Recent policies in the scientific and technological sector will directly impact the work, life, and income of scientists.
>> Vietnamese scientists abroad ready to contribute to national development
>> Vietnamese scientific breakthrough in decoding ancient human genome
>> Resolution 57: Building a scientific elite for development
At the end of 2025, the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation, along with new regulations concerning researchers, officially came into effect. They aim to strengthen powers and ensure academic autonomy, increase income, and improve remuneration policies, allowing scientists to directly participate in the exploitation, transfer, and commercialization of research results.
Change in salary calculation
The mechanism of remuneration and income in state scientific and technological organizations has been fundamentally changed with the issuance of Decree No. 263, which specifies the application of the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Specifically, organizations have autonomy in terms of salaries and income, based on democratic and transparent discussions in their internal management regulations. Organizations with financial autonomy provide four types of remuneration: base salary, organization-paid salary, additional income, and income for authors of commercialized scientific research results.
The new feature is the removal of the salary cap. The income of officials and employees working in public science and technology organizations is no longer limited to two or three times the state-set salary level. Organizations are allowed to use their own income sources to remunerate researchers.
Remuneration is now determined based on the position held, assigned tasks, and work efficiency. Scientists’ income is directly linked to the volume, quality, and performance of research activities, rather than seniority. Furthermore, income from the commercialization of research results is also paid according to agreements reached.
Exceptional remuneration to attract talent
Decree No. 263 also empowers public science and technology organizations in recruitment, management, and use of human resources, thus removing previous financial barriers. With these barriers removed, national institutions can compete to attract Vietnamese scientists working abroad, or even international experts.
The new mechanism allows organizations to offer attractive packages including salaries, housing, and working conditions to convince renowned researchers to work in Vietnam. This exceptional remuneration scheme should help the country access a talent elite, while promoting the return of diaspora scientists.
Funding based on research activities’ effectiveness
The budget allocation mechanism to public organizations has significantly evolved with the issuance of Decree No. 265 related to finances and investment for implementing the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation.
According to this decree, organizations may see their budget adjusted, up to 10% based on their activity results. This mechanism aims to improve efficiency while reinforcing transparency and accountability of public institutions.
Non-criminalization of losses due to objective risks
The state acknowledges the existence of objective risks in scientific research, where failure can sometimes be part of the creation process. In case a project does not meet initial objectives, Decree No. 265 stipulates that the responsible organization is not required to reimburse funds, as all results in science are considered, even if they do not meet expectations.
The new policy also provides for civil, or even criminal, liability exemption for the responsible organization if it complies with current procedures and regulations. However, “risk acceptance” is strictly regulated from the early stages, especially during project proposal and selection. The research process then undergoes rigorous monitoring, with funds disbursed based on obtained results.
Scientists to receive at least 30% of profits
The distribution of profits in favor of researchers during the commercialization of results is explicitly provided for the first time in the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation, which came into effect at the end of 2025.
According to Article 28 of this law, authors of state-funded science, technology, and innovation missions receive at least 30% of profits from renting, selling, transferring, using rights, directly exploiting, or using research results.
Viet Anh, CVN
