Revised Technology Transfer Law: Limiting used machinery imports

The Law on Technology Transfer is to be adjusted to support the domestic science and technology market, control outdated technology imports and catch up with international technological transfer activities. 

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, over the past 10 years, the Law on Technology Transfer has contributed to promoting technology innovation, transfer and application, which gradually increased businesses’ competitiveness and the economy’s growth.

However, the socioeconomic development situation inside and outside the country has changed dramatically, which requires updates and adjustments of the 2006 Law on Technology Transfer to meet actual development demands. All of the 60 articles of the law have been reviewed. Of these, 28 articles will be adjusted, while two other articles will be supplemented. The amended law is expected to promote the domestic science and technology market’s development, encourage businesses to apply and renovate technology, enhance technology and research result commercialization, and improve state management in the field of science and technology.

Chief of the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department of Technology Appraisal, Examination and Assessment Do Hoai Nam said that the Law on Technology Transfer is to be amended to control outdated technology imports, especially for foreign-invested projects and technology transfer projects using state capital. Nam added that the Ministry of Science and Technology added Article 11a on technological assessment of investment projects to the law.

“In a report submitted to the National Assembly, featuring the amendment of the Law on Technology Transfer, we proposed amendment of such related laws as the Construction Law and the Public Investment Law to ensure technology control upon investment licensing and investment project implementation,” Nam said.

According to the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, after being amended, the Law on Technology Transfer should facilitate and encourage technology innovation in enterprises, control technology transfer in the fields of agriculture, health, energy, construction, transport and information technology, and stop outdated technology imports.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, apart from listening to recommendations of domestic organizations and businesses, the law amendment board also researched foreign technology transfer laws and policies, and learned about experiences of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the US to draft provisions suitable with Vietnam’s conditions and international commitments.

Quynh Nga / ven