The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has proposed allocating around US$640 million from next year’s State budget for sci-tech development, an increase of 12 percent.

The proposal was made at a three-day meeting of the National Assembly Committee of Science, Technology and the Environment, which opened in Hanoi on October 17.

The Prime Minister has approved a plan that will increase the number of inventions patented for protection by 50 percent for 2011-2015, as compared with the last five years. The plan will also set about 4,000 national standards and 1,000 technical standards in order to ensure that all products comply with regulations on food hygiene, safety and environment protection.

MoST also aims to have 3,000 enterprises operating in the field of science and technology by 2015, along with establishment of 30 organisations equipped with modern facilities to conduct research.

To meet these goals, MoST says annual investment in sci-tech development to 2015 will keep increasing to account for 2.2-2.3 percent of the State budget. It also plans to boost privatisation of sci-tech activities.

According to MoST Deputy Minister Chu Ngoc Anh, the National Assembly approved a total sum of US$550 million to develop science and technology,\ in 2011, an increase of 12.5 percent over 2010.

VOV