General introduction

The Institute for Veterinary Research and Development of Central Vietnam (IVRD), under the National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR), was established in 1977 followed the Decision No. 213 – NN/TC-QD dated July 23, 1977 of the Ministry of Agriculture (now call the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). Over the past 45 years of development, the IVRD has asserted its important positions in the growth of livestock industry and contributed to the progress of agricultural sector of Vietnam.

The period from 1977 to 1987

After the liberation of South Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued Decision No. 213-NN/TC-QD dated 23 July 1977 to establish the Institute for Veterinary Rearch and Development of Central Vietnam (the Institute), under the National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR). The Institute initially focused on conducting research, production of animal medicine and training of local veterinarian officers. Structurally it was organized with two research divisions, three technical divisions, two production facilities to produce animal vaccines and medicines, and an experimental animal farm in the Suoi Dau commune, Dien Khanh district.

On 26th June 1979, Vietnam’s Prime Minister issued Decision No. 222/TTg approving “A plan for the design and construction of the Institute for Veterinary Rearch and Development of Central Vietnam”. Subsequently, in December 1979, the Chairman of Phu Khanh Provincial People’s Committee granted the Institute an area of 4 ha located at Duong De hamlet, Vinh Hai ward, Nha Trang. In June 1987, the 1.2 ha located at km4, road 2/3, Vinh Hai commune, Nha Trang city was granted to the Institute by the Phu Khanh Provincial  People’s Committee. At this time, the Institute was focused on developing its internal organization, expanding its research divisions, increasing the number of specialized technical divisions with their sub-units, and equipping its production facilities with vaccine lyophilization machines and automatic fermentation tanks.

The period from 1988 to 2003

In November 1993, the Institute officially relocated to Km4, 2/4 Street, Vinh Hai ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province and began to develop its facilities for vaccine production and experimental animal area.  At this time, the equipment and facilities for research and production were also upgraded to improve the quality and quantity of the Institute’s products. During this period, the Institute was continually conducting new research projects, surveying disease situations in the Central coastal provinces of Vietnam and abolished its subsidization programs in favor of distributing vaccines according to a market mechanism. In 2003, the Institute was honourably awarded with the Labour Medal of the First degree by the Government with many Certificates of merit by MARD and the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee.

The period from 2004 up to now

From 2004 to present, the Institute has continued to expand its research activities, upgrade its research facilities and initiate new research projects in both the domestic and international arenas. In April 2005, MARD added animal disease diagnostics to the Institute’s agenda and approved a 8 million USD project to construct facilities for the Animal disease Diagnostic which officially launched in 2009. In 2007, in line with the renovation and development strategy of the Party and the Government, the Institute shifted its centrally controlled into self-control and self-responsibility, according to Decree 115/2005/NĐ-CP of Government. This shift historically highlighted the full development of the Institute.

Especially, during this period, the Institute received significant support through various projects of MARD, the Department of Animal Health and other organizations such as FAO and UNSDP which provided some ten million VND of modern equipment for diagnostics such as PCR and ELISA.  Furthermore, staffs of the Institute received good chances to get training of basic techniques in Vietnam and abroad. Currently, the Institute comprises of 11 units including 4 specialization divisions, 4 research groups, 1 diagnostic division and 1 establishment for vaccine production with more than 100 qualified staffs in total. Functions and tasks of the Institute have also been broadened including:

+ Conducting research on diseases of domestic animals and aquatic species in the Central and Central Highlands provinces

+Research and application of biotechnology in veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, aquaculture and environmental treatment

+Transfer technical and technological advances, perform veterinary and animal husbandry services, participate in training human resources on veterinary medicine.

+ Diagnosis of animal diseases in the Central region and Central Highlands. Implement the prevention and control of animal diseases in the region.

+ Producing vaccines, biological products and veterinary drugs for disease prevention and control for domestic animals and aquatic species.

+Trading, importing and exporting raw materials, chemicals, supplies, biological products and veterinary drugs.

Up to now, numerous research outcomes of the Institute have been presented at national scientific workshops and published in national and international journals. There have been 12 vaccine products for which the Institute has been awarded with Golden Cups of the Vietnam Agriculture at the International Agricultural Fairs in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh city.  Institute products have been distributed to most of the provinces and major cities in Vietnam. All of these achievements have led an increase of 15% in revenue on average every year.

With great achievements and contributions of the Institute over the past 40 years, the Institute was been honored by the Communalism Party, Government, all levels and sectors, and awarded many noble awards including:

– Third-class Independence Medal (2010)

– Labor Medal, first class (in 2003), second class (1987), third class (1983).

– Emulation Flag of the Government (2016), Emulation Flag of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee (2005, 2012, 2013), Emulation Flag of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (in 2008).

– Certificates of merit from the Prime Minister (years 1980, 2006, 2014); many times received certificates of merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee…

At the beginning of 2017, the Central Institute of Veterinary Medicine was honored to be one of 15 enterprises in the country awarded the National Quality Gold Award by the Prime Minister. The award is evaluated on 7 criteria of Malcolm Baldrige (MBA) – USA including: Leadership, strategic planning, customer, and market orientation; measure, analyze and manage knowledge; human resource development management; manage operations and results. Winning the National Quality Gold Award helps the Institute to learn, evaluate and improve comprehensively management activities, product quality, etc., contributing to improving competitiveness during the conference period international economic entry.