Ministry of Science and Technology issues framework of indicators for monitoring and evaluating national science, technology, and innovation capacity and level
On September 19, 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Decision No. 2796/QĐ-BKHCN on the promulgation of the “Framework of Indicators for Monitoring and Evaluating National Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity and Level.”
The indicator framework was developed to establish a unified set of tools for monitoring and assessing the development level of science, technology, and innovation (STI), contributing to the goal set in Resolution 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, which aims for Vietnam’s STI capacity and level to reach an advanced level and rank among the top high-middle-income countries by 2030.
This is a concrete step toward implementing Resolution 57-NQ/TW, meeting the need to establish a standardized tool for measuring STI capacity to support policy formulation and international integration.
According to the Decision, the framework consists of two components: (1) The Framework for Evaluating STI Capacity, which includes 35 indicators selected from the Global Innovation Index (GII), with 19 input indicators and 16 output indicators; (2) The Framework for Evaluating STI Level, covering 16 fields selected from the SCImago ranking system, focusing on natural sciences, engineering and technology, medicine, agriculture, social sciences, and humanities.
The issuance of this framework is expected to have three main impacts. First, it serves as an objective monitoring tool to track progress toward the goal of achieving advanced STI capacity and level by 2030, ranking among the top high-middle-income countries. The indicators will help identify strengths and weaknesses in the innovation system, thereby guiding investment priorities and improving mechanisms and policies.
Second, the framework provides a basis for international comparison, supporting Vietnam in improving its position in the GII and specialized rankings, while enhancing attractiveness for high-tech investment capital, research collaboration projects, and knowledge transfer. By monitoring standardized data, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and businesses can assess the effectiveness of R&D investments, promote public-private partnerships, and increase the commercialization of intellectual products.
At the same time, this is a significant step toward modernizing the S&T statistics system, laying the foundation for regular updates and data interoperability with international organizations such as WIPO, UNESCO, and SCImago. For the framework to be effective, close coordination is required between the Ministry of Science and Technology, other ministries, localities, and the active participation of the scientific community and businesses in providing data, improving research quality, and promoting innovation.
The establishment of a unified indicator framework not only contributes to realizing the Party and State’s strategic direction for STI development but also creates a lever for research results to be quickly applied in practice, becoming a key driver for the country’s sustainable growth./.
