Workshop explores role of technology transfer agencies in human and economic developmen Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) has coordinated with the Wallonie Foreign Trade and Investment Agency and Wallonie-Brussels International Agency to hold a workshop on the role of technology transfer agencies in human and economic development on March 13th at VAST’s Big Hall at 18 Hoang Quoc Viet street.

The event was under the framework of the official visit to Vietnam by the Belgian Economic Mission led by Belgian Crown Prince Philippe from March 11th to 16th 2012, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), the Wallonie Foreign Trade and Investment Agency and Wallonie-Brussels International Agency.

he workshop also drew the participation of Belgian Crown Princess Mathilde; Prof. Chau Van Minh, VAST president; Dr. Jean Claude Marcourt, Vice President of the Wallonie regional governments and the French-speaking community in Belgium; Tran Van Tung, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology; Prof. Duong Ngoc Hai, vice secretary of VAST Party Committee and VAST vice president; Prof. Nguyen Dinh Cong, VAST vice president; managers, scientists and enterprises under the Belgian economic delegation; representatives from institutes; scientists from VAST, Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Investment and Planning, the Ministry of Health; representatives from universities, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the World Bank, and Vietnamese enterprises.

After the speech made by Belgian Crown Princess Mathilde and Wallonie-Brussels region delegation and representatives at the workshop, Prof. Minh said that building and developing science and technology businesses is one of the important methods to transfer and commercialize research achievements gained from laboratories in institutes and universities into enterprises’ business.

Photo 1: Prof. Chau Van Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, secretary of VAST Party Committee secretary and VAST president, made a speech to open the workshop.

Spin-off is a form of science and technology businesses established by groups of scientists and researchers who leave institutes and universities to start new and independent businesses. This model has been applied in several countries in the world and has obtained many impressive achievements. At present, apart from supporting policies of the state, institutes and universities play an important role in transferring research results to make the spin-off model successful in Vietnam.

Photo 2: Vietnamese and Belgians made reports at the workshop

Participants heard eight reports by Vietnamese and Belgian managers and scientists. This was an opportunity for Vietnamese managers, scientists and businesses to exchange and study the role of research agencies and universities in establishing technology nurseries, establishing method and process, legal status, intellectual property rights, active regulation, supporting policies on science and technology business establishment and operation to find effective solutions to establish spin-off enterprises which are suitable with the specific conditions in Vietnam.

The workshop was not only an opportunity for Vietnamese managers, scientists and businesses to share knowledge and successful experience in technology transfer, but also to initiate technology transfer cooperation between VAST, research and training agencies in Vietnam, and institutes and universities in the Kingdom of Belgium, Wallonie Brussels region in particular.

Other photos about the workshop:

Photo 3: Dr. Jean Claude Marcourt, Vice President of the Wallonie regional governments and the Wallonie-Brussels alliance, and also Minister of Economics, Foreign Trade and New Technologies and Higher Education, made a speech at the workshop.

Photo 4: Belgian Crown Princess Mathilde participating in the workshop

Photo 5: Prof. Duong Ngoc Hai, vice secretary of VAST Party Committee and VAST vice president, made a speech to close the workshop

Photo 6: Taking a photo with Belgian Crown Princess Mathilde