Planning strategies for scientific and technological development by 2020 is one of the duties which Ministry of Science and Technology is consulting scientific circle. What field should we invest in to avoid waste? Doctor Nguyen Huu Thien General Director of Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality and Ha Dang Hien from Vietnam Association of Testing Laboratories discussed about scientific and technological development in mechanical and experimental industry.
According to a recent statistics, the number of post-gradates in Vietnam is about 30,000 with more than 13,000 doctors and 6000 professors and associate professors - this is a high figure. However, the number of scientific works publicized in the period from 2004 to 2009 was rather low in comparison with other countries.
Recently, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) issued a "guideline" for its scientific and technological development in 50 years. Lu Yongxiang, the chairman of CAS said in news program that: "If you do not make future plan, you can not solve the present's difficulties." He also said: "Any change a society experiences is related to scientific breakthrough. Innovation is the best solution for any crisis."
What about Vietnam's mechanical industry? Until now, there are no official report assessing experimental activities in Vietnam's mechanical industry and there is no strategy on its development by 2020. This is very necessary because mechanics is a key industry which has enormous influences to other industries.
In the experimental technology, any product need to try experiment of geometric factors, mechanical factors, physical factors, microscopic organization, chemical elements, thermal treatment and surface treatment, anti-erosion, environmental treatment, testing of longevity and reasonability, fast testing methods, laboratory testing…With the purpose that enterprises meet these experimental demands, other regional and international standards and to meet the need of scientific study, Vietnam needs to plan strategies on science and technology by 2010.
Accordingly, it is necessary to establish three centers of experimental assistance in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. These centers will help mechanical and metallurgical enterprises by: updating information about new analytic equipments and methods, training experimental staff, supplying experimental services, laboratory devices and laboratory leasing services …
Leasing laboratory is very new in Vietnam; however, it became public in Europe from the 1980s, especially in Hungary which is highly appreciated by United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Leasing laboratory produces remarkable social and economical effects, meeting different demands. Enterprises can access to modern devices but paying less money.
Constructing many laboratories is very expensive but does not meet enormous demands in mechanical field. Instead, we should build three centers of experimental assistance in the three major provinces. They will create significant breakthroughs in experimental activities and science and technology development in general./.
Source: VNN