With funding of up to VND1 billion (US$37,955) per scholar yearly, the Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship goals to domesticate a brand new technology of younger scientists driving core applied sciences and nationwide innovation.
The Ministry of Science and Technology has authorized the “Vietnam Research Excellence Fellowship (VREF) Program for Supporting Outstanding Doctoral Students, 2026–2030,” signaling a shift in coverage from coaching assist to direct funding in high-quality research.
The initiative goals to domesticate a brand new technology of younger scientists with robust impartial research capabilities, contributing to higher technological self-reliance and nationwide competitiveness.
Accordingly, VREF is the primary to design a large-scale, direct funding mechanism for doctoral college students, with a most assist degree of up to VND1 billion yearly an individual, deciding on roughly 100 outstanding doctoral college students annually to implement breakthrough initiatives, aiming to grasp core applied sciences and develop strategic know-how merchandise.
The VREF program is positioned as a key part of the science, know-how, and innovation ecosystem, putting doctoral college students on the heart of superior research initiatives. Resources will likely be strategically allotted, prioritizing initiatives with the potential to generate core applied sciences and develop strategic merchandise, whereas sustaining balanced progress throughout scientific disciplines.
The breakthrough of VREF is its “results-based investment” method. The choice mechanism is organized independently, transparently, and competitively, with analysis standards straight linked to particular outputs.
The VREF program promotes a multi-stakeholder collaboration mannequin involving the state research institutes and universities, and the non-public sector. It seeks to have interaction companies all through all the course of from proposal growth to the commercialization of research outcomes whereas encouraging co-funding and strengthening worldwide partnerships.
In addition to offering up to VND1 billion per yr for every outstanding doctoral scholar, the VREF program contains a versatile funding mechanism as a key spotlight. Funding will be allotted to actions straight supporting research, together with product growth, scientific publications, mental property registration, know-how testing, and worldwide collaboration. Disbursement is carefully tied to challenge progress and output efficiency, with underperforming initiatives topic to adjustment or termination.
In instances of “scientific risk” arising from the character of research, such dangers will likely be deemed acceptable supplied that every one regulatory necessities are absolutely met. With a deal with core applied sciences, merchandise, and markets, the VREF program is predicted to function a strategic lever in creating high-quality scientific expertise, contributing to higher technological self-reliance and step by step positioning Vietnam inside the world science, know-how, and innovation worth chain.
By Tran Luu – Translated by Anh Quan