Top ten outstanding scientific and technological events of Vietnam in 2018

The top 10 outstanding scientific and technological (S&T) events in 2018 were announced by the Vietnam Science and Technology Journalists’ Club (under the Vietnam Journalists’ Association) on December 25.

Representatives of several prominent scientific and technological events in 2018 at the announcement ceremony on December 25. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)
Representatives of several prominent scientific and technological events in 2018 at the announcement ceremony on December 25. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

This is the 13th year the club has organised a vote to recognise and honour scientists' contribution to the country's socio-economic development.

The events are selected in the following areas: policies and mechanisms, natural sciences, applied research, international integration, social sciences and humanities, and honouring scientists. Participating in the poll were more than 40 journalists from over 20 central and local mass media agencies in the field of science and technology, in addition to the evaluation from prestigious scientists.

The following are 10 prominent scientific and technological events of Vietnam in 2018.

The Vietnamese digitised knowledge system officially operated: On January 1, 2018, the "Vietnamese Digitised Knowledge System" project was launched under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. The system has been set up to promote an integrated knowledge system in all areas, aimed at facilitating everyone to study and master knowledge, while enhancing their research, creativeness and application of scientific and technological advances.

The "Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide" by Dr. Tran Dinh Phong from the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi was awarded the Ta Quang Buu Prize 2018.

Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh (R) presents the Ta Quang Buu Award 2018 to Dr. Tran Dinh Phong. (Photo: VNA)

Dr. Phong's research successfully demonstrated the structure and working mechanism of amorphous molybdenum sulfide, a low-cost, easy-to-fabricate and alternative material that can replace platinum for hydrogen evolution reaction from water. The research by Dr. Phong is an important step in the "race" to find energy solutions and reduce CO2 emissions into the environment.

Viettel's real-time billing system won International Business Stevie Awards: On October 21, in London, the UK, Viettel Group’s online charging service called vOCS 3.0 won the gold winner for best new product or service of the year in telecommunications by International Business Stevie Awards. Viettel’s vOCS 3.0 was praised by the judges for its creativity and impact on a large number of users.

Snow ice maker from seawater for offshore fishing preservation: The Centre for High-tech Development of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has announced its successful development of a snow ice generator from sea water. It is the result of a research project conducted by Master Le Van Luan and his colleagues. The project has been recognised as an advanced technology in the field of fisheries by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The snow ice making machine made by Vietnamese scientists to help save costs for preserving offshore fishing products. (Photo: VGP)

Vingroup launched the Applied S&T Research Support Fund: On August 21, conglomerate Vingroup officially launched its Applied S&T Research Support Fund, with the aim of funding scientific research projects in the field of computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, nanotechnology, renewable energy and next generation materials. The Fund has an investment of roughly VND2 trillion. This is a meaningful investment activity in the field of science and technology by a large enterprise.

A Chau high-tech electrical equipment manufacturing factory: On November 1, the management board of the Hanoi’s Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park agreed on A Chau Industrial Technology JSC’s plan to build the A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment Manufacturing Factory. The same day, these two also co-signed a cooperation agreement with Schneider Electric Group for technology transfer, marking a milestone in manufacturing, managing, and automatically monitoring the energy system. Vietnam has become one of only two countries in the world with enterprises to have signed comprehensive cooperation and high technology transfer from Schneider Electric Group - a leading global multinational corporation in energy management and automation.

International activities on the fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in Vietnam: The Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 kicked off in Hanoi on July 13, under the chair of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The event attracted around 2,000 delegates, including 11 ambassadors and representatives of international organisations, along with over 50 experts and representatives from both domestic and global businesses. The forum aimed at building suitable policies and regulations for Vietnam’s active and effective participation in Industry 4.0.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) visits the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018. (Photo: VNA)

The World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF ASIAN 2018), themed “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, was held in Hanoi from September 11 to 13, and was considered the most successful regional conference. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the event, along with the heads of state from ASEAN countries, senior leaders of partner countries, and roughly 1,000 representatives of multi-nation corporations, ASEAN businesses, and 800 domestic companies.

Professor Dam Thanh Son received the 2018 Dirac Medal: Vietnamese Professor Dam Thanh Son of the University of Chicago was named one of the three winners of the 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize by International Centre for Theoretical Physics on August 8. Son and the two others winners – Subir Sachdev of Harvard University and Xiao-Gang Wen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – received the honour for making important contributions to discovering new phases of matter (besides the three familiar phases of solids, liquid, and gas), and clarifying the transition among these phases when the external influences, such as temperature and pressure, change. Prof. Dam Thanh Son and his two colleagues used extensive knowledge from various fields such as material science, black holes, and cold atoms to research on many-body systems to prove the value of the cross-disciplinary approach.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep honoured with the International Rising Talent award: Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep, lecturer on biomedical technology at the International University under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, was honoured with the International Rising Talent award by the L’Oréal - UNESCO Programme in France on March 21, thanks to her contributions to regenerative medicine.

Her research team is conducting experiments on the use of a bio-glue, with the ultimate goal to obtain a product that can be stuck right onto any kind of injury to eliminate bacteria and promote the tissue regeneration process.

The discovery of the remains of prehistoric people in volcanic caves in Krong No, Dak Nong: For the first time, Vietnamese scientists have discovered the remains of pre-historic people in volcanic caves, adding a new type to the residence of prehistoric people in the basalt land in the Central Highlands.

For the first time, Vietnamese scientists have discovered the remains of prehistoric people at a volcanic cave system in Dak Nong. (Photo: VGP)

This is the result of the project coded TN17/T06 on “Researching the heritage values of caves, for proposing the construction of an on-site preservation museum in the Central Highlands, with the example of Krong No volcanic cave system in Dak Nong province”, carried out from August 2017 to August 2020. The excavation result is a turning point for the study of anthropology/paleo-anthropology in Vietnam, providing a scientific foundation for the restoration and reconstruction of the prehistoric people’s daily activities, contributing to the building of a Global Geopark in Dak Nong.