Scientific research and technological development: Positively contributing to socio-economic development

Science and Technology (S&T) play a crucial role in increasing labor productivity, restructuring the economy and positively contributing to overall socio-economic development. Recently, Lang Son province has carried out various scientific research and technological development activities, applied scientific achievements to daily life, which positively contributes to the province’s socio-economic development.

Farmers in Mau Son commune, Loc Binh district, apply techniques in caring for wild lime trees

Ms. Be Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said: “Considering science and technology as the key to success, the Department of Science and Technology has implemented scientific research projects and tasks in various areas of social life. They closely follow the overall socio-economic development goals of the province. We regularly pay attention to supervising the implementation of scientific research projects and tasks to ensure progress and content. Upon completion, the outcomes of these projects are applied to practical work, daily life, production and demonstrate positive results.

Starting from 2021, annually, the Department of Science and Technology has managed 40 to 60 provincial and national-level scientific research projects. For instance, in 2023, the department carried out four national-level S&T projects, including three projects under the Program supporting the application and transfer of advanced S&T to serve the rural and mountainous socio-economic development, and one locally essential S&T project. The department managed and monitored a total of 66 provincial-level scientific research projects, including 4 projects under the Program supporting the application and transfer of advanced S&T to serve the rural and mountainous socio-economic development, one under Local essential program, 17 projects  in the fields of agriculture, rural development, 20 of social science – humanity, 7 of medicine, 4 of technique – engineering, 7 of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, 6 of gene preservation and 1 of intellectual property. These projects focus on researching, applying, and transferring advanced S&T to various aspects of social life. Specifically, the agricultural and rural sector focuses on seed research and technical process in order to improve the productivity and quality of key crops such as black canarium, jackfruit, pineapple, Bat Do bamboo shoot, yellow camellia tea, Mau Son peach, chicken and fish. Technological sector pays attention to research and innovation technology. The healthcare sector researches and applies technology to enhance the quality of diagnosis, treatment and the use of biological technology in the production and processing of medicinal plants and products. Social science and humanity focus on improving teaching capacity, intangible cultural heritage preservation and promotion, mass mobilization.

To make scientific research topics closer to reality, suitable to conditions, and meet the needs of labor and production in the province, from the beginning of the year, the Department of Science and Technology sent a notice to select scientific research topics to all agencies and units in the province. From practice, agencies and units will propose scientific research topics. After gathering proposals from units, the Department of Science and Technology established Science and Technology Councils to evaluate the urgency, economic and social effectiveness of the topics. On that basis, the Provincial Science and Technology Council advises the Provincial People’s Committee to approve the list of topics and projects, to select and assign agencies and units to implement. Thanks to that, each year, there are dozens of scientific topics, projects and tasks in all fields such as Biotechnology, pharmacy, agriculture and rural development… are implemented. In order for scientific topics and tasks to be implemented on schedule and to meet the requirements, the Department of Science and Technology regularly inspects each topic from 1 to 4 or 5 times, depending on specific areas. After having the research results, the project implementation groups organized technical training and guidance sessions for relevant subjects to soon implement research achievements into practice.

The province’s achievements in science and technology are affirmed through the increasing number of results of topics, projects and tasks being applied in practice. Typical examples are provincial scientific research project “Research on preservation technology and consumption link of Lang Son roasted duck” by Thien Phu Construction and Trading Company Limited in Hoang Dong commune, Lang Son city from 2021 to 2022. Through research and application of biotechnology in the processing, the duck after being roasted is packaged and vacuum-sealed and can be preserved for 15 days. The result of this research is currently being applied in practice by many roasted duck processing facilities. Mr. Vu Giang Cuong, owner of Nguyen Sinh roasted duck facility in Cao Loc town, Cao Loc district, said: “Previously, roasted duck can only be used within one day, its original delicious flavor will be lost overnight. Thanks to the application of biotechnology from the project “Research on preservation technology and consumption link of Lang Son roasted duck”, its preservation time increases up to 2 weeks. Customers just need to put it in the microwave to heat it up and they will have delicious roasted duck, hot as if it had just come out of the oven. Thanks to that, I now sell more than 200 roasted ducks every day, 70% of them are sent to the markets of Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City.”

Previously, the key products and specialties in the province were mainly under preliminary process. Thanks to the application of scientific and technological achievements, their value is increasingly raised. Typical examples include Bat Do bamboo shoots with processed bamboo shoots and sour bamboo shoots; in addition to fresh jackfruit in Huu Lung, there is also dried jackfruit; black canarium  under technology application is processed into canarium soaked in  fish sauce, instant dried black soaked…; Many specialty and key products of the province are also developed with collective brand, certification and geographical indication such as collective brand of Van Quan caged fish, developing Bao Lam seedless persimmon with geographical indication…

From 2021 up to now, each year, there have been from 10 to 20 topics and projects accepted, of which, 100% of them are applied to real life and production. Through participating in scientific topics, projects and tasks, farmers, officials, civil servants, and workers in the province have gained new knowledge about science and technology, actively applied it into life, production, improving productivity and product quality, actively contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the province.