The budget for 2011 is expected to reach 2.7 million USD, and subject to appropriation of Danish authorities. The total funding for three-year program is expected to around 8 million USD. Up to three projects will be selected for funding this year. These grants will cover all costs involved in the research project, including the participation of the Danish researchers to be identified by the Vietnamese researchers during a visit to Denmark expected to take place in September 2011.

 

Deputy Minister Tran Viet Thanh expressed his appreciation of Danish support to the field of research in Vietnam, saying that the new phase of the program would bring more opportunities to researchers of the two countries to work with each others and the results of their research could be applicable in the future.

 


The new phase of the research collaboration will continue to focus the theme of climate change, including applied technology. Vietnam is one of the countries believed to be most affected by climate change, and climate change is also very high on the Danish development agenda. The Vietnamese institutions are taking the lead and are responsible for identifying relevant Danish partners. The ownership of the Vietnamese institutions is fully in line with Government of Vietnam and Danida’s efforts to ensure national ownership of all Danish-funded development activities. This pioneering idea aims to provide the dynamic ownership and leadership to Vietnamese researchers, thus enhancing their research capacity and equal access to international collaboration.

 

The Danish Ambassador John Nielsen was pleased to see the program has been on the right track with positive impact on both sides and stated that the agreement on extending the program once again affirms the close relationship between Vietnam and Denmark.

(Source: CPV)