Notice on the Funding Plan for Science and Technology Tasks under International Cooperation with the Republic of Belarus in 2026
NOTICE ON THE FUNDING PLAN FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TASKS UNDER INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS IN 2026
Pursuant to the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation No. 93/2025/QH15;
Pursuant to Decree No. 229/2026/ND-CP dated June 25, 2026 of the Government providing for the organization and operation of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development;
Pursuant to Decree No. 265/2025/ND-CP dated October 14, 2025 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation on finance and investment in science, technology and innovation;
Pursuant to Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP dated October 14, 2025 of the Government detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation on programs, science, technology and innovation tasks and a number of regulations on promoting scientific research, technology development and innovation activities;
Pursuant to Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BKHCN dated November 30, 2025 of the Minister of Science and Technology providing for the management of science and technology tasks funded and ordered by the Ministry of Science and Technology;
Pursuant to Circular No. 39/2025/TT-BKHCN dated November 30, 2025 of the Minister of Science and Technology detailing and guiding the preparation of estimates, management and use, and final settlement of a number of state budget expenditures for the implementation of science, technology and innovation tasks;
Pursuant to Decision No. 252/QD-NAFOSTED dated July 28, 2026 of the Director of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development promulgating the Regulation on the management of science and technology tasks funded and ordered by the Ministry of Science and Technology through the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development;
Pursuant to the Minutes of the 12th Session of the Vietnam–Belarus Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation;
Pursuant to the Minutes of the meeting dated 07/4/2026 of the Expert Advisory Group for developing the notice on the funding plan for science and technology tasks under international cooperation in 2026 with the Republic of Belarus.
The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED Foundation) hereby announces the funding plan for science and technology tasks under international cooperation in 2026 with the Republic of Belarus, specifically as follows:
I. SCOPE AND ELIGIBLE FUNDING RECIPIENTS
1. Funding fields
The Foundation shall consider funding international cooperation tasks in the following fields:
Information and communication technology: Artificial intelligence (AI), communication and radio-electronic technology, cybersecurity, specialized semiconductor chips, aerospace;
Medicine and biotechnology: Vaccines, pharmaceutical chemistry and genetic technology;
Energy and resources: Nuclear energy, new energy, renewable energy, clean energy, rational exploitation and use of natural resources;
Mechanical manufacturing: Robot manufacturing, mechanized equipment and agricultural machinery;
High-tech agriculture: Microbiological technology, high-tech agriculture, high-tech applications in agricultural production, post-harvest technology, deep processing and preservation of agricultural products.
2. Types of funded tasks
The Foundation shall consider funding tasks under the following two types: Applied Research Tasks and Technology Development Tasks. Under this call, the Foundation shall not fund task clusters or task chains.
3. Eligible funding recipients
Agencies, organizations, enterprises and individuals engaged in science, technology and innovation activities in Vietnam or outside the territory of Vietnam but having rights and obligations under Vietnamese law and international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.
4. Conditions for lead organizations
The lead organization registering to implement the task must satisfy the conditions prescribed in Article 5 of Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP and relevant regulations.
5. Number of funded tasks and implementation period
Maximum number of funded tasks: 10 tasks.
Task implementation period: No more than 24 months from the date of signing the task implementation contract.
II. FUNDING
The cost estimate for task implementation shall be prepared in accordance with Circular No. 39/2025/TT-BKHCN dated 30/11/2025 of the Minister of Science and Technology.
The state budget (NSNN) funding plan shall be determined specifically for each type of task as follows:
– For applied research tasks: state budget funding shall not exceed 80% of the total estimated cost of task implementation, with a maximum of VND 8 billion/task;
– For technology development tasks: state budget funding shall not exceed 50% of the total estimated cost of task implementation, with a maximum of VND 10 billion/task.
For applied research and technology development tasks, the lead organization must have a plan and evidence of mobilizing lawful resources outside the state budget to ensure the remaining funding. The Foundation encourages applications with a higher counterpart funding ratio than the minimum level, with clear and feasible committed resources.
In addition, pursuant to Article 10 of Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP, the maximum support from the Vietnamese state budget shall not exceed 2.5 times the value of the contribution (including finance, human resources, equipment, etc.) of the Belarusian partner to that task.
III. CRITERIA AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED TASKS
The task proposal must be jointly developed and agreed upon by the Vietnam–Belarus research cooperation group and must simultaneously satisfy the criteria, requirements and selection procedures prescribed by each side.
Specific regulations applicable to the Vietnamese side: The registered task must comply with Articles 6, 7 and 8 of Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP. At the same time, depending on the type of task, the task must satisfy the specific criteria prescribed in Article 4 of Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BKHCN as follows:
1. Applied Research Tasks:
a) Meet one of the following criteria:
– At least 02 participating members are authors of articles published in reputable international journals or authors of industrial property objects or plant varieties in a field relevant to the proposed task, for which protection titles have been granted within the most recent 05 years;
– The proposing organization has experience in applying and transferring research results within the most recent 05 years;
b) The results of the task are applied in practice or published in reputable international journals or registered for protection of industrial property rights/plant varieties for which the application has been accepted as valid or for which a protection title has been granted.
2. Technology Development Tasks:
a) At least 01 participating member has experience in research, transfer or application of research results within the most recent 05 years in a field relevant to the task content;
b) The lead organization is capable of conducting testing or has a coordinating organization for testing in a real-world environment;
c) The task results must be tested in a real-world environment and satisfy one of the following conditions:
– An application for protection of industrial property rights/plant varieties has been accepted as valid or a protection title has been granted;
– There is a plan for application and commercialization of the task results, with expected revenue for a minimum period of 03 years from the date of completion of the task.
IV. APPLICATION DOSSIER AND METHODS OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION
1. Belarusian side:
Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the regulations of the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus (GKNT)
(as guided in the notice calling for task funding on the website: https://www.gknt.gov.by/deyatelnost/belorussko_vetnamskikh_nauchno_tekhnicheskikh_proektov_na_2027_2028_gody.php).
2. Vietnamese side
a) Application dossier
The application dossier for task implementation shall be prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP and Article 7 of Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BKHCN, including:
– Application for registration to lead the implementation of the task (Form BM-03, completed online on the system);
– Explanation of the science and technology task (Form BM-04);
– Scientific curriculum vitae of the task leader and Vietnamese research members (Form BM-06, completed online on the system);
– Information on the capacity and facilities of the lead organization (Form BM-07, completed online on the system);
– Cooperation agreement between the lead organization and the foreign partner, clearly stating the content, implementation plan, principles for sharing research results, resources contributed by both parties (finance, human resources, facilities); commitment to funding by the foreign partner (if any);
– Documents proving the plan for mobilizing counterpart funding outside the state budget;
– Written commitments to coordinate, test, receive, apply, exploit or commercialize the results from individuals/organizations (if any);
– Other documents as prescribed in Article 11 of Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP;
– Detailed cost estimate for task implementation shall be supplemented after the task is proposed for funding by the Funding Review Council.
b) Application submission process and methods
Step 1: Online declaration: The application dossier must be registered and completed online on the Online Management System for Science, Technology and Innovation Tasks (STM System) of the Foundation at: https://stm.mst.gov.vn/.
Step 2: Submission of the official application dossier: After completing the online declaration, the lead organization shall select one of the following two methods:
Method 1 (Submit a digitally signed application – encouraged): Use the digital signature of the lead organization to directly sign the Application and Task Explanation on the STM System (the digital signature of the task leader is not mandatory).
Method 2 (Submit a paper dossier): Submit the paper dossier directly or via public postal service at: National Foundation for Science and Technology Development – One-Stop Service Division, Ministry of Science and Technology, No. 113 Tran Duy Hung Street, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi City. The envelope must clearly state: Application dossier for funding of Vietnam–Belarus cooperation tasks in 2026.
In case of submission via postal service, the time of submission shall be determined according to the postal stamp at the place of dispatch. The dossier must be sent before the application submission deadline and reach the Foundation within an appropriate period to facilitate the review of its validity in accordance with regulations.
The Foundation encourages applicants to submit applications using digital signatures in accordance with Decision No. 240/QD-TTg dated February 04, 2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Plan for key administrative procedure reforms in 2025.
c) Application submission period
Start of application receipt: From 08:00 on 01/9/2026.
End of application receipt: Before 17:00 on 15/10/2026.
V. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SUPPORT
Support regarding regulations and administrative content: International Cooperation Task Management Division, NAFOSTED Foundation.
Email: dthuong009@mst.gov.vn or nafosted@mst.gov.vn.
Focal point: Specialist Dang Thi Huong.
Technical support for the STM System: Digital Transformation Division, NAFOSTED Foundation.
Email: it.nafosted@mst.gov.vn.
The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development respectfully announces this for relevant organizations and individuals to take note and implement./.