The income universities receive from scientific research and technology deals account for only 3.92 percent of the total financial resources of universities.

Associate Professor Dr Ta Duc Thinh from the Ministry of Education and Training’s Science and Technology Department observed that the ratio of income from scientific research and technology transfers with the total investment in scientific research between 2006-2008 was 1,784,386 million dong/1,200,485 million dong.

Polytechnical universities (Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi University of Technology, Civil Engineering University, Hanoi and Dalat Industry University) led in earning money from technology transfers with a ratio of 77.28 percent. Economics universities (Trade University, University of Foreign Trade) had the lowest ratios, even with large budgets for scientific research. Scientific research income came primarily from international cooperation instead.

The low efficiency of scientific research has been attributed to the “weak force” of leading scientists, inadequate facilities and impractical research projects.

Questions have been raised about how universities can increase income from scientific research.

Dr. Dao Van Dong from the Hanoi University of Transportation, explained that universities face great obstacles in obtaining financial support. Projects often cannot meet production utilization requirements and therefore, Dong stated, it is necessary to provide good scientific ideas and skilled researchers.

Dr Ha Thanh Toan, Deputy President of Can Tho University, revealed that, in the context of present economic difficulties, the university had to mobilize financial support from various sources, including cooperation with businesses and international groups.

Toan claimed that universities always choose reasonable scientific research projects that are useful for local utilization.

(Source: VietNamNet)