Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Innovation Fund
- Enterprise registered in Vietnam (local or FDI)
- R&D department or dedicated technical team
- Ability to co-fund 30-70% of project costs
- IP ownership committed to Vietnam entity
- No history of grant non-compliance
Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Innovation Fund
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) administers Vietnam's primary innovation funding programmes, supporting R&D, technology commercialization, and innovation capacity building. For AI companies and researchers, MOST provides both direct grants and enabling mechanisms including the National Technology Innovation Fund (NATIF) and targeted research programmes.
MOST Funding Programmes
National Science and Technology Programme on AI
Vietnam's flagship AI research funding programme, established under Decision 127/QD-TTg (National AI Strategy):
- Budget: VND 500 billion allocated for 2021-2030
- Focus areas: NLP for Vietnamese language, computer vision, autonomous systems, AI in healthcare and agriculture
- Eligible applicants: Vietnamese research institutions, universities, and companies
- Grant size: VND 500 million to VND 10 billion per project
NATIF (National Technology Innovation Fund)
NATIF provides concessional financing for technology innovation:
- Interest-free loans: For qualifying technology investment projects
- Grants: Covering up to 30% of innovation project costs
- Credit guarantees: For technology companies seeking commercial financing
- Technical assistance: Expert evaluation and advisory services for technology projects
NAFOSTED (National Foundation for Science and Technology Development)
NAFOSTED funds fundamental and applied research:
- Basic research grants: For AI algorithm development and theoretical research
- Applied research grants: For translating AI research into practical applications
- International collaboration: Co-funding for joint research with international partners
Priority AI Research Areas
MOST prioritizes funding for AI projects addressing:
Vietnamese Language AI
- Vietnamese NLP models (tokenization, parsing, named entity recognition)
- Vietnamese speech recognition and synthesis
- Machine translation between Vietnamese and other languages
- Vietnamese text classification and sentiment analysis
Healthcare AI
- Medical imaging analysis for common diseases in Vietnam
- Epidemic prediction and public health surveillance
- Traditional medicine knowledge digitization using AI
- Telemedicine support for rural and remote areas
Agriculture AI
- Crop disease detection and treatment recommendations
- Precision agriculture for rice, coffee, and aquaculture
- Supply chain optimization for agricultural exports
- Climate adaptation planning using AI models
Smart Manufacturing
- Quality control automation for Vietnamese factories
- Predictive maintenance for manufacturing equipment
- Production scheduling optimization
- Supply chain visibility and tracking
Application Process
For Research Grants
- Call for proposals: MOST issues annual calls for proposals in priority areas (typically Q1)
- Proposal submission: Submit research proposal through MOST's online portal with methodology, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes
- Expert review: MOST's review panel evaluates proposals on scientific merit, feasibility, and national impact
- Approval and contracting: Successful applicants receive approval and sign funding agreements
- Implementation: Execute research with semi-annual progress reports
- Final evaluation: MOST conducts final review of research outputs and impact
For NATIF Loans and Grants
- Eligibility check: Verify that your technology project meets NATIF criteria
- Business plan: Prepare a comprehensive technology investment plan with financial projections
- Application submission: Submit to NATIF with supporting documentation
- Due diligence: NATIF conducts technical and financial assessment
- Approval and disbursement: Funds released according to project milestones
Tips for Successful Applications
- Align proposals with Vietnam's National AI Strategy priorities (Decision 127/QD-TTg)
- Include Vietnamese institution partnerships (universities, VAST, VKIST)
- Demonstrate practical application to Vietnamese economic or social challenges
- Budget for technology transfer and local capacity building
- Include plans for open-source contribution or public dataset creation (MOST values knowledge sharing)
Combining MOST Funding with Other Incentives
MOST grants can be combined with:
- CIT exemptions: For companies operating in high-tech zones
- 150% training deduction: For workforce development alongside R&D
- FDI incentives: MOST support strengthens applications for enhanced FDI incentive packages
- International development funding: World Bank, ADB, and JICA co-fund AI research in Vietnam
Common Questions
The MOST National Innovation Fund supports technology development and innovation projects including new product development, process innovation, technology transfer and adaptation, and commercialization of research results. Priority areas include information technology, biotechnology, new materials, automation, and environmental technology. The fund provides both grants and concessional loans depending on the project stage and type, with a focus on projects that strengthen Vietnam's technological capabilities.
Companies apply for MOST funding by submitting proposals during open calls published by the Ministry of Science and Technology. Applications require detailed project descriptions, technical feasibility assessments, budget justifications, and information about the applicant's research capabilities. Proposals are evaluated by expert review panels based on innovation level, technical feasibility, commercial potential, and alignment with national science and technology priorities. The review process typically takes several months.
References
- National Technology Innovation Foundation (NATIF). FundIt (2025). View source
- Vietnam Launches New FDI Investment Support Fund. Hickey & Associates (2025). View source
- Vietnam's New Incentives for Science and Technology Firms. Vietnam Briefing (Dezan Shira & Associates) (2025). View source
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