and rationally utilize biodiversity, land, water, air for national sustainable development.

d) Field of processing industry:

- Conducting research, developing, and applying enzyme, protein, and microbial technologies to produce industrial-scale amino acids, proteins, organic acids, organic solvents, microbial products for food processing industry, feed production, biofuels, medicines, pollution treatment.

- Conducting research on manufacturing biotechnology equipment chains and devices for the food processing industry.

đ) Field of defense and security:

- Conducting research, developing, and applying methods to prevent and combat biological weapons.

- Conducting research, building human genome libraries for certain managed subjects; researching, developing, and applying biotechnology in crime fighting, management, and security and defense service provision.

2. Building and developing potential for biotechnology:

a) Building technical infrastructure, modernizing machinery and equipment:

- Planning and investing appropriately and synchronously to modernize the network of biotechnology research institutes, universities, and laboratories nationwide.

- Completing the construction and effective operation of key national laboratories, while building and developing additional biotechnology laboratories equipped with modern and synchronized machinery and equipment.

- Constructing some advanced biotechnology centers with regional, inter-regional, sectoral, and inter-sectoral characteristics to fulfill national, regional, inter-regional, and sector-specific tasks.

- Establish national key laboratories for biotechnology meeting international standards, and standardize other laboratories according to the recognized laboratory standards (VILAS).

b) Training human resources:

- Develop and implement a training plan for scientific human resources to meet the quantitative and qualitative needs for the development of biotechnology and the biotech industry in the country. Emphasize training high-level experts, doctoral and post-doctoral candidates, master’s degree holders, biotechnology engineers, technicians, and research groups in biotechnology.

- Proactively and regularly improve the quality of training for scientific staff at all levels in biotechnology within the country. Encourage domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to participate in training human resources for Vietnam's biotechnology. Continue to send people abroad for undergraduate and graduate studies using state budget funds. Encourage self-funded study abroad at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels in biotechnology.

- Organize retraining in biotechnology for scientific and technical staff currently working in the field of biotechnology but who were not previously trained in-depth in biotechnology, while organizing training courses on technology transfer and technical progress in biotechnology for production facilities and localities.

- Implement a mechanism linking postgraduate education with scientific research and technological development to ensure that research projects at the ministry and state levels contribute to training highly qualified personnel in biotechnology.

- Period 2006-2010: Train over 8,000 scientific staff with undergraduate and graduate degrees in biotechnology, including: 200 doctoral candidates, 800 master’s degree holders, send approximately 100 people abroad for training; train 3,000 technicians domestically.

- Period 2011-2015: Train over 12,000 scientific staff with undergraduate and graduate degrees in biotechnology, including: 300 doctoral candidates, 1,200 master’s degree holders, send approximately 300 people abroad for training; train 4,500 technicians domestically.

3. Building and developing the biotech industry:

a) Develop an overall planning framework for the development of the biotech industry in Vietnam until 2020, focusing on planning the development of the biotech industry in areas such as: processing industries for agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products, pharmaceuticals, with perspectives, goals, tasks, and implementation measures suitable for the conditions of the country.

b) Form and develop biotech enterprises engaged in production, business, and service activities in the fields of processing agricultural, forestry, aquatic, and marine products; producing alcohol, beer, soft drinks, condiments; producing amino acids, organic acids, industrial enzymes, food additives; producing crop, livestock, aquaculture, fertilizer, biological pest control agents, veterinary vaccines, vaccines for expanded immunization programs for children, avian influenza vaccines, medicines, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical products; producing microbial preparations for waste treatment, wastewater, exhaust gas treatment, water purification, and environmental cleanup.

c) Create a transparent and favorable market, develop additional supporting industries, and encourage businesses of all economic sectors to invest in developing the biotech industry.

4. Building and perfecting legal regulations, mechanisms, and policies to promote scientific research, development, and application of biotechnology in production and daily life:

a) Develop and promulgate incentive mechanisms and policies to encourage scientific research, development, technology transfer, and application of biotechnology in production and daily life, as well as investment and development of the biotech industry in Vietnam; incentive policies for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those operating in the processing of agricultural, forestry, aquatic, and marine products, to invest in biotechnology development; policies to attract and diversify investment resources for biotechnology development; incentive policies for scientific and technical personnel and talent utilization in biotechnology.

b) Develop management policies for biosafety regarding genetically modified organisms, an important chapter of the Biodiversity Law and detailed decrees guiding its implementation.

c) Develop, promulgate, and enforce preferential policies on tax, land, loans, technology transfer support, import of technology and trade secrets, market development, human resource training support... for businesses investing in scientific research and the development of the biotech industry.

5. International cooperation in the field of biotechnology:

a) Conduct bilateral and multilateral cooperation with advanced countries in the region and around the world in biotechnology to learn from their experiences, attract investment, and seek assistance to rapidly, strongly, and firmly develop biotechnology in the country.

b) Develop and implement cooperative research, development, and application projects in biotechnology; technology transfer, production lines, machinery, and equipment in biotechnology between research institutes and universities in the country and those in advanced biotechnology countries worldwide.

6. Key programs, plans, projects, and initiatives:

To achieve the set objectives and effectively implement the contents of the overall plan mentioned above, proceed to establish, approve, and implement the following ten key programs, plans, projects, and initiatives:

a) National key science and technology program on the development and application of foundational technologies in biotechnology: The Ministry of Science and Technology will lead the establishment, approval within its authority, and implementation.

b) The key program for developing and applying biotechnology in agriculture and rural development until 2020: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing (continuing implementation according to Decision No. 11/2006/QD-TTg dated January 12, 2006 of the Prime Minister).

c) The project on developing and applying biotechnology in the processing industry until 2020: The Ministry of Industry (now the Ministry of Industry and Trade) shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing (continuing implementation according to Decision No. 14/2007/QD-TTg dated January 25, 2007 of the Prime Minister).

d) The project on developing and applying biotechnology in fisheries until 2020: The Ministry of Fisheries (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing (continuing implementation according to Decision No. 97/2007/QD-TTg dated June 29, 2007 of the Prime Minister).

đ) The project on developing and applying biotechnology in healthcare until 2020: The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing.

e) The project on developing and applying biotechnology in environmental protection until 2020: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing.

g) The planning for training human resources for the development of biotechnology and the biotechnology industry until 2020: The Ministry of Education and Training shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing.

h) The planning for the network and strengthening of infrastructure and technical facilities for research institutes, centers, and laboratories in biotechnology until 2020: The Ministry of Science and Technology shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing.

i) The overall planning for the development of the biotechnology industry in Vietnam until 2020: The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, and implementing.

k) The Law on Biodiversity, including a chapter on biosafety management for genetically modified organisms and detailed decrees guiding the implementation of this chapter: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall be responsible for drafting, submitting to the Government for comments, and then to the National Assembly for approval and implementing.

IV. MAJOR SOLUTIONS

1. Strengthening the leadership and regular guidance of Party committees and authorities at all levels regarding the development and application of biotechnology in production and daily life. Establishing a unified system of guidance for the development and application of biotechnology from central to local levels. Promoting and diversifying various forms of propaganda and dissemination of knowledge about the development and application of biotechnology; continuing to widely disseminate the directives of the Central Committee Secretariat, the Government's action program, and the overall plan on the development and application of biotechnology in Vietnam to all levels, sectors, localities, and communities to implement effectively.

2. Quickly perfecting the legal framework, mechanisms, and policies to create favorable, transparent, and preferential conditions for the development and application of biotechnology, while enhancing the state management capacity over research and development activities, application, and use of biotechnology products in Vietnam.

3. Vigorously promoting the training of human resources, strengthening material and technical equipment for biotechnology. Paying attention to focused and systematic investment according to unified planning throughout the country and in each locality to effectively utilize machinery, equipment, and laboratories that have been invested in.

4. Enhancing and diversifying investment resources for the development and application of biotechnology. Selecting focused and prioritized investments, organizing effective implementation, and strictly managing programs, projects, and plans on the development and application of biotechnology. Paying attention to mobilizing investment capital from businesses and producers for the development of biotechnology in the country.

The State shall prioritize budget allocation for scientific research and biotechnology development in the annual state budget for science and technology. The priority allocation of funds for key programs, plans, projects, and initiatives in the "Overall Plan for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020" shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law.

Reviving and developing local experiences, while quickly adopting advanced technologies to promote the development and application of biotechnology in restoring and developing traditional industries, forming new industries to strengthen the biotechnology industry.

Strengthening international cooperation to quickly absorb, decode, and master important fields of modern biotechnology. Implementing the purchase of technology and hiring foreign experts in cases where scientific research and biotechnology development are necessary.

V. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall take the lead, coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and agencies to effectively and timely implement the contents of the "Overall Plan for the Development and Application of Biotechnology in Vietnam until 2020", and report results annually to the Prime Minister.

2. The Ministries of Science and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Industry and Trade, Education and Training, and Natural Resources and Environment, based on their assigned responsibilities in the overall plan, shall promptly draft, review, approve within their authority, or submit to competent authorities for approval and effectively implement key programs, plans, projects, and initiatives allocated to them in accordance with schedules.

3. Provincial People's Committees under the direct jurisdiction of the central government shall base on this overall plan to develop programs and plans for biotechnology development from now until 2020 as a priority component in their five-year socio-economic development plans and annual plans at the local level.

4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Science and Technology shall coordinate, allocate, and guide the use of capital to implement, effectively and on schedule, the contents, tasks, programs, plans, projects, and proposals included in the Comprehensive Plan that has been approved by the competent authority.

5. Organizations and individuals wishing to participate in implementing the contents, tasks, programs, plans, projects, and proposals under the Comprehensive Plan shall register with the ministries assigned the lead responsibility for such tasks to be considered and resolved.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

The Minister of Science and Technology, the Ministers, the Heads of ministerial-level agencies, the Heads of government-affiliated agencies, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for enforcing this Decision./.