Scientists working in a lab in the northern province of Bắc Giang. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HÀ NỘI — To realise the goal of removing barriers to Việt Nam’s science-technology innovation and digital transformation, significant efforts are needed to support the commercialisation of local research outcomes.

Recognising the high demand for antibacterial agents in hospitals and the dominance of expensive foreign products in the health market, Dr Trần Thị Ngọc Dung from the Graduate University of Science and Technology (GUST) began her research on silver nanoparticle complexes for antibacterial applications.

In 2008, she started working on developing silver nanoparticle dressings for the treatment of wounds.

After four years of clinical trials in various leading medical facilities in the country, the outstanding effectiveness of her research team’s silver nanoparticle dressings was proven.

These dressings require fewer bandage changes and reduce the pain for the patients in each replacement. The improvements shorten treatment time by 10-50 per cent, reducing hospital fees for the patients while also reducing material costs for the medical facilities.

Despite the optimistic trial results, Dung and her team’s attempt to commercialise the product was challenging.

She told the Thanh Niên (Youth) newspaper: “Two years following the final evaluation, we reached out to many companies to collaborate in production and bring this product to the market, but the process was not at all easy.

“They are not willing, deeming the investment into a production line too costly and the market for the product unclear.”

In 2022, to help an elderly relative suffering from severe ulcers due to prolonged bed rest after a stroke, Dung developed a silver nanoparticle-based wound-cleaning solution and an ulcer treatment solution, which convinced a manufacturing company with its effectiveness.

“It was not easy for products developed by scientists in local research institutes to enter hospitals. One of the biggest barriers is that these institutes are not allowed to set up a business,” said Dung.

Associate Professor Lê Thị Nhi Công from the Institute of Biotechnology is one scientist who has her research findings successfully commercialised through technology transfer.

Công said: “Informal transfer processes might be easier with more economic advantages, but that will come with more risks - scientists might not be protected by intellectual property laws, the business might have to pay a significant sum yet do not have any official recognition, or able to register as a science-technology company, along with many other possible financial damages.”

She explained that most research institutes and scientists were reluctant towards technology transfer due to the extensive legal knowledge required in contrast to the modest economic benefits.

Meanwhile, Decree 70/2018/NĐ-CP stipulates that results from state-funded scientific and technological missions belong to the state’s ownership, with no author’s rights in these cases.

According to Decree 76/2018/NĐ-CP, a guideline to implement the Law on Technology Transfer, the compensation for research authors is typically around 15-20 per cent of the revenues, while the remaining funds must be submitted to the State. Many research institutes view this as a cumbersome process.

Former Minister of Science and Technology Nguyễn Quân observed that ownership and appraisal of research results during commercialisation were the most significant barriers to technology transfer from scientists to businesses.

Scientists cannot arbitrarily transfer research findings that belong to the State. Meanwhile, the State, despite having ownership, cannot directly transfer the technology to businesses, as only the researchers fully understand their work.

According to current regulations, when State assets are transferred to private entities, they must be appraised to develop a contribution plan to the State budget. However, appraising intangible assets, research outcomes, patents and technological solutions is a challenging task.

Professor Lê Anh Tuấn, council chairman of Hà Nội University of Science and Technology proposed that intellectual property generated from State-funded research should be owned by individuals or institutions who lead the project.

Sharing the same perspective, Quân said that in developed countries, the results of nationally-funded research projects would be the property of the scientists, who have full rights over the use of these findings including transferring to businesses or value appraisals.

In these cases, the government would indirectly recover its investment through increases in business tax revenues, while scientists could make a living from their intellectual property and could actively reinvest in further research activities, he said. — VNS