The discussion will be within the framework of an international conference to be held in Hanoi on October 5 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the National Institute for Science, Technology Policy and Strategy Studies (NISTPASS), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

This conference will focus on the role of STI in Vietnam’s development and the role of the Strategy and STI institutions and opportunities and challenges from current socio-economic and technology trend.

The conference will also introduce an International Advisory Board (IAB) of ten international experts from a variety of sectors and countries, who will contribute their expertise and experiences to the conference and Vietnam to support the country in their development of STI policies and strategies and to share best practices from their own countries in STI development.

The conference is part of the UNIDO Project “Policy Advice to Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy 2011 – 2020 and High Technology Law Implementation”, which is financed by the Vietnam One UN Plan Fund.

Under the project, UNIDO was requested by MOST-NISTPASS to provide technical assistance for the preparation of the STI Strategy 2011-2020, building up the capacities of STI stakeholders engaged in the strategy formulation process, and provide policy advice on the implementation of the Law on High Technologies (promulgated in 2009).

The Strategy is the high priority of the Vietnamese Government in its plan for national development, in which STI is essential to the country’s Socio - Economic Development Plan. The Vietnamese Government has assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Institute for Science Technology Policy and Strategy Studies (NISTPASS) to formulate the Strategy.

The STI Strategy is expected to be approved by the Government later this year.

(Source: UNIDO)