Scientists and enterprises still lack connection
By Dinh Nghia - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC – Enterprises and scientists still lack connections in producing and commercializing scientific and technological research projects, said Mai Thanh Phong, director of the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of the HCMC University of Technology.
At a meeting between enterprises, investment funds and scientists held on Tuesday in HCMC, Phong said that many scientists did not know clearly what products enterprises really needed. Meanwhile, enterprises cannot find those scientists able to turn out products they need, and thus have to import such products at high prices, he said.
Phong cited an example, saying that an oil extracting machine made in Malaysia with an output of 50 liters per shift is sold at VND2 billion while the price of the same machine produced in Vietnam is only VND1 billion.
In addition, scientists lacked investment capital to carry out research projects, Phong added.
Huynh Luu Thanh Giang from the HCMC Science and Technology Fund at the meeting introduced a financial support program for enterprises wanting to engage in technological innovation.
Giang said that the fund would provide enterprises with loans for technology transfer and commercialization. An enterprise can borrow an amount worth up to 70% of the investment and not exceeding VND10 billion, she added.
The fund provides loans lasting four years with an interest rate only half of the average rate offered at banks. Currently, the fund is offering the rate of 8%.
However, to borrow loans from the fund, technological products of enterprises must have been nearly completed and commercialized. Besides, the fund will provide the loans after evaluating enterprises’ technological projects.
Phong from TBI also introduced new inventions of the university and said the university would transfer these products to enterprises if they needed.