VinFuture Prize, an international award founded in Vietnam to honour scientific achievements, gave out 4.5 million USD worth of prizes to several global scientists on January 20.
Hanoi (VNA) – VinFuture Prize, an internationalaward founded in Vietnam to honour scientific achievements, gave out 4.5 millionUSD worth of prizes to several global scientists on January 20.
Managed by the VinFuture Foundation, which was set upby Vingroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife Pham Thu Huong, the annualVinFuture Prize is a global science and technology award to recognisegroundbreaking scientific and technological discoveries.
It comprised a VinFuture Grand Prize valued at 3million USD and three special prizes, each worth 500,000 USD, for femaleinnovators, innovators from developing countries, and those withoutstanding achievements in emerging fields.
Three scientists, namely Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissmanfrom the US and Pieter Rutter Cullis from Canada, were awarded with theVinFuture Grand Prize for their contributions to the development of the mRNAvaccine technology.
Chinese-American scientist Zhenan Bao was awarded with a VinFuturePrize dedicated to female innovators for her research on "electronicskins" capable of stretching, healing like normal skins and arebiodegradable.
South African scientists Salim Abdool Karim and QuarraishaAbdool Karim were awarded a VinFuture Prize dedicated to developing countryinnovators for the invention of a gel with tenofovir, a product for women toprevent HIV infection.
US scientist Omar Yaghi was awarded a VinFuture Prizefor outstanding achievements in emerging fields for his research into water andmaterial science.
Present at the award ceremony, Prime Minister PhamMinh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam prioritises the development of science andtechnology, considering it a strategic breakthrough for socio-economicdevelopment.
The Vietnamese State is stepping up the building ofmechanisms and policies to materialise the Party’s guidelines and promote themobilisation of resources for innovations.
He lauded efforts by the VinFuture Foundation in buildingand developing VinFuture Prize and expressed his hope for new steps inscientific application in Vietnam.
In the first season, the organising board receivedover 1,200 entries from 654 leading universities, 51 well-known researchinstitutes and 42 national science academies globally. Among the 599innovations in the competition, about 100 are made by top 2 percent of themost-cited scientists in the world. Female scientists in the event accountedfor 34.3 percent of the total, many of them winners of Nobel, Breakthrough,Tang and Japan prizes.
The competition drew participants of 60 countriesglobally, 52.6 percent of their projects are from North America and theEuropean Union. Vietnam also joined in with 17 projects./.
The VinFuture Foundation announced that over 500 prominent scientists, universities, and recognized organizations from 36 countries representing six continents have registered to become the Official Nominators for the VinFuture Prize over one month after the foundation launched its call for nominations.
An exchange with international scientists, who are members of the VinFuture Prize Council and Pre-Screening Committee, was held in Hanoi on January 18, as part of the VinFuture Award Week.
Leading scientists of the world and Vietnam looked into the future of energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and global health at a seminar held in Hanoi on January 19 as part of the VinFuture Sci-Tech Week.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
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.
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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.
At the award ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
