Quang Ninh Province has begun strongly investing in science and technology since 2012 to increase the sector’s contribution to the province's industrial production value to 45 percent in 2015 and become a leading province in the Red River Delta in terms of scientific and technological development and application.
Quang Ninh Province People's Committee Deputy Chairman Dang Huy Hau said that 2012 had been chosen as a Scientific and Technological Year of the province. Quang Ninh improved provincial awareness of the importance of science and technology development and application while experimenting with and improving science and technology management policies in order to attract talented Vietnamese and foreign scientists. The province spent 4-5 percent of its budget on scientific and technological activities, ranking first among 63 provinces and cities nationwide.
The province invested VND57.8 billion in science and technology in 2011 and was expected to spend VND376.761 billion in this field in 2012. Of the VND376.761 billion, VND100 billion was earmarked for an information technology (IT) program, VND50 billion for the provincial science and technology development fund, VND50 billion for accomplishment of tasks of a cooperative program with the Ministry of Science and Technology, VND23.71 billion for improving the provincial scientific and technological capability, VND32 billion for a provincial farm produce trademark development program, and VND94.29 billion for a science and technology application promotion program. The province has kicked off 16 farm produce trademark development projects and implemented 11 science and technology application tasks.
Organizations and businesses in the province invested tens of billions of dong in scientific research and technological renovation to cater for their production and trading activities' development. Quang Ninh paved the way for businesses to participate in scientific research and technological development in order to create new products and improve management efficiency. The Ministry of Science and Technology and Quang Ninh signed a comprehensive cooperation program on technology transfer and application and assistance for the province in construction, management and modernization of technical infrastructure projects including a technological research and transfer center and a polytechnic university that does both training and scientific research. Based on this, the province will bring into play science and technology's important role to create breakthroughs in the coming time.
Hau attributed the above-mentioned changes to the province that has the potential for economic development especially coal mining, shipbuilding, production of electricity from coal, and construction material manufacturing, which all contributed greatly to the provincial gross domestic product (GDP) and transforming the provincial economic structure towards industry. Provincial major products, including coal, power and large ocean liners, have had opportunities to carve a niche in both domestic and foreign markets. Quang Ninh is a plentiful source of farm produce, forest products, seafood, cattle and poultry and processed foods with a high economic value.
However, the province's production technology level remains low, while product trademark development had not been properly invested, and outdated and polluting technologies were still found in the province. After it reviewed criteria of an industrialized province, the Ministry of Industry and Trade assessed that the low scientific and technological content of provincial products is the biggest problem faced by Quang Ninh.
Many provincial districts and communes were constructing sapling cultivation and breed production zones to serve formation of areas specializing in livestock breeding and cultivation in the future. Quang Ninh surveyed plant and animal varieties from the Agricultural Genetics Institute and Hoa Binh Province and decided to apply some of these varieties in the province. The province has constructed geographical indications for its Van Don sea worm and Ha Long squid meat pie and constructed trademarks for its Tien Yen honey, Yen Tu apricot wine, Cai Rong fish sauce, Co To squid and Van Don geoduck snail. Hau said that farm produce with a trademark is sold for a price 15-20 percent higher than product of the same kind without a trademark.
The province has recently opened its Quang Ninh technology and equipment exchange - a reliable provider of consultancy and technology transfer services./.
