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.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
Vietnam’s 5G strategy has been clearly outlined in national digital technology and infrastructure policies. A wide range of solutions is being vigorously implemented to achieve the target of an average internet speed of 100 Mbps by 2025 and full nationwide 5G coverage by 2030.
The visit aimed to assess the new two-tier local government model, preparations for upcoming Party congresses at levels, and implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion on school construction in border areas.
Under the theme “Breakthrough Era with the Development of Industrial Internet”, the event gathered over 400 delegates, including senior officials, leading Internet experts, and technology engineers from Vietnam and abroad.
At the award ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
