Technology Tasks under the Vietnam–Australia Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiative in 2026
Notice on the Funding Plan for Science and
NOTICE ON THE FUNDING PLAN FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TASKS UNDER THE VIETNAM–AUSTRALIA SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION COOPERATION INITIATIVE IN 2026
Pursuant to the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of Australia signed on 26/6/2013;
Pursuant to the Letter of Intent on cooperation under the Vietnam–Australia Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiative (AVSTICI) between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam (MST) and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources of Australia (DISR) signed on 18/7/2023;
Pursuant to the Cooperation Framework for Selection under the AVSTICI between the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and representatives of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources of Australia signed on 18/5/2026;
Pursuant to Decree No. 265/2025/ND-CP dated 14/10/2025 of the Government guiding the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation on finance and investment in science, technology and innovation; Decree No. 267/2025/ND-CP dated 14/10/2025 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of 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; Circular No. 39/2025/TT-BKHCN dated 30/11/2025 of the Minister of Science and Technology providing for the preparation of estimates, management and use, and final settlement of state budget funding for expenditures for the implementation of science, technology and innovation tasks; Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BKHCN dated 30/11/2025 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 and other current management documents.
The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED Foundation) respectfully announces the Funding Plan for Science and Technology Tasks under the Vietnam–Australia Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiative in 2026 (hereinafter referred to as the Vietnam–Australia AVSTICI Program), specifically as follows:
I. General Information
The funding program is implemented under the Vietnam–Australia Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Initiative (AVSTICI), with the aim of supporting the implementation of science and technology tasks under international cooperation between universities, research institutes and enterprises of Vietnam and Australia in the fields of science, technology and innovation in line with the Vietnam–Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy.
Under the funding program, each country shall manage its respective funding and selection procedures in accordance with its applicable regulations. In Australia, the program is managed by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), with funding from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources of Australia (DISR). In Vietnam, the program is implemented by the NAFOSTED Foundation, representing the Ministry of Science and Technology. Participating organizations and individuals and relevant partners are responsible for complying with the regulations and guidelines of their respective countries.
The funding program aims to promote international cooperation in science and technology, expand the common knowledge base, support the establishment and development of cooperative relationships, strengthen the capacity of participating organizations, and make substantive contributions to realizing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia.
1. Scope and eligible funding recipients:
– Funding fields:
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New and renewable energy technologies;
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Sustainable marine economy;
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Recycling and waste management.
(Task proposals that do not fall within the above 03 fields shall not be considered for funding)
– Task types: Basic Research or Applied Research
(Under this call, the Foundation shall not fund Task Clusters or Task Chains)
– Eligible recipients: agencies, organizations and enterprises 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.
– Task implementation period: 24–36 months
– Number of funded tasks: maximum 10 tasks, of which at least 01 task is expected to be funded in each field
2. Requirements and expected outputs for tasks applying for funding
– The task proposal developed by the Vietnam–Australia research cooperation group must simultaneously satisfy the criteria and requirements prescribed by each side.
– Vietnamese side: The proposed task must satisfy the requirements prescribed by the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation and relevant documents, specifically as follows:
a. Conditions for organizations and enterprises applying for funding consideration
(1) Having legal status, capacity and experience, and functions, duties or fields of operation relevant to the research field of the task
(2) An organization shall not be considered for ordering or funding to implement a science, technology and innovation task or science and technology task when it falls into any of the following cases:
– At the time of submitting the application dossier, the organization has not submitted a dossier requesting final evaluation or acceptance evaluation for a science, technology and innovation task or a science and technology task using state budget funds for which such organization is the lead organization, as prescribed by law;
– By the deadline for submission of the application dossier, the organization has not fully refunded the recoverable funding according to the decision/notification document of the competent authority;
– Within 01 year from the date of the decision of the competent authority to suspend the implementation of a science, technology and innovation task or science and technology task due to a violation of law until the deadline for submission of the application dossier;
– The organization is currently suspended from operation, subject to an administrative penalty for an administrative violation in the field of science, technology and innovation and the period during which it is considered not to have been administratively sanctioned has not expired; or is currently subject to disciplinary action or prosecution.
(3) An organization proposing a science, technology and innovation task to be approved under the lump-sum funding method based on final outputs must have led at least 03 state-budget-funded tasks under a national science, technology and innovation program or a national science and technology program that were completed within the most recent 05 years and achieved the set results and objectives or were evaluated as satisfactory or higher.
b. For Basic Research tasks:
(1) Having objectives and feasibility in terms of content, implementation methods, implementation plan, expected results, funding and implementation period.
(2) Being consistent with the contents of the funding or ordering plan notice for science, technology and innovation tasks issued by the competent authority.
(3) Having novelty and creativity, the ability to generate new scientific knowledge, contributing to enhancing national science and technology capacity; applying advanced research methods; having results published in domestic and international publications.
(4) Being consistent with the State's international cooperation orientations.
(5) Ensuring the lawful rights and interests of participating parties, maintaining national security, protecting intellectual property rights, and maintaining confidentiality of science, technology and innovation information.
(6) Having a written cooperation commitment from the foreign partner, specifying the field of cooperation, cooperation contents, responsibilities for coordination in implementation, co-funding or support of necessary resources.
(7) Having resource contributions from the foreign partner, including finance, human resources, facilities or other resources.
(8) Bringing practical benefits, addressing science, technology and innovation issues of both parties, contributing to enhancing the science, technology and innovation capacity of Vietnam or the partner, particularly in receiving, mastering and developing new technologies and core technologies, and training and developing high-quality human resources.
(9) Having a plan for handling intellectual property rights (if there are intellectual property objects), with clear benefit sharing, consistent with Vietnamese law and international practices.
(10) Being feasible in terms of organization and implementation, including the capacity of the lead organization, task leader, facilities, implementation plan, coordination plan with the foreign partner and implementation schedule.
(11) Having at least 02 participating members who hold doctoral degrees and have published articles in reputable international journals within the most recent 05 years, relevant to the research field of the proposed task.
(12) The task results include at least 02 articles published in reputable international journals or Vietnamese scientific journals in cases where the task belongs to a specialized field as assessed and proposed by the funding and ordering review council.
c. For Applied Research tasks:
(1) Having objectives and feasibility in terms of content, implementation methods, implementation plan, expected results, funding and implementation period.
(2) Being consistent with the contents of the funding or ordering plan notice for science, technology and innovation tasks issued by the competent authority.
(3) Having novelty, creativity and scientific significance; having the potential to apply research results to create solutions serving production and business needs and policymaking, with practical significance and impacts on socio-economic development; ensuring national defense and security.
(4) Being consistent with the State's international cooperation orientations.
(5) Ensuring the lawful rights and interests of participating parties, maintaining national security, protecting intellectual property rights, and maintaining confidentiality of science, technology and innovation information.
(6) Having a written cooperation commitment from the foreign partner, specifying the field of cooperation, cooperation contents, responsibilities for coordination in implementation, co-funding or support of necessary resources.
(7) Having resource contributions from the foreign partner, including finance, human resources, facilities or other resources.
(8) Bringing practical benefits, addressing science, technology and innovation issues of both parties, contributing to enhancing the science, technology and innovation capacity of Vietnam or the partner, particularly in receiving, mastering and developing new technologies and core technologies, and training and developing high-quality human resources.
(9) Having a plan for handling intellectual property rights (if there are intellectual property objects), with clear benefit sharing, consistent with Vietnamese law and international practices.
(10) Being feasible in terms of organization and implementation, including the capacity of the lead organization, task leader, facilities, implementation plan, coordination plan with the foreign partner and implementation schedule.
(11) Meeting 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 content of 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.
(12) The task results are applied in practice or published in reputable international journals or registered for protection of industrial property rights/plant varieties with an application successfully filed with the Intellectual Property Office or for which a protection title has been granted.
II. Application Dossier and Application Submission Methods
– Australian side: Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the regulations and through the Good Grants online portal (https://science.grantplatform.com/) of DISR. The Australian-side notice and guidelines are available at the following link:
– Vietnamese side: regulations on the application dossier and specific application submission methods are as follows:
1. Application dossier for task implementation:
The application dossier for funding consideration shall comply with Article 7 of Circular No. 44/2025/TT-BKHCN dated 30/11/2025.
2. Application submission methods
Step 1. The application dossier must be completed online on the STM Online Management System for Science, Technology and Innovation Tasks at: https://stm.mst.gov.vn. Detailed instructions for application submission shall be carried out according to the instructions on the STM System.
Step 2. After completing the application dossier on the STM System, select one of the following two submission methods:
(a) Submit a digitally signed application dossier on the STM System
(The Foundation encourages applicants to submit applications using digital signatures in accordance with the direction under Decision No. 240/QD-TTg dated 04/02/2025 of the Prime Minister promulgating the Plan for key administrative procedure reforms in 2025)
Documents required to be digitally signed include:
– Application;
– Task Explanation.
The above documents must be certified by the organization registering to lead the task. A digital signature of the task leader is not required.
(b) Submit a paper application dossier at the Ministry of Science and Technology:
– Address: 1st Floor, Building of the Authority for Innovation, No. 113 Tran Duy Hung Street, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi City.
– The paper application dossier must contain all signatures of authorized persons and seals in accordance with regulations (if any).
– The envelope must clearly state: Vietnam–Australia Dossier in 2026 and Funding registration field
(In case of submission by post, the dossier must bear a postal stamp showing dispatch before the application submission deadline and must be delivered to the Foundation within a period ensuring the validity review of the dossier within 10 days from the application submission deadline.)
III. Expected Implementation Plan
– Application submission deadline: Before 21:00 on 20/7/2026 Vietnam time (24:00 on 20/7/2026 Australia time – AEST).
– Announcement of selection results: Before 15/9/2026.
IV. Funding Support for Task Implementation for the Vietnamese Side
– The cost estimate shall be prepared in accordance with Circular No. 39/2025/TT-BKHCN dated 30/11/2025 of the Minister of Science and Technology providing for the preparation of estimates, management and use, and final settlement of state budget funding for expenditures for the implementation of science, technology and innovation tasks.
– Maximum state budget funding support for the Vietnamese side:
| Task type | Maximum state budget funding support |
|---|---|
| Basic Research | VND 2,400 million |
(The state budget shall ensure the entire funding for the expenditures prescribed in Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree No. 265/2025/ND-CP for the implementation of Basic Research tasks)
| Applied Research | VND 8,000 million |
|---|
(The state budget shall ensure funding of up to 80% of the total estimated cost of implementing Applied Research tasks for the expenditures prescribed in Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree No. 265/2025/ND-CP for the implementation of Applied Research tasks)
Detailed contact information:
– Administrative support: International Cooperation Task Management Division, NAFOSTED Foundation at email: thuyha@mst.gov.vn (cc: international.nafosted.113@gmail.com); or Specialist Nguyen Thi Thuy Ha: 0902 118 137 (please call during office hours).
– Technical and application submission system support: Digital Transformation Division, NAFOSTED Foundation at email: it.nafosted@mst.gov.vn
Respectfully announced./.