National Foundation for Science and Technology Development worked the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Democratic Republics of Laos

In the working session, Deputy Minister, Chairman of the Foundation’s Management Council Trần Quốc Khánh had the overall introduction on the Foundation’s establishment and development, as well as on functions, tasks and powers of the Foundation’s organizational structure including the Foundation’s Management Council, the Foundation’s Control Committee, the Executive Body and the Scientific Council. The Chairman also introduced about funding programs, assistance, methods of carry out activities as well as achievements the Foundation has gained. Accordingly, after the 7-year operation, the Foundation has gradually implemented programs on funding basic researches (BR) in natural sciences andtechniques and those on social sciences and humanity, supported activities on building S&Tcapacities, funded urgent and potential research themes, warranted loans and provided loans with preferential interest rates. The Foundation has initially achieved objectives of improving the research quality as well as S&T research capacities, gradually resulted in active shifts in renovating methods of organizations and management of S&T researchactivities. Statistics on BR themes funded by the Foundation shows that the research quality has been increasingly improved, gradually reached to the international standards, which is shown in the number of scientific works published in reputable international scientific magazines. Some operating mechanisms of the Foundation have been expanded and applied to other agencies when providing funds for scientific research according to requirements on international publication and methods of budget estimation.

After the overall introduction made by the Chairman of the Foundation’s Management Council, Mr. Đỗ Tiến Dũng, Director of the Foundation’s Executive Body had detailed introduction on methods of implementing funding programs, assistance as well as the process of formulating legal and regulatory document for the Foundation’s activities. Then the two parties discussed and discussed about experience in establishing and developing the Foundation. Expressing his sincere thanks for the welcome offered by MOST and NAFOSTED, Laos’ Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara and other members of the delegation showed their impression on results NAFOSTED has achieved, at the same time recognized experience NAFOSTED has shared to apply in the process of developing Laos’ Foundation for Science and Technology Development.

Concluding the working session, the two parties expressed their desires to have meetings and share experience in the future sot that they would support each other more in S&T field.