Vietnam offers 100 percent interest rate subsidy for strategic technology firms

The incentive is provided under Government Decree 260/2026/ND-CP, which details and provides measures for implementing a number of articles of the Law on High Technology.

The Decree introduces a range of special incentives relating to finance, taxation, human resource development, intellectual property and research infrastructure for  R&D in strategic technologies.

Under the new regulations, the State will cover up to 100 per cent of expenses for carrying out strategic technology development tasks commissioned by the State or funded by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) or ministerial, sectoral and provincial funds.

Eligible organisations and individuals will also be given priority to participate in regulatory sandboxes for new technologies, products and business models in accordance with the law on science, technology and innovation and other relevant laws. They may also be permitted to use services provided by state-funded research centres, testing facilities and national key laboratories.

Regarding tax incentives, machinery, equipment, spare parts, specialised supplies, scientific documents, books and journals imported for R&D in strategic technologies will be exempt from import duty.

Meanwhile, individuals engaged in R&D in strategic technologies may be exempted from personal income tax on salaries or wages received for performing strategic technology development tasks. The exemption will also apply to royalties earned from the commercialisation of research outcomes.

Regarding human resources and capacity building, the State will cover the full expenses for training and upskilling personnel involved in R&D in strategic technologies. The support will be provided through strategic technology development tasks and capacity-building activities funded by NAFOSTED or ministerial, sectoral and provincial funds.

The State will also fully subsidise expenses for consultancy services for preparing applications for intellectual property protection in Vietnam and abroad.

In addition, each enterprise may receive support once to cover 100 per cent of the expenses for domestic verification, testing, inspection and certification of conformity with standards and technical regulations for strategic technology products. For export-oriented strategic technology products, the support level is  70 per cent of overseas verification and testing expenses. 

The State will also provide comprehensive support to science and technology organisations and enterprises investing in the development of technology infrastructure serving the performance of strategic technology tasks of socio-economic, national defence and security significance.

- (VLLF)