Chief engineers at key tech missions eligible for monthly salaries of $12,000

Officials unveiled the updated financial guidelines at a national conference on breakthrough science, technology, and innovation programs on the afternoon of Sep. 23.

Dao Ngoc Chien, head of the executive office at the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development, said the compensation packages crafted created by Ministry of Science of Technology are meant to be globally competitive.

Project directors are eligible for VND150 million, core researchers for VND90-120 million depending on seniority, and technical support staff for VND45 million.

While the figures represent the upper compensation limits that participating companies, research institutions, and universities can propose, Chien said every proposal "must still undergo rigorous appraisal and approval by the program review board."

Projects commissioned directly by the government to master core technologies, bolster national defense and security, or take on high-stakes scientific risks qualify for up to 100% public funding.

Initiatives yielding products with immediate commercial potential can secure up to 70% in state backing, with recipient organizations covering the rest.

Each project will have distinct operational milestones, each with specific targets, measurable deliverables, and dedicated budget lines.

Funds will be disbursed stage by stage to ensure timelines are met.

All intellectual property rights generated through programs will devolve to the respective organizations for commercial use, unless explicitly designated as state-owned.

An engineer tests a domestically developed 5G base station in Vietnam. Photo by Trong Dat

Addressing attendees, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh said while the state commissions research, it has no intention of displacing market forces.

For long-term, capital-intensive endeavors carrying elevated risks but offering profound broader benefits, the government frames the challenge, assumes partial financial risk, and helps build an initial market, he said.

But research commissions must stem from tangible product demand, clearly spelling out practical outcomes, accountability, and the end-users who will adopt the technology, he said.

He stressed that projects must reflect practical demand and real execution capacity, with public regulators outlining the core problem and high-level milestones while private firms, research centers, and universities join early to outline products, technical solutions, and realistic delivery timelines.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh speaks at a conference on strategic tech development on the afternoon of Sep. 23. Photo from Ministry of Information and Communications

For near-market products, businesses would spearhead development and sales and research entities would shoulder heavier responsibilities during early-stage exploration, he said.

"Strategic technology programs should never be judged merely by the sheer number of projects or the size of public funding handed out.

"The ultimate goal must be mastering core technologies, manufacturing viable products, mobilizing private capital, and entering the real-world market ."