The Resolution of the 10^th Party Congress emphasized that developing the science and technology market must be based on reforming procedures and policies so that most scientific and technological products (except for basic research and research for building development polices and strategies) will become goods. The Government will create favourable conditions for scientific and technological products to be purchased easily on the market and help development and research organizations operate in the form of a business.

When scientific and technological results are commercialized and recorgnised as goods the science and technology market can affirm its position and role.

Limits remain

During the process of developing the national economy, improving competition, and renovating products and technology is necessary. However, many enterprises did not realise the urgent need to apply advanced technologies. In Vietnam, investment in scientific research and technological development of many enterprises is not more than 0.25 percent of their revenue while the figure is 5-6 percent in industrialised countries and 10 percent in developing countries. Vietnam currently has more than 110,000 businesses. A survey on 5,000 of them showed that they spent VND895 billion on research and development, and technological transferring, VND60 billion of which is for the former and the remainder for the latter.

It is obvious that State-owned enterprises in recent years have not considered technological upgrade as important source since they can find simple measures such as debt elimination to survive and develop. Furthermore, Vietnam has a large number of scientists and technicians and a lot of scientific research projects but most results of these projects are still lying on scientists’ tables.

Currently, Vietnam does not have a real technology market which operates under a legal system.

A number of exhibitions have been organized to introduce new products and technologies. However, these exhibitions are not a place to purchase technological products but just a place to display them.

Public awareness of intellectual property is till low compared to the urgent need of the market economy and international economic integration. Many Vietnamese trademarks have been appropriated on the international market as businesses have not yet registered their trademarks such as Vinataba, Trung Nguyen Coffee, PetroVietnam. Regulations in legal documents on intellectual property are not clear, leading to different interpretation and application. Prolonged disputes over trademarks as in the cases of “Super Maxilite” and “Super Maxilitex” between Nippon Paint Company and ICI Paint Company, “Truong Sinh” (Everlasting) trademark between Truong Sinh Ltd Company and Foremost Ltd Company and “Huu Nghi” (Friendship) trademark between the Vietnam Northern Food Corporation and Huu Nghi Confectionary Joint –Stock Company are typical examples.

Development of science and technology market

To quickly develop the science and technology market, seven of crucial tasks have been identified.

One, setting up agencies for science and technology management and promotion and build a network of science and technology markets at the central and provincial levels. Regular transactions for science and technology, as well as seminars and workshops on scientific achievements will be held and staff for the science and technology market will also be trained.

Two, renewing scientific and technological activities in line with economic activities to ensure the mutual benefit between scientific researchers and economic sectors. Policies and guidelines will be reviewed to reduce monopoly, production costs and trade protection with a view to promoting competitiveness and economic integration, developing the science and technology market and enhancing product quality.

Three, shifting scientific and technological activities from the research and development to self-independent and responsible services is a breakthrough decision, which generates a dynamic science and technology environment in line with production development and combines scientific and technological activities with practical production and benefits science and technology organisations and scientists.

Four, drawing up legal documents relating to such areas as technological contract, scientific and technological transferring, and science and technology market regulation.

Five, completing and enhancing the legal framework and implementation of the intellectual property law. Punishments will be meted out to deal with violations of the intellectual property law, while new solutions and inventions will be encouraged and protected.

Six, encouraging enterprises to research and apply scientific and technological advances in production and business activities. They should pay due attention in renewing technology to improve product quality.

Seven, building a new training model by strengthening cooperation between training establishments and businesses with budget contributions from the State and companies. In the process of developing the science and technology market, business operation is one of the basic and the most important factors. Businesses, science and technology organisations, and the State must cooperate to meet development targets and demands from the market.