Scientists, businesses sign deals worth $10m at TechDemo event

ĐÀ NẴNG — Twelve technology transfer contracts worth more than US$10 million have been signed among scientific application centres nationwide and foreign partners at the technology demonstration and connection conference (TechDemo) in Đà Nẵng, the Department for Technology and Science Application and Promotion under the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

The conference, which opened in the central city on Thursday, has drawn more than 300 participants from Việt Nam, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, the US, Israel, the Asia Development Bank (ADB), and the Mekong Business Initiative.

Contracts in bio-technology, agriculture, hi-tech farming, waste treatment were also signed by scientific application centres nationwide worth more than VNĐ200 billion ($8.8million).

The Japan Association of Science Research (GBT) also signed an agreement with Việt Nam Fetiliser and Service Company in bio charcoal and wood vinegar production, and waste treatment and plant protection with total value of $1 million.

Also on the occasion, ADB and the department agreed a deal on innovation, technology transfer and promotion of technology in the private sector.

More than 500 technological products and 1,800 sources of technology are being displayed at the city’s Tuyên Sơn Sports Centre from yesterday and until Friday.

Seminars on radioactive technology, science and technological co-operation and investment, renewable energy development, waste treatment and ‘green’ growth are set to be held at the event.

The event links local scientists and foreigners to share experience and update technology in different fields of heath care, industries, agriculture and environment.

The latest report from the department revealed that nearly 4,000 technology transfer contracts had been signed nationwide between 2011-16, while 130 technological agreements worth $30 million were reached during the period.

Việt Nam’s use of radioactive technology created huge growth in agriculture, medicine, oil and gas production and other industries.

According to the ministry of science and technology, the country has earned $3 billion in revenue from rice production using high-growth genetically modified varieties in the Mekong (Cửu Long) Delta River since 1990.

More than 50 genetically modified varieties of rice and plants are grown on 50 per cent of the country’s farm area, 30 per cent of which was exportable rice grown on one million hectares of the Mekong Delta, a source from the ministry said. — LV