A worker takes care of flowers at an orchid garden at an agricultural hi-tech park in HCM City. A project, managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, has offered grants for research projects on high technology, including biotechnology. — Photo hcmbiotech.com.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Science and Technology has offered grants for research projects of public and private enterprises, research institutions, universities and individuals in cooperation with foreign researchers and Vietnamese overseas.

This is an activity of a project named Fostering innovation through Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) worth US$110 million, including a preferential loan of $100 million from the International Development Association of the World Bank and $10 million from the Vietnamese Government.

In the first round, from July 15 to December 31, 2014, participants are encouraged to submit projects on fields in science and technology such as information technology and communication, biotechnology and agriculture, and mechanics and automation.

After a competitive process, the FIRST project will finance the entire cost of each proposed project with a maximum amount of $200,000. Its implementation period will not exceed 24 months from the date of signing of the grant agreement and its final date will not exceed the FIRST project's closing date of June 30, 2019.

Detailed information can be found at www.first-most.vn. — VNS