VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC Department of Science and Technology has been requested to consider purchasing viable scientific research results instead of funding research projects as currently.

A scientist does experiment in a laboratory in this file photo. Stem cell research is one of the fields funded by the city’s State budget

HCMC vice chairman Le Manh Ha made the request at a meeting Tuesday. The objective will help scientists focus on doing research.

HCMC will negotiate to buy scientific research projects’ result or ask scientists to study what it wants in certain periods of time.

Last year, the HCMC Department of Science and Technology started a pilot scheme to ask scientists to do research for the city but the scheme has not brought as goods results as expected.

Every year, the department announces a list of research topics in different sectors, and scientists will propose specific projects and estimated costs for their research. A competent council will evaluate and select appropriate topics for funding.

However, many scientists complained they have spent too much time explaining receipts.

The city government plans VND167 billion (US$7.8 million) to fund scientific projects this year.

SGT