VietNamNet Bridge – The majority of scientific research in mechanical engineering deals with simulation and theory, and very few projects are associated with experiments and technologies.

Analysts have doubted statements by some Vietnamese automobile manufacturers that they will develop an auto industry.

In order to do so, Vietnam needs to have powerful mechanical engineering. Meanwhile, it is obvious that its engineering remains very weak, partially because engineering has never caught sponsors’ interest.

Of the eight basic science fields subject to financial funding from Nafosted (National Foundation for Science and Technology), engineering is the field that receives the “most modest funding”, which can be seen in the number of funded projects and the number of ISI (Institute for scientific information) papers published.

The ratio of the ISI articles in engineering to articles in other fields in Vietnam is also lower than that in other regional countries.

The situation is quite different from Singapore, which is believed to have the most powerful science and technology in the region. In the country, engineering always leads in both the number of ISI articles and projects funded.

Dr. Pham Duc Chinh from the Engineering Institute noted that most of the scientific research works in mechanical engineering are simulation and theory.

According to Chinh, this is due to the poor technical conditions and the lack of policies to encourage scientists to discover reasonable technologies that can be used in real life.

Associate Prof Lai Ngoc Anh from the Hanoi University of Technology, when conducting research on solvents in internal combustion engines, had to go to Germany to carry out necessary experiments.

The trip to Germany was funded by Nafosted. However, few scientific research works are funded by the foundation.

Dr. Mai Phu Son from the Engineering Institute, while working on technology that allows reinforcement of vehicle shell , could only carry out experiments in Hong Kong with a support of a friend.

Associate Prof Pham Hong Phuc from the Hanoi University of Technology had the opportunity to go to Japan, but under the support of his Japanese teacher.

Chinh revealed that a cooperation project between the Engineering Institute and Viettel, a telco, could not be implemented because of the lack of necessary equipment for experiments.

Meanwhile, a businessman in Hanoi noted that engineering projects, in general, are not matters of interest for businesspeople.

“We would rather buy foreign technologies for use than fund Vietnamese scientists,” he said. “No one can say for sure whether the research works would succeed, and the projects always demand huge capital.”

Tia Sang