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| At the Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park R&D Centre__Photo: Tien Luc/VNA |
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) on April 13 issued Decision 2103/QD-BKHCN, approving the Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship (VREF) Programme for the 2026-30 period.
The VREF programme will annually select and fund 100 outstanding doctoral candidates, with priority resources given to groups directly involved in research tasks of mastering core technologies and developing strategic technological products. The remaining funds will be designated for breakthrough research assignments in other scientific fields.
The funding is capped at VND 1 billion per year per doctoral candidate for maximum three years. When necessary, the research task may be considered for a extension of up to two years. However, such extension may not result in additional funding from the state budget.
The programme stipulates that at least 60 per cent of research results must be published in prestigious international journals (ranked in the Q1 group or reputable lists such as the Nature Index); at least 20 per cent of research results must be registered for intellectual property rights protection as patents, utility solutions or equivalent; and at least 15 per cent of research results must be transferred, commercialised or applied in production and business activities.
The decision, that takes effect on the date of its signing, states that the allocation of funding and the acceptance testing of research task outcomes are performance-based, requiring verified results in three areas. First, for core technology, candidates must develop quantifiable assets like algorithms, models, core software, technological processes, new materials, hardware/integrated circuit designs, or technical solutions with commercialisation potential. Second, for scientific products and intellectual property, projects must secure patent protection or publication in prestigious international journals. Finally, regarding practical impact, research must either integrate into national strategic frameworks or provide innovative solutions to pressing socio-economic issues.- (VLLF)
