Procedures for Issuing Provincial-Level High-Tech Enterprise Certificates

Procedures for Issuing Provincial-Level High-Tech Enterprise Certificates brings numerous development opportunities for businesses operating in the innovation sector. Upon recognition, enterprises can enhance brand reputation, create competitive advantages, and expand cooperation with domestic and foreign partners. Furthermore, completing this procedure helps businesses access appropriate support policies, promoting long-term research, technological application, and sustainable development.

What is a high-tech company?

Based on Article 3 of the 2008 Law on High Technologies, a high-tech enterprise is defined as an enterprise that manufactures high-tech products, provides high-tech services, and engages in high-tech research and development. Specifically:

• High technology: Technology with a high content of scientific research and technological development; integrated from modern scientific and technological achievements; creating products with superior quality, outstanding features, high added value, and environmental friendliness; and playing a crucial role in forming new manufacturing and service industries or modernizing existing ones.
• High-tech activities: Activities encompassing research, development, search, transfer, and application of high technology; training high-tech human resources; incubating high technology and high-tech enterprises; manufacturing high-tech products and providing high-tech services; and developing high-tech industries.
• High-tech products: Products created by high technology, featuring superior quality, outstanding capabilities, high added value, and environmental friendliness.

A high-tech enterprise must be granted a high-tech enterprise certificate by a competent authority to operate legally.

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The competent authority for issuing certificates to high-tech enterprises at the provincial level

According to Subsection 3, Section B, Part II of Decision 675/QD-BKHCN announcing amended and supplemented administrative procedures within the management scope of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the jurisdiction for issuing provincial-level certificates is regulated as follows:

• Provincial/Municipal People’s Committees: The jurisdiction where the enterprise’s head office is located holds the authority to decide and issue the Certificate.
• Department of Science and Technology: Acts as the specialized agency responsible for presiding over, receiving dossiers, organizing appraisals, and submitting them to the Provincial People’s Committee.

Procedures for issuing provincial-level high-tech enterprise certificates

Complying with the registration process correctly and completely not only helps businesses gain recognition for their technological capabilities but also facilitates expansion, enhances reputation, and enables access to appropriate support policies during their development.

Specifically, as follows:

Documents to prepare

Under Decision 675/QD-BKHCN, enterprises must prepare 02 dossier sets (01 original and 01 copy), including:

1. Application for high-tech enterprise recognition (Form B1-DNCNC in Appendix VI of Decree 133/2025/ND-CP).
2. Notarized copy of the Enterprise Registration Certificate, Investment Certificate, or Science and Technology Enterprise Certificate.
3. Explanatory report demonstrating the enterprise meets the criteria for high-tech enterprise identification (Form B2 TMDNCNC in Appendix VI of Decree 133/2025/ND-CP). 

(Note: State agencies will prioritize utilizing existing data from official databases. If the information cannot be extracted or is incomplete, the competent authority will request paper supplements).

Execution sequence

Based on sub-section 3, Section B, Part II of Decision 675/QD-BKHCN on the announcement of amended and supplemented administrative procedures in the field under the management scope of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the procedure for granting certificates to high-tech enterprises is carried out in the following steps:

Step 1: Businesses submit applications for recognition as high-tech enterprises to the specialized agency on science and technology under the Provincial People’s Committee.

Step 2: The Provincial People’s Committee organizes the receipt and evaluation of the application dossier:

• Within 03 working days from the date of receiving a valid application, the Provincial People’s Committee shall organize a consultation with relevant departments and agencies.
• If the application is incomplete, the Provincial People’s Committee must send a written request for supplementary information or corrections to the application, either directly or by mail, to the enterprise applying for recognition as a high-tech enterprise. Within 10 working days from the date of receiving the request from the Provincial People’s Committee, the enterprise applying for the High-Tech Enterprise Certificate is responsible for supplementing, correcting, and resubmitting the application to the Provincial People’s Committee.
• If necessary, the Provincial People’s Committee shall organize a meeting with relevant Ministries, sectors, and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to clarify the issues raised in the application for recognition as a high-tech enterprise.
• Within 20 working days from the date of receiving a complete application, the Provincial People’s Committee is responsible for appraising and issuing the High-Tech Enterprise Certificate and sending it to the enterprise. In case of refusal to issue the High-Tech Enterprise Certificate, the reasons must be notified in writing to the enterprise applying for recognition as a high-tech enterprise.

Processing time: 20 working days from the date the competent authority receives a complete set of documents.

>>> See more: Can Foreign Investors Invest in High-Tech Zones in Vietnam?

Long Phan Consulting Company provides services for obtaining high-tech enterprise certificates

Preparing the necessary documents and meeting all the criteria for recognition as a high-tech enterprise requires accuracy and expertise. Long Phan Consulting Company services are designed to support businesses in completing the procedures quickly, saving time, and minimizing errors during the registration process.

When using the service, businesses will benefit from:

• Consulting services for assessing the ability to meet the criteria for a high-tech enterprise, procedures for issuing provincial-level high-tech enterprise certificates.
• Instructions on completing application forms and documents according to requirements;
• Assisting in developing a documentation document that meets the accreditation criteria;
• Authorized representatives will work with the agency receiving the application.
• Monitor progress and assist in resolving any issues that may arise.

Frequently Asked Questions about the procedures for issuing provincial-level high-tech enterprise certificates

During the process of researching and implementing the procedures for recognizing high-tech enterprises, many businesses often have questions related to the conditions, timeframes, maintenance obligations, and accompanying incentive policies. Below are some common questions and concise relating to procedures for issuing provincial-level high-tech enterprise certificates, clear answers for businesses to easily follow.

What criteria must a business meet to be recognized as a high-tech enterprise?

According to Clause 1, Article 18 of the 2008 High-Tech Law, high-tech enterprises must meet the following conditions:

• Production of high-tech products included in the List of High-Tech Products is encouraged for development;
• The average total expenditure of a business on research and development activities conducted in Vietnam for three consecutive years must reach at least 1% of its total annual revenue, and from the fourth year onwards, it must exceed 1% of total revenue.
• The average revenue of a business from high-tech products for three consecutive years must reach at least 60% of its total annual revenue, and from the fourth year onwards, it must reach 70% or more;
• The number of employees in the enterprise with professional qualifications from university level or higher who are directly involved in research and development must reach at least 5% of the total workforce;
• Implement environmentally friendly and energy-saving measures in production and manage product quality to meet Vietnamese technical standards and regulations; in cases where Vietnamese technical standards and regulations do not exist, apply the standards of specialized international organizations.

Where are the categories of high-tech products defined?

The list of high-tech products encouraged for development is issued together with Decision 38/2020/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

What are the standards for personnel directly involved in research and development (R&D)?

Businesses must have at least 5% of their total workforce (for businesses with total capital exceeding VND 100 billion and over 200 employees) or 10% (for other cases) of employees with a university degree or higher directly involved in R&D.

Legal basis:Point b, Clause 1, Article 18 of the 2008 High-Tech Law and Clause 2, Article 3 of Decision No. 10/2021/QD-TTg.

What is the mandatory budget for research and development activities?

Total spending on R&D in Vietnam must reach a minimum of 0.5% to 2% of total annual net revenue, depending on the size of the company’s total capital and number of employees.

Legal basis:Point a, Clause 1, Article 18 of the 2008 High-Tech Law and Clause 1, Article 3 of Decision No. 10/2021/QD-TTg.

Are foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) eligible for this certificate?

The policy of recognizing high-tech enterprises applies equally to all economic sectors, regardless of whether they are domestic or foreign-owned.

>>> See more: Sectors Encouraged for Investment in High-Tech Zones

Conclusion

Being recognized as a high-tech enterprise opens opportunities to access numerous preferential policies, affirms technological capability, and creates a sustainable competitive advantage. With deep expertise, Long Phan Consulting Company is committed to accompanying clients throughout the entire process, from evaluating conditions to receiving results please contact us directly via Hotline: 1900636389.