The Vietnamese team organized the national workshop on the role of academic institutions (R&D institutes and universities) in national system of innovation on December 1, 2005. About 70 people attended, coming from National Council for S&T policy (NCSTP) under the PM, several ministries (S&T, Education and Training, Industry, Agriculture and Rural development, Planning and Investment, etc.) and universities and R&D institutes. Also the private sector was represented in form of companies mainly from Hanoi but also from HCMC and other regions. Participating journalists were present to secure media coverage.

Lessons Learned

The workshop concept was positively accepted by the audience, however some suggested future adjustment of the presentations in order to be more applicable in Vietnam. Thus, the lesson to draw from the Vietnamese workshop, is to focus less on the theoretical framework, and in stead pay more attention to the practical side of the issue, including case studies and evidences from the specific national context.

Please see more information and programme below.

The workshop focused on introducing and problematizing the concept of Triple-Helix and National Innovation System, and to discuss their applicability in the Vietnamese context. Two concept papers were presented with this purpose; one on the innovation system (by Nguyen Vo Hung) and one providing an overview of Vietnam S&T and higher education system (by Tran Ngoc Ca). The presentations were followed by an introduction to some specific cases of R&D institutes and universities and their linkages with the industry (one in HCMC and one in Hanoi), with the purpose of mapping university activity, its contribution to economies, firms performance, etc. The presentations evolved into an interactive discussion between the participating actors.

The next step for the Vietnamese Team is to draft more specific workplan for the years to come, to prepare the country position paper, and plan more in-depth interviews for the case studies.

Programme
National workshop on Role of universities and research institutes in the national innovation system
December 1, 2005
National Council for Science and Technology Policy (NCSTP)

8.00 Registration

8.30-8.40 Opening: Prof. Chu Tuan Nha, Chairman of NCSTP

8.40-9.00 NSI: basic concept and implications for Vietnam: Dr. Tran Ngoc Ca (NCSTP) and Nguyen Vo Hưng (NISTPASS)

9.00-9.10 Q&A

9.10-9.25 Introduction of Trip-Helix model in linkages between universities-industry-government: Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh (NCSTP)
9.25-9.30 Q&A

9.30-9.50 Linkage R&D institutes-university-enterprises: experiences form HoChiMinh City: Dr. Bui Thi Minh Hang (National University of HCMC)

9.50-10.05 Q&A

10.20-10.45 Role of research institutes and universities: a firm perspective: Mr. Tran Le (Van Thanh Agro-based Ltd. Co.)

10.45-11.15 Q&A

11.15-12.0 General discussion on the role of universities and research institutes in the NSI: the panel

12.0 Lunch break

Afternoon Filed trip to visit some institutes, universities and enterprises.