Circular No. 17/2004/TT-BKHCN guiding the work of competition and commendation in the field of science and technology

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Competition and Reward Work in the Field of Science and Technology

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Pursuant to the Law on Competition and Reward No. 15/2003/QH11 of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Session IV, Term XI;

Pursuant to Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Decree No. 28/2004/NĐ-CP dated January 16, 2004 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 54/2003/NĐ-CP dated May 19, 2003;

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. OBJECTIVES

The competition and reward work aims to encourage, motivate, and honor collectives and individuals working in the field of science and technology who have outstanding achievements, creative labor, successfully complete assigned tasks, and achieve the set goals for developing science and technology and economic and social development as proposed by the Party and State in the national construction and reform process.

II. PRINCIPLES

c) The granting of competition titles must be based on competition movements; all collectives and individuals participating in these movements must register for competition, set goals, and establish targets; those not registering will not be considered for competition titles.

a. Voluntary, self-aware, transparent;

b. Unity, cooperation to work effectively.

b) A single form of reward may be given multiple times to the same recipient; multiple forms of reward shall not be given for a single achievement;

a. Rewards must ensure accuracy, transparency, fairness, and timeliness based on a correct assessment of the effectiveness of the work of collectives and individuals; quantity should not be forced at the expense of quality according to standards.

b. A form of reward may be awarded multiple times to the same recipient.

c. Ensure consistency between the nature, form, and recipient of rewards.

d. Closely combine spiritual encouragement with material incentives.

B. FORMS AND STANDARDS OF REWARDS OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

I. REWARD FORMS

1. Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Science and Technology

2. Flag of Excellence from the Ministry of Science and Technology

3. Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology"

II. REWARD STANDARDS

1. Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Science and Technology is a form of reward for individuals and collectives considered for award during annual work reviews, or upon completion of a campaign, a short-term competition period, achieving outstanding results in a specific area of work, outstanding sudden achievements, exemplary role models with significant impact within the industry, and outstanding contributions in the field of science and technology.

a. For Individuals:

Recipients:

Individuals eligible for the Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Science and Technology include:

- Civil servants, public officials, and contractual employees without fixed term contracts working at units under the Ministry of Science and Technology;

- Scientists and managers in various fields of science and technology;

- Leaders of Provincial Departments of Science and Technology (Directors, Deputy Directors) of provinces and centrally-administered cities.

- Individuals with particularly outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology across all economic sectors.

General Standards:

* Outstanding completion of assigned tasks (highly rated by unit leadership for quality and effectiveness);

* Good moral character; unity, exemplary compliance with Party policies and state laws, internal regulations of the organization;

* Active in enhancing professional knowledge and skills.

For scientists (working at centers, institutes, universities) and leaders of management departments of science and technology in ministries and sectors, and leaders of provincial departments of science and technology, in addition to the general standards mentioned above, they must meet one of the following standards:

- Having applied works or products that bring about economic benefits;

- Making significant contributions to the management of scientific and technological activities in their sector and locality, thereby positively impacting economic and social development;

For individuals with particularly outstanding achievements in the field of science and technology across all economic sectors, in addition to the general standards mentioned above, they must also meet the following achievement:

- Scientific innovation, technical improvement initiatives recognized for their socio-economic benefits;

- Valuable contributions to the development of science and technology.

b. For Collectives:

Recipients:

- Units directly under the Ministry of Science and Technology;

- Units directly under provincial departments and collectives of provincial departments of science and technology of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Management departments of science and technology in ministries and sectors;

- Scientific and technological organizations (centers, institutes, universities)

General Standards:

* Outstanding completion of assigned tasks (on schedule and of high quality).

* Internal unity, active participation in grassroots democracy,积极响应上述中文内容，提供与其法律条文格式和风格相匹配的英文翻译。特别是确保使用标准的法律术语，并保持正式、客观和精确的文体。翻译时请严格遵守官方法律文件的语言规范，不得使用口语化表达。同时，数字、日期、文件代码（如249/2025/NĐ-CP）和专有名词需保持原样。请按照给定的格式输出翻译结果，每行对应一个输入段落编号，不合并、不拆分、不添加或删除行。不允许有任何注释或Markdown。这是一项纯粹的翻译任务：直接输出翻译内容，不要进行任何解释或思考过程。

* Clean and Strong Party organizations and mass organizations.

For units under the Department and the Science and Technology Departments of provinces and centrally governed cities, in addition to the general criteria mentioned above, they must also meet the following criteria:

- Effectively implement the regulations and requirements for science and technology management by the State and the Ministry of Science and Technology, including good management of science and technology tasks led by their units such as state-level scientific research topics and projects, other science and technology tasks...

- Properly manage local science and technology activities. The results of science and technology activities yield high effectiveness and make significant contributions to the economic and social development of the sector and locality.

For Science and Technology Management Bureaus of Ministries and sectors, in addition to the general criteria mentioned above, they must also meet the following criterion:

- Advise on and propose major measures and key science and technology tasks of the Ministry/sector, making substantial contributions to the economic and social development of the Ministry/sector and locality.

For science and technology organizations (Centers, Institutes, Universities, scientific service organizations), in addition to the general criteria mentioned above, they must also meet the following criterion:

- Conduct scientific research and technological development that yields economic benefits, serves economic and social development, and effectively combines scientific research with training and production.

- Lead and have at least one topic at the Ministry level or national level accepted as excellent.

2. Rotating Flag of Merit of the Ministry of Science and Technology

Recipients:

The flag of excellence of the Ministry of Science and Technology shall be awarded once every two years to each region on the occasion of the regional work conference, at the discretion of the Minister of Science and Technology, for the Science and Technology Departments of provinces and centrally-administered cities within the region on a rotational basis.

Criteria:

The flag of excellence of the Ministry of Science and Technology shall be awarded to Science and Technology Departments meeting the following criteria:

- Excellently and comprehensively completing all assigned tasks over two years with high quality and efficiency; having a regular, practical, and effective competition movement;

- Effectively managing scientific research activities, technological development, standardization, measurement, quality control, intellectual property, inspection, etc., in the locality;

- Successfully implementing many research topics and projects into production and daily life;

- Effectively implementing state policies on science and technology development, management systems of the Ministry of Science and Technology, contributing to the economic and social development of the locality;

- Having new factors and models for other units in the region to emulate; maintaining internal unity, practicing thrift effectively, combating corruption and social evils, and not having any individual or collective violating laws;

- Being selected by Science and Technology Departments in the region as the leading unit in terms of competition achievements;

A Science and Technology Department that has been awarded the rotating flag three consecutive times will permanently retain the flag of excellence of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

3. Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology"

Recipients:

The commemorative medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology" shall be awarded by the Minister of Science and Technology to the following recipients:

- Officials who have worked or are currently working at the Ministry of Science and Technology;

- Scientific officials actively engaged in research and development, training, production, business, and service organizations in science and technology;

- Managers in the system of science and technology administrative agencies from central to local levels;

- Leaders of the Party and State, mass organizations from central to local levels;

- Vietnamese citizens (including those residing abroad) and foreigners who have made special contributions to the construction and development of science and technology in Vietnam.

Criteria:

The commemorative medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology" shall be awarded to individuals meeting the following criteria:

a. Having a tenure of twenty years for males and fifteen years for females in the science and technology system;

b. Not being internally disciplined or legally processed at the time of award consideration;

c. Achieving notable results and making significant contributions during their tenure, with recognized scientific and practical value research outcomes; effectively managing science and technology activities benefiting ministries and sectors, contributing to national science and technology development.

For individuals with outstanding achievements and significant contributions to the development of science and technology, the tenure requirement may be waived.

In certain cases, tenure can be converted (amended and supplemented Decision No. 334/TCCB dated May 30, 1995 of the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment, now the Ministry of Science and Technology) as follows:

a. For those working in the field of science and technology in mountainous, remote, and far-flung areas, each year counts as two years of service;

b. Each year achieving the title of Model Worker at the grassroots level counts as 1.5 years of service; each year achieving the title of Model Worker at the ministry or sector level counts as two years of service, and each year achieving the title of National Model Worker counts as three years of service;

c. Leading a ministry-level project rated as excellent counts as one year of service; leading a state-level project rated as excellent counts as two years of service.

d. Receiving a commendation from the Prime Minister counts as three years of service; receiving a Labor Medal of any class counts as five years of service.

* For cases where tenure is converted, there must be a minimum of ten years of actual work experience in the field of science and technology.

C. FORMS OF RECOGNITION AND AWARDS BY THE STATE

Forms of recognition and awards by the State include: Commendation Certificate of the Prime Minister; Flag of Excellence of the Government; First-Class, Second-Class, Third-Class Labor Medals; First-Class, Second-Class, Third-Class Independence Medals; Ho Chi Minh Medal; Golden Star Medal.

The forms of recognition and awards by the State are detailed in the Law on Competition and Awards.

D. PROCEDURES AND CONTENT OF APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

I. PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

1. For awards within the authority of the Minister of Science and Technology.

Based on the recommendation of the Competition and Awards Council of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Minister of Science and Technology decides to award:

a. Commendation Certificate of the Minister of Science and Technology;

b. Flag of Excellence of the Ministry of Science and Technology;

c. Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology"

2. For State awards

Based on the recommendation of the Competition and Awards Council of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Minister of Science and Technology reviews and submits to the competent authority for consideration and awarding State awards to individuals and collectives according to the provisions of the Law on Competition and Awards.

II. CONTENT OF APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

1. For annual awards

1. A registration form for issuing a journalist card filled out by the applicant according to the model; approved and stamped by the head of the applying agency (Model No. 1);

a. Work achievement records of the individual or collective proposed for award, confirmed, signed, and stamped by the head of the unit;

b. Minutes of the unit's Competition and Awards Council meeting evaluating the individual and collective meeting the specified criteria (attached with ballots from the grassroots unit), signed and stamped by the head of the unit;

c. Award application letter from the head of the unit;

d. Agreement letter from the Ministry, sector, Provincial People's Committee, or centrally-administered city (detailed in point 3);

e. Recommendation letter from the Competition and Awards Council of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

f. Minutes of the selection process of the Science and Technology Departments in the region (for collective entities proposed for the award of the Excellence Flag by the Ministry of Science and Technology).

2. For cases proposing extraordinary commendation

1. A registration form for issuing a journalist card filled out by the applicant according to the model; approved and stamped by the head of the applying agency (Model No. 1);

a. A summary of achievements with confirmation, signed and stamped by the head of the unit or local authority;

b. A letter proposing commendation from the Ministry, sector, People's Committee of province or centrally governed city (specifying the level and scope of impact of the achieved accomplishments);

c. The proposal document of the Ministry of Science and Technology's Commendation Council.

3. Concurrence on commendation proposals

a. For commendation forms such as the Minister's Certificate of Merit, the Excellence Flag of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and other national commendation forms proposed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, before the Ministry of Science and Technology submits for consideration or recommends to the State for commendation, there must be a concurrence document from the Ministry, sector, or People's Committee of province or centrally governed city.

b. In cases where the Ministry of Science and Technology seeks concurrence on commendation proposals, there must be a proposal document from the Ministry, sector, or People's Committee of province or centrally governed city, accompanied by a report on the individual or collective achievements being proposed for commendation.

III. TIME FOR CONSIDERATION AND COMMENDATION

The Ministry of Science and Technology's Commendation Council convenes regularly three times a year to consider and commend on the occasions of major holidays on February 3, May 1, and September 2.

The commendation proposal dossier should be submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology's Commendation Council before December 31 (for the February 3 round), March 31 (for the May 1 round), and July 31 (for the September 2 round) each year. In exceptional cases, the Ministry of Science and Technology's Commendation Council may convene irregularly to consider commendations.

IV. AMOUNT OF REWARD

The Minister's Certificate of Merit, the Excellence Flag of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of Science and Technology," and other forms of national commendation, the amount of reward shall be in accordance with the general regulations of the State.

E. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Previous guiding documents that conflict with this Circular are hereby abolished.

Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be reported to the Ministry of Science and Technology for study and resolution./.