Budget expenditure mechanism for science, technology and innovation

Budget for investment in science, technology, and innovation development

According to the guidance in Decree No. 265/2025/ND-CP, the contents of the state budget expenditure on development in science, technology and innovation investment activities include: Expenditures on investment in the development of science, technology and innovation infrastructure by sectors, fields and objects of public investment shall comply with the provisions of the Decree detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Public Investment.

In addition, the State will provide charter capital to the National Venture Capital Fund and local venture capital funds, supporting enterprises to implement breakthrough technology projects with high commercial potential.

Along with that, other development investment expenditure tasks as prescribed by law in order to support, invest, cooperate and assign tasks to Vietnamese enterprises to develop strategic technologies are subject to annual budget estimates according to the provisions of Point b, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Decree. including: The tasks specified at Points a, b and c, Clause 1, Article 36 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, supporting enterprises to invest in research and development projects and production of digital technology products of a key and strategic nature.

Other investment activities in service of scientific, technological and innovation development, and other irregular investment tasks under the direction of the Party and the State.

In addition to development investment expenditures, the Decree clearly stipulates the non-business budget for science, technology and innovation, focusing on research, transfer and application of new technologies.

This budget includes funds for the implementation of science and innovation tasks, support for improving technology capacity and promoting the process of technology transfer to production and business. At the same time, the State will support loan interest rates for investment projects applying technology, renewing production lines or developing high-value-added products, helping businesses reduce financial costs when implementing innovation activities.

Non-business expenditures are also used to develop the national innovation system and the creative start-up ecosystem, encouraging the spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship in society.

Besides, the budget also supports public science and technology organizations, innovation centers, innovative start-up support centers, research and development centers, and many organizations established in accordance with the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

In addition, the budget also spends on science and technology management, registration, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights, as well as product standards, measurement and quality activities.

Part of the budget is also used to support the publication of scientific research results in scientific journals, articles, books and book chapters at home and abroad; expenditures on training and fostering to improve professional qualifications for the contingent of managers and researchers in science, technology and innovation at home and abroad.

Funding for propagation and dissemination of knowledge, communication, information, statistics, library activities and evaluation of science, technology and innovation activities; organizing domestic and international science conferences and seminars; commendation and awards for science, technology and innovation, technical improvement initiatives; expenditures on international integration activities in science, technology and innovation; expenditures on the implementation of policies to support the attraction, use, incentives and remuneration of individuals engaged in science, technology and innovation activities.

In particular, the State also allocates a budget to implement regimes and policies for the General Engineer and Chief Architect in terms of national science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, in order to ensure operating conditions for these special titles.

The Decree clearly states that the Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, guiding in detail the above regulations on regimes, standards, expenditure norms and state budget expenditure levels for the fields of science, technology and innovation.

Management and use of non-business state budget expenditures for science, technology and innovation activities

The contents of the Decree clearly state that the management and use of non-business expenditures on science, technology and innovation activities are as follows:

For funding for the implementation of science, technology and innovation tasks, the organization in charge of performing the task shall be responsible for managing and using the funds according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 63 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.

For funds for the performance of the task of state budget expenditure for science, technology and innovation activities other than those specified above, agencies, organizations and units shall comply with the provisions of Clause 4, Article 63 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and make payments through the State Treasury in accordance with the law on the state budget.

The adjustment of state budget expenditure estimates for science, technology and innovation activities shall comply with the law on the state budget.

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies under Government, other central agencies and provincial-level People's Committees shall have to inspect and monitor the implementation of the state budget expenditures on science, technology and innovation in accordance with the law on the state budget./.

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