HCM CITY — About 1,090 projects of scientific research and technological development have been implemented in five provinces and cities in the south-eastern region in the period of 2015-17, according to a seminar themed “Promoting regional linkage”late last week.

The seminar, jointly organised by the HCM City’s People’s Committee and the Ministry of Science and Technology, heard that each locality used up to between 60-70 per cent of the local budget for research projects that deploy and apply science and technology.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Phạm Công Tạc, said the south-eastern region has a number of advantages to develop the local service and industry sectors, but it also is facing many problems, especially those related to the inter-provincial connectivity.

He said provinces and cities should enhance co-operation with each other regarding scientific research and technological applications to create an industrial value chain and promote local products with unique values, thus improving competitiveness at international markets.

In addition, sharing scientific research and technological developments among localities is necessary to avoid wasting investment and time, as in the case of duplicated projects.

The localities should establish steering committees to make supporting policies for start-up projects.

It was necessary to build an information infrastructure system that could be easily accessed by localities for management and operations, which would create linkages for the region, Tạc said. — VNS