The overseas Vietnamese (OV) communityand Vietnamese intellectuals abroad in particular are regarded as animportant resource for the country’s national development andmodernisation.
However, experts said, Vietnam needsto adopt a special, breakthrough mechanism if it wants to attract moreof this resource.
OV intellectuals – a huge resource
According to the State Committee for OVs, the number of intellectualsoverseas now exceeds 300,000, mainly living in developed countries suchas the US, France, Australia and Canada. Of them, more than 10,000people are working in Silicon Valley – a national scientific andtechnological centre in the US.
OV intellectuals have worked in almost every field, including spearheadtechnological sectors such as electronics, biology, new materials, IT,aviation and space technology.
Many scientists, who are also entrepreneurs, have accumulated numeroustechnological, management and production experiences. They can makegreat contributions to the country through the transfer of knowledgeand technologies, consultancy, assessment, information sharing,scientific cooperation, and seeking funding and markets for productsand research projects.
However, the number of OVs returning to Vietnam to work remains modest.Statistics show that only around 200 OV intellectuals each year comeback to the homeland to join in research projects and scientificseminars or give lectures at universities.
Shortcomings in policy
Many OV intellectuals said Vietnam’s failure to map out specificpolicies and establish close links between scientists abroad and athome is the biggest hurdle in calling for OV intellectuals tocontribute to the nation.
Dr. Tran Ha Anh, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Overseas VietnameseClub for Science and Technology, said since its inception four yearsago, the club has received few proposals for the engagement of OVscientists from domestic agencies, organisations and businesses.
A number of OVs suggested that Vietnam issue an equal policy that doesnot discriminate against OV intellectuals and officials at home.
Dr. Nguyen Chanh Khe, an American of Vietnamese origin, said Vietnamshould permit OVs to register state-level scientific research projectsinstead of allowing only domestic scientists at present.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vo Toan Chung, who is French and of Vietnamese origin,proposed the State create a legal foundation and policy mechanism toencourage OVs return home to work.
Vietnam should also permit OV intellectuals to participate in itsscientific councils, instruct Vietnamese postgraduates and join inworking out national development strategies through authorisedagencies, Chung added.
Establishing a mechanism to attract OV intellectuals
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien said hisministry and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have drawn up a projectaimed at building policies and measures to encourage OV experts andintellectuals to contribute to the country’s national constructioncause.
The project, which was submitted to the Prime Minister for approval,lays out a wide range of incentives to appeal to OV experts, supportand encourage the flow of investment by OVs in technologicalapplication and transfer, and promote the teaching of the Vietnameselanguage and culture to young OVs.
At the first conference of OVs held in November in 2009, Tien put forththe building of a database on OV intellectuals as well as preferentialtreatment, salary and working conditions for OVs who return to servethe home country./.
However, experts said, Vietnam needsto adopt a special, breakthrough mechanism if it wants to attract moreof this resource.
OV intellectuals – a huge resource
According to the State Committee for OVs, the number of intellectualsoverseas now exceeds 300,000, mainly living in developed countries suchas the US, France, Australia and Canada. Of them, more than 10,000people are working in Silicon Valley – a national scientific andtechnological centre in the US.
OV intellectuals have worked in almost every field, including spearheadtechnological sectors such as electronics, biology, new materials, IT,aviation and space technology.
Many scientists, who are also entrepreneurs, have accumulated numeroustechnological, management and production experiences. They can makegreat contributions to the country through the transfer of knowledgeand technologies, consultancy, assessment, information sharing,scientific cooperation, and seeking funding and markets for productsand research projects.
However, the number of OVs returning to Vietnam to work remains modest.Statistics show that only around 200 OV intellectuals each year comeback to the homeland to join in research projects and scientificseminars or give lectures at universities.
Shortcomings in policy
Many OV intellectuals said Vietnam’s failure to map out specificpolicies and establish close links between scientists abroad and athome is the biggest hurdle in calling for OV intellectuals tocontribute to the nation.
Dr. Tran Ha Anh, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Overseas VietnameseClub for Science and Technology, said since its inception four yearsago, the club has received few proposals for the engagement of OVscientists from domestic agencies, organisations and businesses.
A number of OVs suggested that Vietnam issue an equal policy that doesnot discriminate against OV intellectuals and officials at home.
Dr. Nguyen Chanh Khe, an American of Vietnamese origin, said Vietnamshould permit OVs to register state-level scientific research projectsinstead of allowing only domestic scientists at present.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vo Toan Chung, who is French and of Vietnamese origin,proposed the State create a legal foundation and policy mechanism toencourage OVs return home to work.
Vietnam should also permit OV intellectuals to participate in itsscientific councils, instruct Vietnamese postgraduates and join inworking out national development strategies through authorisedagencies, Chung added.
Establishing a mechanism to attract OV intellectuals
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien said hisministry and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have drawn up a projectaimed at building policies and measures to encourage OV experts andintellectuals to contribute to the country’s national constructioncause.
The project, which was submitted to the Prime Minister for approval,lays out a wide range of incentives to appeal to OV experts, supportand encourage the flow of investment by OVs in technologicalapplication and transfer, and promote the teaching of the Vietnameselanguage and culture to young OVs.
At the first conference of OVs held in November in 2009, Tien put forththe building of a database on OV intellectuals as well as preferentialtreatment, salary and working conditions for OVs who return to servethe home country./.
