Sowing the Seeds of Success

Many companies are aware of the important role of science and technology, so they have increased investment in technological innovations and achieved fruitful results.

The National Seed Joint Stock Company (Vinaseed) is one of the leading businesses in Vietnam in researching and transferring technology and trading in seeds and saplings. The company’s sales have grown 40 percent a year. In 2010, Vinaseed produced and supplied nearly 20,000 tonnes of seeds and saplings with sales totaling VND400 billion. The company has opened a branch in Laos and exported seeds to China. Its annual export revenue has reached nearly US$1 million. In terms of credit rating, Vinaseed is the only agricultural business among the top 20 companies on the Vietnamese securities market.

Tran Kim Lien, the general director of Vinaseed, attributed the company’s success to investment in intensifying scientific research and the application of technology as well as the efforts to upgrade technical facilities to industrialize the seed sector. For over six years, with its own resources, the company has researched, created and transferred 11 plant varieties. At the same time, Vinaseed has paid much attention to developing human resources and promoting cooperation with domestic and overseas sci-tech organizations.

The Hai Phong Paint Joint Stock Company is another example. Previously, as a small enterprise, the company has grown to become the largest ship paint manufacturer in Vietnam with annual revenue exceeding VND300 billion. Since 1996, it has been aware of the need to invest in technological innovation.

Specifically, the company has bought technology from Chugoku Marine Paints (Japan), one of the three world’s leading ship paint manufacturers. In addition, the company has bought advanced production equipment items such as double grinders using Zicconium Silicate beads, solvent container and supply systems, vacuum cleaners, an automated canning system and Culo filters. At the same time, the company has upgraded its laboratories into Research and Development (R&D) centers with total investment of dozens of billions of dong.

Most companies have become aware of the vital role of science and technology as well as modern equipment for their existence and growth. However, due to their limited financial capacity, many companies still hesitate before investing a large sum of money in purchasing equipment or research. To obtain sustainable growth, companies must also improve the management and organizational capabilities, promote cleaner production and ensure energy efficiency.

Vinaseed general director Tran Kim Lien said that many companies have invested in scientific research and technology application with their own resources. To boost scientific research and the application of technology at companies, the State should create an open mechanism which allows companies to carry out State-level research projects. In addition, appropriate policies must be applied to link scientists, sci-tech organizations and businesses in order to promote technology transfer as well as to help businesses in training human resources and hiring qualified experts.

Sharing this opinion, Nguyen Van Vien, the general director of the Hai Phong Paint Joint Stock Company, added that it is necessary but difficult for businesses to build R&D centers. In his opinion, the State must assist and create favorable conditions for businesses to approach research institutes and universities or large research centers in the world so that they can grasp the latest science and technology information to boost R&D activities.

Recently, the Prime Minister signed Decision 677/QD-TTg regarding the National Technology Innovation Program to 2020. From now until 2020, the number of businesses involved in technological innovation is projected to grow 15 percent a year, of which five percent will apply high technology; 100 percent of businesses which make key national products to be capable to apply advanced technologies in production; 80,000 engineers, technicians and business managers to be trained in technology management and new technology./.

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