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.
Hanoi (VNA) – An exchange with international scientists, whoare members of the VinFuture Prize Council and Pre-Screening Committee, washeld in Hanoi on January🦩 18, as parꦬt of the VinFuture Award Week.
In the first season, the organising board received over 1,200 entriesfrom 654 leading universities, 51 well-known research institutes and 42national science academies globally. Among the 599 innovations in the competition, about100 are made by top 2 percent of the most-cited scientists in the world. Femalescientists in the event accounted for 34.3 percent of the total, many of them winners of Nobel, Breakthrough, Tang and Japan prizes. The competition drew participants of 60 countries globally, 52.6percent of their projects are from North America and the European Union. Vietnamalso joined in with 17 projects. The result far exceeded the expectation of abrand new prize like VinFuture. Speaking at the event, Dr. Le Mai Lan, Vice Chairwoman of VinGroup andDesignated Representative of VinFuture Foundation, said over a year ago,billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong and his spouse committed 100 million USD to the establishmentof VinFuture Foundation with an aim to unlock development potentials ofdeveloping nations on the back sci-tech innovations. Prof. Albert PaulPisano from the University of California, San Diego, the US, who is co-Chairmanof the VinFuture Prize Pre-screening Committee, said the awards recognisescientists’ efforts that could impact millions of lives, adding that there arefew awards that honour and connect scientists right from the stage of ideationto implementation and connectivity. He said atfirst, the committee expected to receive about 200 entries, but it turned outto triple that. Prof. NguyenThuc Quyen from the University of California, Co-Chairwoman of the committee, said what makes VinFuture awards outstanding is its vision to bring sci-tech inventionsto the poor.
Scientists at the event (Photo: nhandan.vn)
Prof. DangVan Chi, Director of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, member of the PrizeCouncil, said he agrees to serve as a jury as the awards honour scientific worksthat fulfill the mission of serving humanity and make positive difference tomillions of lives globally. According toProf. Richard Henry Friend from the UK’s Cambridge University, Chairman of thePrize Council, entries sent to the competition are not only high in number butalso in quality. During thisseason, there is a VinFuture Grand Prize worth 3 million USD and three specialprizes, each worth 500,000 USD for female scientists, innovators fromdeveloping nations or outstanding achievements in emerging fields. Entries willbe reviewed by 12 members of the Pre-Screening Committee and later 11 membersof the Prize Council. The award ceremonywill take place on January 20 evening./.
Conglomerate VinGroup on December 20 launched the first Vietnamese-initiated international science-technology award named VinFuture Prize, which is among the annual awards with the highest prize money pool of the world.
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.
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.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Vietnam views sci-tech as a decisive factor in national development and a key tool for achieving sustainable development goals, and is ready to boost sci-tech cooperation with Venezuela for mutual prosperity.
Illustrative image (Photo: vietnamnet.vn) 
Scientists at the event (Photo: nhandan.vn) 
