Article 1.- To approve the mater plan for development of the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technologies till the year 2010 with the following principal contents:

I. THE MATER PLAN�S OBJECTIVES:

1. To consolidate and develop the Center in order to make a marked progress in terms of the scale and quality of scientific research and technology transfer activities; to research the suitability and application of a number of new technologies, so as to turn out products of high quality and particular importance to the economy, in practical service of the task of socio-economic development in the national industrialization and modernization period; to display its position as a leading national center for sciences and technologies and reach the regional countries� level in a number of key scientific and technological domains.

2. To step by step build up the material and technical bases and personnel, and build a number of specialized institutes and national laboratories up to the regional countries� standards; to build strong scientific-technological collectives with international prestige and full capability to solve important scientific-technological issues and develop human resources and talents for the country; to take part in the activities of developing high-tech parks in Hanoi capital, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities.

II. THE CENTER�S DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION TILL THE YEAR 2010:

1. To undertake basic research along the set orientation, and the research into the application and development of high technologies in the following 8 fields:

- Information technology,

- Biological technology,

- Materials science,

- Study of the sea, islands and sea projects,

- Ecology and environment,

- Biological resources and natural compounds,

- Electronic techniques, scientific equipment and automation,

- Natural calamity forecast, prevention, combat and reduction.

2. To coordinate with the ministries, branches and localities in applying the scientific-technological achievements to production and daily life, solving a number of important issues arising in the programs for national socio-economic development, security and defense.

3. To step up the post-graduate training in natural sciences and high technologies. To take part in the human resources development in universities and colleges. To closely coordinate with universities in conducting basic research in fields of mathematics, theoretical physics and other natural sciences.

4. To supply scientific-technological personnel and retrain scientific personnel to meet the center�s tasks.

5. To consolidate and develop rationally the center�s scientific-technological organizations to meet the national scientific-technological development requirements.

6. To step by step complete the renovation, construction and efficient use of working facilities, laboratories, technological experiment areas, systems of posts, stations, camps, sample museums, tools, equipment and machinery in service of the center�s scientific-technological research activities.

III. LOCATIONS FOR EXECUTION OF THE MASTER PLAN:

1. The center�s scientific research and technological development establishments shall be located in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Nha Trang and Da Lat.

2. The networks of posts, stations and camps.(for geo-physics, geo-dynamics, geography, biology, ecology, oceanography, tropicalization experiment...) shall be located in various localities.

IV. THE TASKS OF THE FIRST STAGE (TILL THE YEAR 2005):

1. Scientific and technological research and development:

a) Regarding natural sciences:

To research a number of theoretical matters in the spear-head scientific fields, undertake the orientated and selective application of modern scientific achievements in order to create foundations for technological renovation, rational use of natural resources and environmental protection. To focus on mathematics, information technology, systematic sciences and cybernetics; solid-state physics, optics, quantum electronics, nuclear physics; project structure mechanics, new materials mechanics, dynamics, hydro-aerodynamic systems; organic chemistry, assimilation and catalysis, analytical chemistry; genetic technology, cytological technology, molecular biology; geological structure and geo-dynamic characteristics of Vietnam, geophysics, geographical studies, climate changes, forecast of natural catastrophes in Vietnam, studies of the sea and continental shelf.

b) Regarding technologies:

The technological application and transfer constitute its central important tasks which help create the capability to opt for, adapt to and control imported modern technologies, thus contributing to developing a clean and sustainable agriculture (selection of high-yield and high-quality plant and animal strains, application of bio-technology and advanced biological measures to produce clean agricultural products); to build the model of ecological villages, with adequate clean water supply and environmental hygiene in rural areas; to apply computer technology to industrial development; to efficiently apply such spear-head technologies as information technology, biological technology, new-materials technology and automation technology to production and daily life.

c) Regarding natural resources, environment and natural calamity prevention and combat:

To research, apply and transfer scientific-technological solutions in order to efficiently exploit natural resources, to protect the environment, to prevent, combat and reduce damage caused by natural calamities; to apply new technologies to natural resources surveys, environmental pollution control and treatment and biodiversity protection.

d) Regarding national security and defense:

To apply advanced technologies to the protection and restoration of optical military equipment and the maintenance of weapons; to apply network technology in service of security activities.

2. Technical infrastructure construction:

a) Renovation and upgrading:

- The Institute of Mathematics, administrative quarters and old buildings (in Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi),

- The establishment at 1 Mac Dinh Chi street (Ho Chi Minh City),

- The Institute of Oceanography (Nha Trang city),

- The Institute of Applied Mechanics (Ho Chi Minh City),

- The biological experiment establishments in Co Nhue and Cau Giay (Hanoi) and Thanh Loc (Ho Chi Minh City),

- The Hai Phong Sub-Institute of Oceanography in Hai Phong city.

b) From now till the year 2005: To build solid multi-storey buildings in compatibility with the city�s planning and urban architecture. To renovate and upgrade the previously built houses for rational and efficient use.

The construction must be associated with the planning for arrangement and location of quarters according to their respective functions: research quarters, technological experiment quarters, administrative and management quarters, technical service quarters.... To expand the Center�s Nghia Do Research Quarter (Cau Giay district - Hanoi). To expand the Thu Duc Research and Experiment Quarter, on the basis of close combination between research and training, as well as between the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technologies and the Ho Chi Minh City National University. To build a number of national high-tech laboratories at various research institutes and technological experiment quarters of the Center in Hanoi capital and Ho Chi Minh City.

c) New construction:

- The Institute of Geology (Lang Thuong, Dong Da , Hanoi),

- The Electronic and Quantum Laboratory (Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi),

- The Microbiological Technology Laboratory (Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi),

- The Technological Experiment Quarter in Hanoi city (expansion of the research quarter in Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi),

- The Technological Experiment Quarter in Ho Chi Minh City (expansion of the Thu Duc Research and Experiment Quarter, Ho Chi Minh City).

d) Upgrading and modernization of the obser-vation equipment and technology at 42 existing posts and stations to the regional level for the purpose of gathering synchronous data. To additionally set up the following observation stations:

- General Geography and Ecology in Ba Vi (Ha Tay province),

- General Geography in Con Vanh, Tien Hai (Thai Binh province),

- Tropical Sample Exposure in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Ba Ria - Vung Tau,

- Oceanography in Quang Ninh, Quang Binh and Thailand Gulf,

- Geo-dynamics in Hoa Binh.

e) To create the computerized basic survey databases. To additionally supply equipment and machinery for important laboratories to upgrade them up to the regional level and for access thereto under the "open" mechanism. To promote the intensive investment in technological experiment projects in order to speedily turn the research results into products and goods, and complete technologies for transfer.

3. Capital sources:

- The State budget capital;

- Capital mobilized from other sources at home and abroad.

Article 2.- Basing itself on the objectives, tasks and development orientation stated in the approved master plan and the capital mobilization capability, the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technologies shall assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the concerned ministries, branches and localities in drawing up specific projects for the execution of the master plan till the year 2005 and 2010 in strict accordance with the State�s current regulations.

Also basing itself on the results of investment preparation for each project, the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technologies shall elaborate the annual, five-year and long-term investment plans, then send them to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance for their inclusion into the State plan and budget and submission to the Prime Minister for decision.

Article 3.- This Decision takes effect after its signing.

Article 4.- The Director of the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technologies, the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government and the presidents of the People�s Committees of the concerned provinces and centrally-run cities shall have to implement this Decision.

For the Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister