Nguyễn Anh Ngọc, deputy director of the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, speaks at a meeting about the research and technology market in HCM City on Thursday. — VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp

HCM CITY — HCM City authorities are helping companies access new technologies by promoting linkages between researchers and businesses, but more collaboration is needed, speakers said on Thursday at a meeting in HCM City. 

Triệu Thanh Sơn, deputy head of the Research Management and Cooperation Department under the HCM City Institute for Development Studies, said the city has been offering assistance to companies in registration of intellectual property rights and fostering linkages between researchers and businesses. 

“HCM City is now promoting the science and technology market to enable companies to adopt new technologies and increase their labour productivity.” 

More collaboration between academia and businesses, however, is needed so that research results can be converted into practical technology, he added.

Nguyễn Anh Ngọc, deputy director of HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, noted that the Government provided support to businesses and scientists for research, but there were no tools to foster links between scientists and businesses.

“There is a big gap between schools and research institutes and enterprises.”

The city has fostered linkages between researchers and businesses, but the results have not met expectations, he said.

When researchers try to find partners to commercialise their research ideas, they often encounter resistance because of policy-related issues, he added. 

Another obstacle is that businesses too often focus on short-term commercial goals instead of long-term investment in technology and research.

Incentives

Nguyễn Khắc Thanh, deputy director of the Department of Science and Technology, said the department has offered numerous programmes and State policies to researchers and businesses.

The department helps businesses improve their technologies and products and assists them in working with scientific and technological organisations. 

The department also offers support to start-ups, fostering incubation and adoption of technologies, and organises exhibitions, scientific and technological transfer conferences, and business networks.

The department has established a Scientific and Technology Business Club to facilitate networking and exchange, and technology transfer. Its board of chairmen includes six members from formally recognised scientific and technology businesses.

However, enterprises need to be more proactive and innovative, and take part in networking events, he said.

Đoàn Thanh Khê, director of Phát Việt Food Technology Ltd Company, said the company regularly invests in high-quality modern facilities and equipment as well as a trained workforce and scientific research.

HCM City has more than 74 recognised science and technology businesses out of around 200 nationwide. Ninety per cent of enterprises in HCM City are micro- or small-sized enterprises and lack the financial and human resources for R&D.

The city has approved a science and technology market development programme, which targets increasing the value of science and technology products and services by 15 per cent annually in the next five years and 20 per cent in the case of key technologies. — VNS