46 new criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation

Set of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of science, technology and innovation

On October 13, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung signed Decision No. 2244/QD-TTg, promulgating a set of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation for socio-economic development.

The set of criteria consists of 46 criteria, divided into 04 main groups, which are used as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation activities for socio-economic development at the national level.

The group of input criteria includes: human resources in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; investment in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

The group of results criteria with 10 criteria, including 6 criteria for evaluating research and innovation results and 4 criteria for evaluating transfer. Specifically, the criteria for evaluating the results of scientific and technological research and innovation include: the number of Vietnamese articles published in science and technology journals; the number of applications for registration of inventions and utility solutions of Vietnamese organizations and individuals; the number of patents for inventions and utility solutions granted to Vietnamese organizations and individuals; the number of applications for protection of plant, livestock and aquatic varieties of Vietnamese organizations and individuals; the number of certificates for protection of plant, animal and aquatic varieties of Vietnamese organizations and individuals; the number of people trained through scientific and technological tasks.

Regarding the assessment of transfer and application results, including the rate of inventions, utility solutions, plant varieties, livestock and aquatic products applied and transferred; the transfer value of inventions, utility solutions, plant varieties, livestock and aquatic products; the number of technology transfer contracts that have been registered and licensed; the value of the technology transfer contracts that have been registered and licensed.

The group of effectiveness criteria has 5 criteria, of which economic efficiency has 3 criteria: The proportion of contribution of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to GDP; the contribution of these sectors to GDP growth; average labor productivity growth rate. Efficiency for businesses has 2 criteria: the proportion of revenue from new products; the rate of management and operating costs decreased thanks to digital transformation.

The group of impact criteria has 29 criteria. In particular, economic impact has 7 criteria: Proportion of digital economy in GDP; the proportion of added value of the digital economy in GDP; the added value of products of economic sectors contributing to GDP; total revenue of organizations and enterprises in hi-tech parks, high-tech agricultural parks, concentrated digital technology parks; the proportion of export value of high-tech products in the total export value of goods; export value of information technology industry products; revenue from services in the fields of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Social and environmental impacts have 10 criteria: Percentage of employees working at enterprises and organizations in the field; the rate of people having access to lifelong learning opportunities; the proportion of administrative units applying the smart monitoring and management system; the level of digitization of national cultural resources; the level of innovation in promoting national cultural values; the rate of medical establishments applying digital technology in medical examination and treatment; 5G broadband mobile network coverage rate per population; the rate of non-cash payment transactions; the proportion of renewable energy in the energy consumption structure; the number of environmental technologies applied.

The impact of governance and public services has 8 criteria: The activation rate of electronic identification accounts for people; the number of VNeID accounts of organizations and individuals; the rate of online public services; the rate of people using online public services on the national public service portal; the level of satisfaction of people with online public services; the rate of online applications in the whole process; the number of transactions through the national data sharing coordination platform; the number of digital signature certificates issued.

The comprehensive impact assessment has 4 criteria: e-government development index; global cyber information security index; global innovation index - GII; human development index - HDI.

Subjects and scope of application

Decision No. 2244/QD-TTg applied in state management agencies in charge of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; specialized state management agencies related to science, technology, innovation and digital transformation activities in Vietnam.

In this regard, the Ministry of Science and Technology shall take the lead and coordinate with ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, and the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to collect and compile information and data serving the assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in socio-economic development; and report to the Prime Minister on an annual basis or on an ad-hoc basis upon request.

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, under-government agencies, provincial and municipal People's Committees shall, based on their functions, tasks and assignments under this Decision, collect and synthesize information and data for calculation of relevant indicators, and send results to the Ministry of Science and Technology before April 15 annually. At the same time, apply the set of criteria promulgated under this Decision to evaluate the effectiveness of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in accordance with the characteristics of the sector, field and locality.

This Decision takes effect from the date of signing on October 13, 2025./.

Translated by Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology (VJST - MOST).