Decision No. 33/2002/QĐ-BKHCNMT On Amending and Supplementing Article 5 of the Interim Regulation on Determining State Science and Technology Research Topics for the Period 2001-2005 issued together with Decision No. 06/2001/QĐ-BKHCNMT dated April 11, 2001 of the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment.

DECISION

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Regarding the amendment and supplementation of Article 5 of the Interim Regulations on Determining State Science and Technology Research Topics for the 2001-2005 Period issued together with Decision No. 06/2001/QĐ-BKHCNMT dated April 11, 2001, by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment

Based on Decision No. 82/2001/QĐ-TTg dated May 24, 2001, of the Prime Minister approving the orientation, objectives, tasks, key scientific and technological programs, and the list of national priority scientific and technological programs for the 2001-2005 period;

Now, we amend and supplement Article 5 of the "Interim Regulations on Determining State Science and Technology Research Topics for the 2001-2005 Period" issued together with Decision No. 06/2001/QĐ-BKHCNMT dated April 11, 2001, by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment as follows:

Article 5. Determination of National-Level Research Topics

MINISTER OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Based on the Law on Science and Technology dated June 9, 2000;

Pursuant to Decree No. 22/CP dated May 22, 1993 of the Government on the tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment;

Each national-level research topic must be determined through two steps:

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Department of Industrial Science and Technology Management, the Director of the Department of Agricultural Science and Technology Management, the Director of the Department of Social Sciences and Natural Sciences Management, and the Director of the Planning Department;

DECISION:

Article 1. Step 1. Determination of the List of National-Level Research Topics

"Step 2. Determination of the Summary Outline of Each Research Topic

Determination of the List of National-Level Research Topics

1. Establishing National-Level Scientific and Technological Advisory Councils to determine research topics

- For Programs: The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment will establish several Scientific and Technological Advisory Councils (referred to as Councils) according to narrow specialties to advise on research topics within the Program.

Step 1. - For independent topics: The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment will establish Councils according to narrow specialties to advise on independent research topics.

- Members of the Council are reputable scientists with high expertise, business leaders, and policymakers knowledgeable about the field requiring advice.

Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment staff serve as secretaries to assist the Council.

a) The Council examines and analyzes the draft preliminary list of research topics proposed for inclusion in the scientific and technological program or the preliminary list of independent research topics provided by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment regarding the following contents:

- Consistency with the Program's objectives (for topics within the Program).

- Urgency - necessity to implement the topic:

2. Tasks of the Councils

+ Practical significance of the topic (directly or significantly contributing to solving urgent production and living issues, having significant long-term impacts on national economic and social development);

+ Scientific significance of the topic (novelty, technological advancement).

- Feasibility (alignment with research timeframes, financial resources that can be met, domestic scientific and technological capabilities that can undertake the research).

The Council discusses topics recommended for implementation and those not necessary to implement.

b) The Council votes to categorize topics into two types:

- Recommended for Implementation

- Not Recommended for Implementation.

c) The Council votes to classify topics recommended for implementation:

- The Council discusses amendments, supplements, or clarifications to the name, research subject, briefly outlines the objectives and expected products for each topic.

- Subsequently, the Council classifies topics into two levels: A or B (A being higher and prioritized for implementation).

3. Working materials of the Council include:

3.1. Professional documents: The "Interim Regulations on Determining State Science and Technology Research Topics for the 2001-2005 Period" attached to Decision No. 06/2001/QĐ-BKHCNMT dated April 11, 2001, and the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment's Decision amending Article 5 of these regulations;

- The "Interim Regulations on the Working Method of the Scientific and Technological Advisory Council for Determining National-Level Research Topics for the 2001-2005 Period" issued by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment, and other professional documents.

3.2. Specialized documents:

a) Orientation for the Development of Science and Technology and the List of National Scientific and Technological Programs for the 2001-2005 Period approved by the Government (Decision No. 82/2001/QĐ-TTg dated May 24, 2001, of the Prime Minister); the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment's Decision approving the main objectives and content of the Program (for Councils advising on topics within the Program).

b) Draft Preliminary List of National Research Topics compiled by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment from leadership requirements of the Party and State, proposals from consolidating agencies, ministries/departments, scientific and technological organizations, scientists, and businesses:

- For scientific and technological programs: the draft preliminary list of topics within the scope of research according to the narrow specialty of the Program.

- For independent topics: the draft preliminary list of topics according to the narrow specialty of the Council.

c) Other relevant materials and information (industrial property information, information on completed projects domestically, etc.) related to the specialty of the topic.

4. Results of the Councils' Work

The results of the Councils' work are the preliminary lists of research topics for the scientific and technological program or the preliminary lists of independent research topics corresponding to their respective specialties, which are submitted to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment.

Based on the results of the Councils' work, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment reviews and approves the preliminary lists of research topics for each national-level scientific and technological program and independent national-level research topics to prepare summary outlines for each topic.

Determination of the Summary Outline of Each Research Topic

The National-Level Scientific and Technological Advisory Council that advises on determining research topics in Step 1 continues its task in Step 2: developing the summary outline for each research topic.

The summary outline of a research topic includes basic requirements of the State - the State's order - for the issue to be researched. Typically, the summary outline of a research topic comprises the following basic elements:

Step 2. - Title of the research topic;

- Expected results and products, major economic-technical indicators (if applicable).

1. Task (also the result of work) of the Council:

- Title of the topic;

- Required objectives;

- Expected results and products, main economic and technical indicators (if any).

1. Tasks (which are also the outcomes of the work) of the Council:

The task of the Council at Step 2 is to determine the outline summary of each topic in the List of Expected Topics that has been approved by the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment according to the specialty of the Council.

The outline summary must reflect the urgency of the topic with clear objectives and research subjects, appropriate research time (usually 2 years, maximum 3 years), and high feasibility.

2. Working Documents of the Council

The Council will be provided with specialized and professional documents as stated in Article 5, Step 1, Point 3 above, including:

- A list of topics belonging to each specialty of the State's science and technology program that have been approved will replace the draft preliminary consolidated list of topics within the scope of the program.

- A list of independent national topics belonging to each specialty that have been approved will replace the draft preliminary consolidated list of topics within the specialty of the Council.

Based on the results of the work of the advisory science and technology councils determining the outline summary of each topic, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment approves the outline summary along with the list of topics belonging to each national-level science and technology program and the list of independent national-level topics for direct assignment or announcement and organization of selection.

The Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment shall provide detailed regulations on the working method of the advisory science and technology council determining national-level topics for the period 2001-2005."

Article 2. THIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SIGNATURE.

Article 3. The Heads of the Planning Department, the Department of Industrial Science and Technology Management, the Department of Agricultural Science and Technology Management, the Department of Social Science and Natural Science Management, the Director of the Ministry’s Office, the Heads of units under the Ministry, and the Heads of related agencies and organizations are responsible for implementing this Decision./.