Vietnamese-American scientist awarded Wilhelm Exner Medal 2023
Vietnamese-American scientist Nguyen Thuc Quyen has recently been awarded the Wilhelm Exner Medal 2023 for her valuable contributions directly impacting the future economy through the development of organic solar cells.
Prof. Nguyen Thuc Quyen receives the award. (Photo: wilhelmexner.org)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese-American scientist Nguyen Thuc Quyen hasrecently been awarded the Wilhelm Exner Medal 2023 for her valuablecontributions directly impacting the future economy through the development oforganic solar cells.
She isthe first Vietnamese-origin person to be nominated and receive this prestigiousaward from the Austria Trade Associations.
TheWilhelm Exner Award 2023 honours researchers who have directly influencedbusinesses and industries through their scientific achievements andcontributions. The award ceremony took place in the capital city of Vienna,Austria. Over the past more than 100 years, 241 scientists and inventors,including 23 Nobel laureates, have been honoured with this award.
As Director of the Centre for Polymers and Organic Solids (CPOS),Prof. Quyen has been involved in research and teaching at the University of California’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since2004. She conducts research on organic electronic devices suchas optoelectronics, LED lights and field-effect transistor-based biosensor,using optical,electrical, and structural techniques to study the materials and devices inthis field.
Thefocus of her research is on the development of organic solar cells whichdiffer from other types that are made from plastics, semi-transparent, and can be easily produced asthin films using industrial printing methods.
💧 According to the Wilhelm Exner Medal Foundation, solar cells are more eco-friendly, cost-effective, and can be appliedin various cases.
Prof.Quyen is among 1% of material science researchers cited worldwide, asreported by Reuters news agency and Clarivate Analytics. In 2023, she waselected to the National Academy of Engineering in the US.
🌱 Throughouther scientific career, she also received numerous esteemed awards, including the Avenue ofFame for Advanced Materials in 2019, the Royal Society of Chemistry ResearcherAward in 2016, the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award in 2015, and wasincluded in the list of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds in 2015-2019.She has also been a member of the American Association for the Advancement ofScience since 2019./.
Having a work nominated for a Grammy Award, Vietnamese Americanjazz artist Julian-Quan Viet Le has an intense passion for teaching Vietnamese traditional music at his family's music school.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
Prof. Nguyen Thuc Quyen receives the award. (Photo: wilhelmexner.org) 
