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THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM |
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
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No: 249/2025/ND-CP |
Hanoi, September 19, 2025 |
ON MECHANISMS AND POLICIES FOR ATTRACTING EXPERTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Pursuant to Law on Government Organization 63/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to Law on Law on Cadres and Civil Servants No. 80/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to Law on Public Employees No. 58/2010/QH12; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of Law on Cadres and Civil Servants and Law on Public Employees No. 52/2019/QH14;
Pursuant to the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation No. 93/2025/QH15;
At the request of the Minister of Home Affairs;
The Government promulgates the Decree on mechanisms and policies for attracting experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
1. This Decree regulates mechanisms and policies, including: criteria; selection process; rights and obligations; responsibilities; assessment; policies for experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
2. This Decree does not apply to the selection and employment of chief designers, chief architects prescribed in Government’s Decree No. 231/2025/ND-CP dated August 26, 2025 on selection and employment of chief designers, chief architects regarding science and technology; innovation; national digital transformation and experts, scientists, and chief designers prescribed in Government’s Decree No. 103/2025/ND-CP dated May 15, 2025 some policies for core national defense industrial establishments, core security industrial establishments; benefits and policies for employees in core national defense industrial establishments, core security industrial establishments.
1. Individuals who are Vietnamese residing abroad and foreign citizens that are nominated, self-nominated and selected as experts as prescribed in this Decree.
2. Authorities, organizations and units of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, social-political organizations at central and local levels; armed forces; and enterprises assigned to take charge and cooperate in carrying out programs, projects for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation.
3. Other relevant agencies, organizations, units, and individuals.
Section 1. CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR SELECTION; RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS; RESPONSIBILITIES; EVALUATION OF TASK PERFORMANCE RESULTS OF EXPERTS
Article 3. Criteria for selection of experts
1. In addition to the criteria prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article, experts stipulated in this Decree are individuals who have knowledge, professional qualifications, and experience in the branches of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
2. General criteria:
a) Have led or participated in the implementation of tasks related to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, with priority given to strategic technology in the list of strategic technologies issued by the competent authority, and made significant contributions to the development of Vietnam, region, and the world;
b) Possess a clear personal background and good ethics;
c) Have the aspiration to contribute to the science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation of Vietnam.
3. In addition to the general criteria, an expert must:
a) Be the author or co-author of an invention with the issued protection title that has been applied, transferred, and resulted in valuable products; or have wide experience or deep knowledge in branches/specializations relating to science and technology missions performed in Vietnam and are working at research departments of reputable research institutes, universities or enterprises abroad;
b) Be the author or co-author of outstanding scientific and technological research works given international awards or have been widely and effectively adopted and suitable for programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation expected to participated;
c) Possess a doctoral degree from universities ranked among 200 world leading universities according to reputable international rankings; have been working for at least 05 years of teaching, scientific research, and technology development at reputable research and training institutions abroad in specializations suitable for programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, or/and digital transformation expected to participated;
d) Possess a doctoral degree and have been working for at least 05 years as scientific researchers at international cooperation programs/projects on science and technology or research departments of reputable enterprises abroad;
dd) Have at least 10 articles published on reputable international journals or be a member of the scientific council of reputable journals or have supervised at least 02 doctoral students;
e) In cases where candidates fail to meet the criteria specified in points a, b, c, d, and dd hereof, the agency, organization, or unit that wishes to select experts shall decide selecting experts to implement programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation and take responsibility for such decision.
Article 4. Procedures for selection of experts
1. The agency, organization, or unit assigned to implement programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation shall disclose the expert selection criteria, including: positions, mission requirements, criteria, and deadline for submission of applications.
2. The selection of experts meeting the criteria specified in Article 3 hereof shall be conducted according to the nomination and self-nomination mechanism as follows:
a) Agencies, organizations, or units that wish to select experts actively seek and identify candidates;
b) Individuals may self-nominate;
c) The overseas representative office of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the overseas Vietnamese community may nominate candidates;
d) Domestic and foreign agencies, organizations, and experts may nominate candidates.
3. Agencies, organizations, units, and individuals nominating candidates and self-nominated candidates shall submit their applications to the agency, organization, or unit that wishes to select experts. An application includes:
a) Form for nomination/self-nomination;
b) Scientific profile (describing professional competence, experience, and outstanding achievements) of the candidate;
c) A scheme for implementation of programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as required for the position.
4. The agency, organization, or unit that wishes to select experts shall verify the validity of the applications as specified in Article 3 of this Decree. If the candidate satisfies criteria prescribed in Article 3 hereof, an invitation letter shall be sent to candidates to sign an employment contract. An interview may be conducted before the contract signature if necessary.
5. The fixed-term employment contract must include the task content; working period; working mechanism; rights and obligations; responsibilities; regimes and policies; contract termination; dispute resolution mechanism (if any); and other relevant contents.
Article 5. Rights and responsibilities of experts
Experts have rights and responsibilities as individuals engaging in activities of science, technology and innovation stipulated in Articles 51 and 52 of the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation. In addition, based on the requirements of the assigned position, experts shall have the following rights and responsibilities outlined in their employment contract:
1. Make technical and technological decisions and resolve technical issues within the scope of the assigned tasks;
2. Proactively select and propose the competent authority for the mobilization of personnel and organizations to participate in implementing projects; proactively select and utilize personnel within the scope of the assigned tasks;
3. Proactively decide on the use of allocated funds and resources, including direct purchase of necessary foreign technologies, products, equipment, and proprietary technologies at agreed-upon prices;
4. Be eligible for receiving incentives and financial support for surveys, scientific exchanges with foreign scientists to update new technologies;
5. Other rights and responsibilities (if any).
Article 6. Obligations of experts
1. Comply with Vietnamese laws and relevant international laws; protect information and data related to programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation within the scope of the assigned tasks as stipulated by law. Bear responsibility in case of contractual breaches that cause financial loss, product or asset loss, or leakage of confidential documents and information;
2. Respect the culture, customs, and traditions of Vietnam.
3. Comply with professional ethics, professional requirements, honesty, objectivity, and a sense of responsibility in scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation.
Article 7. Evaluation of task performance for experts
1. The evaluation of task performance for experts shall be conducted by the agency, organization, or unit assigned to take charge to implement programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
2. Evaluation criteria:
a) The progress of tasks in accordance with employment contracts.
b) The quantity and quality of outcomes in accordance with employment contracts;
c) Proposals, initiatives, applications of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation;
d) The ability to coordinate, connect and resolve issues arising during the implementation of tasks;
dd) Sense of responsibility, dedication, cooperation and collaboration in work.
3. The evaluation results serve as the basis to implement policies or to terminate the employment contract with the expert by the agency, organization, or unit that wish to select experts.
Section 2. POLICIES FOR EXPERTS
Article 8. Salary, bonus, working conditions, and welfare benefits for experts
1. The salary shall be negotiated in the employment contract, ensuring it is commensurate with the assigned tasks and appropriate to the pay rates in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to the labor market.
2. Annual bonuses, which may be up to a maximum of 4 months’ salary specified in the employment contract, shall be determined by the agency, organization, or unit responsible for implementing programs, missions, or/and projects of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
3. Bonuses obtained from leasing, selling, transferring usage rights, and self-exploitation of the results of scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation tasks; the results of scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation tasks when contributing capital, cooperating, forming joint ventures, partnerships, providing services or establishing enterprises in accordance with point a Clause 3 Article 28 of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation.
4. 01 month’s salary specified in the employment contract for accommodation, traveling and essential shopping support.
5. Support of expenses of rent and transport, or provision of standard accommodation and transportation during the period of employment.
6. Payment of research and travelling expenses for overseas scientific exchange when they are assigned by the agency, organization, or unit leading the implementation of scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation programs, missions, and projects.
7. Healthcare, vacations, and annual leaves:
a) An annual voluntary healthcare package not exceeding 1% of the annual salary specified in the employment contract;
b) 07 days of domestic vacation and financial support for vacation expenses up to a maximum of 1 month’s salary specified in the employment contracts paid once a year for the expert and his/her family members (including spouse and children under 18 years old);
c) Annual leave according to labor laws and reimbursement for a round-trip airfare paid once a year for the expert and his/her family members (including spouse and children under 18 years old);
8. Commendation and rewards:
a) Commendation and rewards upon officially assuming tasks and upon completion of tasks specified in the employment contract;
b) Opportunity to meet, be commended, present recommendations, and proposals to senior leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State of Vietnam; participation in forums for exchanging experiences on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation;
c) Commendations in accordance with the Law on Emulation and Commendation; domestic and international titles and prizes in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation in accordance with Vietnamese laws.
Article 9. Policies for experts upon completion of tasks
1. Foreign experts who wish to apply for naturalization as Vietnamese citizens may have certain conditions reduced during the naturalization process as per laws.
2. Vietnamese experts who wish to work as civil servants or public employees in agencies, organizations, or units of the Communist Party of Vietnam, State of Vietnam, or social-political organizations but fail to satisfy all the standards and requirements as stipulated by laws on civil servants and public employees may be considered for employment by the competent authority. They shall also be appointed to leading positions without ensuring conformity with requirements on age, titles, political theory, and the experience in holding adjacent lower positions.
Article 10. Policies for family members
In addition to policies specified in points b and c Clause 7 Article 8 hereof, family members of the expert (including spouse and children under 18 years old) residing in Vietnam are entitled to the following policies:
1. Be supported in school placement and tuition fees for children under 18 attending public educational institutions;
2. Be provided with an annual voluntary health care package for the family (not exceeding 1% of the total annual salary under the employment contract);
3. Be supported in job placement and conditions to access suitable employment opportunities in accordance with the Labor Code and other relevant laws;
4. Be entitled to grant of multiple-entry visas and temporary residence cards in accordance with laws corresponding to the working duration of the expert (if any).
Article 11. Policies for agencies, organizations, and individuals that nominate experts
After 12 months from the signing of the employment contract, if the expert meets the requirements of the program and tasks assigned, the agency, organization, or individual that nominated the expert shall receive a bonus of 1 month’s salary specified in the employment contract of the expert.
Article 12. Funding for implementation
The funding for execution of this Decree shall be allocated by the state budget for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Article 13. Implementation clauses
1. If the expert stipulated in this Decree is regulated entity of other documents with a policy with lower allowance than those specified in this Decree, the policies and regimes outlined in this Decree shall be applied for negotiation.
2. If the expert stipulated in this Decree is eligible for multiple policies and regimes simultaneously, the policy or regime with the highest allowance shall prevail.
Article 14. Responsibilities for implementation
1. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall:
a) Formulate and request the competent authority to issue or issue the list of strategic technologies under the authority.
b) Develop the national database of experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
2. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall:
a) Guide and inspect the implementation of policies stipulated in this Decree;
b) Implement or propose competent authorities for commendation, rewards and encouragement through various forms for experts, enterprises, organizations, and individuals who have made achievements in the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct the affiliated agencies to develop the programs to search, attract, and support experts for nomination to agencies, organizations, and units.
4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall give priority to Vietnamese citizens to participate in training overseas through scholarship programs under their management to develop teams of experts in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
5. The Ministry of Finance shall balance and propose the allocation of the annual state budget for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in accordance with the laws on state budget, public investment and laws on specific sectors and fields.
6. The Ministry of Public Security shall:
a) Take charge of providing guidelines, inspecting and supervising the protection of state secrets, cybersecurity and information security during the implementation of programs and tasks involving the use of state secrets; provide training and guidelines on procedures for security and classification of documents and handling of cybersecurity incidents for units participating in particular important science and technology tasks; implement professional measures to ensure personal safety, personal security and data protection for experts;
b) Propose incentives regarding visas and temporary residence for experts specified in this Decree.
7. The Ministry of National Defense shall inspect the compliance with regulations on technical security, integrated defense technology systems, cryptographic platforms, satellites, and secure communication.
8. The Ministry of Justice shall take charge and cooperate with relevant agencies to consider reporting to the competent authorities on the grant of naturalization as Vietnamese citizens to foreign experts who have made significant contributions during the implementation of tasks.
9. Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies, and provincial People’s Committees shall:
a) Formulate and propose scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation programs, missions, and projects for expert selection;
b) Provide data, records, and relevant information regarding scientific, technological, innovative, and digital transformation programs, missions, and projects; allocate resources, create conditions for experts to carry out their tasks; cooperate in addressing technical, legal, and financial challenges as requested by the experts.
c) Inspect and monitor programs, missions, and projects involving the participation of expert; send periodic reports on the status and results of the expert’s tasks to the Government of Vietnam, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Home Affairs before November 15 for monitoring purposes.
This Decree comes into force from the date on which it is signed.
Article 16. Responsibility for implementation
Ministers, Heads of ministerial authorities, Heads of governmental authorities, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces, relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree.
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ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT Nguyen Hoa Binh |
