Ninh Thuận offers incentives and supports local businesses in the province to introduce and sell local products. By 2030, 60 per cent of the province’s key products will be registered for intellectual property protection. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyên Thanh

HÀ NỘI — A seminar took place in Hà Nội on Tuesday to discuss international experience and give recommendations to Việt Nam to promote cooperation among research institutes, universities, and enterprises in the commercialisation of research results and intellectual property (IP).

Stepping up cooperation among research institutes, universities, and enterprises is a fundamental task and also a strategic breakthrough in promoting the development of the science and technology market, Minister of Science and Technology Huỳnh Thành Đạt told the event held in coordination with the Australian Embassy.

He said strongly developing the sci-tech market is one of the main measures for fostering science, technology, and innovation and making breakthroughs in terms of productivity, quality, effectiveness, and competitiveness of the economy.

The sci-tech market of Việt Nam has recorded certain strides and encouraging results, including a considerable increase in goods supply and an annual growth rate of 22 per cent in transaction value, according to the ministry’s National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development (NATEC).

However, the market has yet to meet demand in reality while still facing numerous obstacles and problems. Most institutes and universities have encountered difficulties in managing and making use of their research results and IP assets. Meanwhile, revenue from the capitalisation of IP assets remains low, and the value gained from the transfer and commercialisation of products accounts for only 30 per cent of the total budget for science and technology.

Partnerships among institutes, universities and enterprises have just focused on training, human resources supply, and technology consultation and transfer. Besides, there hasn’t been detailed guidance for the establishment of spinoffs at universities and research institutes, as well as for the use of science and technology development funds in enterprises – a big hindrance to businesses’ engagement in the sci-tech market, the commercialisation of technology, and the application of advanced technology, NATEC pointed out.

NATEC Deputy Director Phạm Đức Nghiêm held that it is necessary to build and implement a plan on pilot policies for facilitating the commercialisation of research results and IP assets.

The ownership, the right to use, and the responsibility for commercialising research results and IP assets should be handed over to the organisations and individuals coordinating scientific and technological studies, he said, adding profits from the commercialisation should be reasonably divided among research coordinators and the ones involved in studies.

Besides, funding from the State budget should be increased for the commercialisation and considered non-refundable aid for research coordinators. Breakthrough mechanisms should also be made for the formation and development of enterprises in research institutes and universities, Nghiêm suggested. — VNS