VietNamNet Bridge – Science and technology play an important part in a country's development and modernisation, especially a developing country, such as Viet Nam, said Dr. Tran Chi Thanh.

Thanh is the head of the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

He added that the institute intends to step up efforts in research and development, as well as science and application in the field of atomic energy in 2015.

During previous years, VINATOM had established various priority research groups and human resource development programmes, despite the numerous limitations it faced in terms of lack of equipment and funding.

The institute's research and development efforts will focus on realising strategic aims during the 2015 to 2020 period.

Projects should therefore have clear objectives and a timeline for completion, as well as secure sources of funding, Thanh noted.

Human resource development will continue to remain the institute's primary mission, while measures will be taken to attract leading experts.

Thanh stressed on the importance of building a network of Vietnamese consultant experts and knowledge transfer in the field of atomic energy.

"No country in the world can afford to skip the development of science and technology on its way to achieve prosperity," he pointed out.

Some of the institute's key objectives for this year include developing medical applications for atomic forces, along with other uses of atomic energy in agricultural and industrial production.

Source: VNS