Remuneration up to 300 million VND/month for scientists developing strategic technology

Circular 49, issued on August 1, regulates the financial mechanism for research tasks under the special national science, technology and innovation program on strategic technology.

The highlight of the Circular is the breakthrough mechanism on remuneration payments to attract human resources. In particular, the general engineer receives a maximum of 300 million VND/month, the task leader receives a remuneration of up to 150 million VND, and the main research member receives 100-120 million VND depending on position. Members who directly perform tasks are paid a maximum of 70-90 million VND. Meanwhile, technicians and professional support staff enjoy a maximum of 45 million VND.

Sharing with VnExpress, a representative of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (Nafosted), said this is the ceiling for preparing, appraising and approving estimates. Remuneration for each individual is determined according to job position, professional requirements, responsibilities, participation time and output products. This calculation is different from before, which was mainly based on working days or administrative titles.

Previously, according to Circular 39/2025 of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the maximum monthly remuneration for the head of science, technology and innovation tasks was 70 million VND, while other positions were entitled to a maximum of 0.8 times this level.

The Ministry of Science and Technology said it referenced income in Singapore, converted after tax and adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). Determining the payment level also takes into account the factor of competition to attract highly qualified human resources and the scarcity of some positions, especially general engineers.

"This approach demonstrates the view that investing in strategic technology must first invest in people who are capable of creating and mastering technology," the Nafosted Fund representative emphasized, adding that "compensation must be commensurate with the responsibility, capacity and value they create."

The Circular also opens a mechanism to hire good domestic and foreign experts by agreement, based on market prices and international practices. Normally, this expense is equal to the remuneration of the task leader, maximum 300 million VND/month.

Paving the way for strategic technology

Another innovation of Circular 49 is the method of estimating and managing funding according to work packages and assessment milestones. Each work package must identify objectives, scope, output products, funding, responsible person or organization, and implementation time.

The estimate of the entire task is formed from work packages and aggregated according to assessment milestones. The results at each milestone are the basis for payment, settlement and funding for the next stage. This mechanism brings financial management closer to the technology development process, helping scientists not have to follow the administrative payment process.

According to the Nafosted Foundation, researching new technologies cannot predict which options will be successful. Therefore, for problems with many possible directions, the new mechanism allows the implementation of many independent research options, working towards the same goal.

Each option is estimated, assigned funding, contract, payment and settlement separately, evaluated at each milestone to choose the appropriate direction. "The mechanism facilitates testing multiple technological paths without spreading resources, increasing the likelihood of choosing a better solution," the Nafosted Foundation said.

Circular 49 also allows the arrangement of contingency funds for scientists to deal with issues arising during the research process. The reserve level is proposed by the lead organization, but must not exceed 10% of the total budget estimate from the mission's state budget.

Strategic technology has a fast pace of change, "time is also a resource". Therefore, the organization hosting the project is given the autonomy to choose contractors, suppliers of equipment, machinery, goods and services for research. This unit may use its own financial resources or other legal capital sources to advance funds in urgent cases. The advance amount will then be compiled for payment and settlement according to regulations.

The Nafosted Foundation evaluates this mechanism as "especially meaningful" for research, testing or procurement stages that need to be carried out continuously, where "a delay in one step can affect the overall progress".

The new regulations also expand the mobilization of social resources and the state to develop strategic technology. Businesses, organizations and individuals can participate with reciprocal resources, including money, machinery, equipment, technology lines, laboratories, testing facilities, technical infrastructure, intellectual property rights, use of technology, software, intangible assets, human resources...

A research plan may not achieve expected results due to technical limitations or objective factors, so the financial mechanism is designed to be more suitable for this particularity. Scientists, businesses and research organizations do not have to repay the used budget in case the research has acceptable risks according to regulations.

In return, the host organization must be responsible for the products, technical criteria, progress, effective use of funds and integrity of documents. Information on management and use of funds is updated on a digital platform. Management agencies may request explanations, inspections or independent audits when there are grounds.

Trong Dat