The Ministry of Science and Technology proposed to allocate more than VND 13.3 trillion (US$640 million) from next year's State budget toward development, an increase of 12 per cent.

The proposal was introduced at a three-day meeting held by the National Assembly's Committee of Science, Technology and Environment, which opened yesterday.

The Prime Minister has ratified a plan that would increase the number of inventions patented for protection by 50 per cent for the period of 2011-15, as compared with the last five years.

In addition, the plan would 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.

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

To achieve these goals, the ministry said that annual investment for science and technology development to 2015 would keep increasing and eventually account for 2.2 – 2.3 per cent of the State budget.

In addition, it intends to boost privatisation of scientific and technological activities. The ministry also proposed allowing small and medium enterprises to spend 10 per cent of their pre-tax profits in science and technology development.

According to Deputy Minister Chu Ngoc Anh, the National Assembly approved a total sum of nearly VND11.5 trillion ($550 million) to develop science and technology in 2011, an increase of 12.5 per cent compared with that of last year.

Localities also made significant progress in their efforts to raise the efficiency of expenditures. Money was reportedly spent on scientific research and development, but some localities were still found using funds for the wrong purposes, he added.

The portion of the State budget devoted to environment protection, the implementation of Son La and Lai Chau hydroelectric plants and Ho Chi Minh Highway would also be discussed at the meeting.

VNS