The Ministry of Science and Technology has just issued Circular No. 17/2026/TT-BKHCN establishing the standard charter regarding the organization and operation of the Fund for development of science, technology, and innovation of ministries, ministerial agencies, government agencies, other central agencies, and provincial people’s committees. This circular aims to complement the legal framework and harmonize the organization and operation of funds at the ministerial, sectoral, and local levels. It will come into effect on April 16, 2026.
Improving the efficiency of management and use of investment resources.
Circular 17 is based on the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation 2025 and related implementing decrees concerning finances, scientific and technological tasks, innovation, and digital transformation.
According to the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development, the publication of the circular is necessary as Circular No. 03/2015/TT-BKHCN has expired. The new legal system has undergone numerous changes, requiring a more synchronized and practical legal framework.
In reality, the operation of funds at the ministerial, departmental, and local levels has been limited in the previous implementation process.
Although regulations allow various forms of support such as grants, loans, loan guarantees, or capacity building in science and technology, most funds have only implemented loan activities, while grant and support activities have not been fully and systematically implemented.
Moreover, loans granted by commercial banks face difficulties due to low preferential interest rates, which are not attractive enough. Direct fund loans lack specialized credit personnel, which increases risks and limits implementation potential.
Organizationally, many funds have a reduced staff, with most holding multiple positions. The coordination mechanism between specialized management agencies and financial management agencies is unclear, leading to confusion in task execution.
Based on this, the model charter has been published to create a unified legal basis for ministries, sectors, and localities to revise, modify, complete, and improve the Fund’s charter, thus contributing to enhancing the efficiency of managing and utilizing investment resources for science, technology, and innovation.
Linking financing and procurement activities to market needs.
One of the essential points of the model regulation is the clear shift towards a results-based management mechanism. Thus, funding is allocated based on evaluation stages linked to the progress and results of task implementation, rather than being distributed randomly. This model also allows for the adjustment, continuation, or termination of tasks based on evaluation results.
The charter also clearly defines an enterprise-oriented approach, linking financing and procurement activities to market needs and prioritizing solving practical problems in specific industries, sectors, and localities.
The selection of organizations and individuals responsible for carrying out missions is based on the principles of competition, fairness, and transparency. A co-financing mechanism is established to mobilize social resources for scientific, technological, and innovation activities.
As a result, for projects with potential for application or commercialization, participating companies are responsible for contributing to financing, with the co-financing rate gradually increasing with the level of technological development.
Additionally, the model charter clearly stipulates the risk management mechanism, allowing controlled acceptance of risks in scientific research and innovation.
Risk assessment is conducted by a group of independent scientific or technical experts, serving as the basis for the decision to continue, modify, or terminate the mission.
The circular also emphasizes the need to strengthen decentralization and delegation of powers to ministries, sectors, and local authorities in organizing and managing the fund, avoiding rigid model requirements and creating conditions for units to proactively choose a model that suits their actual conditions.
Under the regulations, managing agencies must base their regulations on the model charter to establish the organizational and operational charter of the Fund under their management and submit it to the Ministry of Science and Technology within 15 working days from the date of signing and publication.
Funds created previously must review, modify, and complete their statutes within 30 days from the effective date of the circular.
The publication of the model charter should contribute to refining the legal framework, improving the operational efficiency of funds, promoting the formation of a scientific, technological, and innovative ecosystem connecting the state, research institutes/universities, and businesses, thereby contributing to a knowledge-based growth model focused on knowledge, science, technology, and innovation.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/mo-co-che-moi-cho-quy-phat-trien-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-va-doi-moi-sang-tao-post1104873.vnp
