VinFuture Prize 2025 Award Ceremony: Three special prizes were awarded

The VinFuture 2025 Award Ceremony on the evening of December 5 marked the 5th anniversary of the award conceived by Vietnamese people for the future of humanity.

Billionaire couple Pham Nhat Vuong, co-founders of the VinFuture Global Science and Technology Fund and Prize, at the VinFuture 2025 Prize award ceremony on the evening of December 5 - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

On the evening of December 5, the VinFuture 2025 Award Ceremony was held at the Ho Guom Theater (Hanoi). National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, the two founders of the award - billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife Pham Thu Huong - along with many VIP guests and outstanding scientists from around the world were present.

The ceremony marked the 5th anniversary of the Vietnamese-initiated science award for the future of humanity.

Special prize for scientists researching new fields

The VinFuture 2025 Special Prize for Scientists researching new fields honored five scientists: Prof. Venkatesan Sundaresan (USA), Prof. Raphaël Mercier (Germany), Dr. Emmanuel Guiderdoni (France), Dr. Imtiyaz Khanday (USA) and Dr. Delphine Mieulet (France) for their innovations in developing hybrid crops capable of self-propagating.

Hybrid plants have superior yields to their parent plants, but producing hybrid seeds for rice – the staple food of more than half the world's population – is complex and expensive, making it out of reach for most farmers.

The team has created rice seeds with superior traits identical to the parent plant through self-pollination, based on new insights into developmental biology and genetics, helping to improve yields, reduce seed costs and promote sustainable food security.

Author who discovered the cancer-causing BRCA1 gene wins special prize for female scientists

The VinFuture 2025 Special Prize for Female Scientists was awarded to Professor Mary-Claire King (USA) for her discovery of the BRCA1 gene related to the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, laying the foundation for genetic testing, screening programs and personalized treatment.

The identification of the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17q21 in 1990 - before the human genome was sequenced - was considered a historic milestone, confirming the genetic nature of cancer risk and changing approaches to prevention and treatment worldwide.

The VinFuture 2025 Special Prize for Female Scientists was awarded to Professor Mary-Claire King (USA) - Photo: NGUYEN KHÁNH

Sharing after receiving the award, Professor Mary-Claire King could not hide her surprise when her name was announced at VinFuture 2025, emphasizing that this shows that women can also do science and make discoveries like male scientists.

"Every scientist is the same, our successes and other scientists' successes. We - women can do it and are encouraging young people and young female scientists to follow in this journey," she said.

Mexican professor wins special prize for scientists from developing countries

Right after singer Duc Phuc's performance, the VinFuture 2025 Award named the first scientist to win the VinFuture 2025 Special Prize for Scientists from Developing Countries.

The scientist honored is Professor María Esperanza Martínez-Romero (Mexico) for advances in research on microbial ecology and symbiotic nitrogen fixation mechanisms in tropical ecosystems.

Professor María Esperanza Martínez-Romero (Mexico) received the VinFuture 2025 Special Prize for Scientists from Developing Countries - Photo: NGUYEN KHÁNH

Professor Martínez-Romero discovered and described many new Rhizobium species, contributing to the expansion of understanding of microbial classification and plant-microbe interactions in agriculture , opening up new research directions on plant-bacteria symbiosis, with profound impacts on sustainable agriculture in the context of limited resources.

'Vietnam wants to promote research on common issues of humanity'

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man: "Vietnam is ready to accompany countries, organizations, and research institutes in the spirit of openness, responsibility, and mutual respect" - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Speaking at the award ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that the VinFuture Prize is one of the largest science and technology awards in the world in terms of scale initiated by Vietnamese people.

He said, looking back at the award’s 5-year journey, it can be affirmed that VinFuture not only honors outstanding scientific works but also creates valuable dialogues and forums between scientists, businesses and policy makers. From there, new ideas, new approaches, new cooperation models are opened up and widely spread.

On this occasion, he also acknowledged and highly appreciated the persistent efforts, commitment and high responsibility of the founders of the Foundation. Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife have devoted their heart and great resources to promoting the science award, contributing to spreading the humanistic values ​​of science and bringing to the world the image of the country and people of Vietnam as rich in intelligence, compassion and will, and aspiration for development.

According to him, the world is facing many complex changes. Climate change, epidemics, energy security, food security, economic fluctuations and even unknown risks from science, technology and new technologies require each country to find a suitable path of development. Science can only truly thrive when there is extensive, equal and sustainable international cooperation.

"Vietnam wishes to work with the world's scientific community to promote cooperation in researching common issues of humanity, promote academic exchanges, train high-quality human resources, cooperate in technology transfer and implement green development models and inclusive development.

We are ready to accompany countries, organizations and research institutes in the spirit of openness, responsibility and mutual respect. Vietnam will continue to be a reliable and attractive destination for scientists so that creative values ​​can be shared and spread strongly to the international community," the National Assembly Chairman affirmed.

Singer Duc Phuc performed "Lullaby of the Country - Phu Dong Thien Vuong" at the award ceremony night - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Professor Richard Friend: VinFuture has gone beyond the framework of an award

At the award ceremony, Professor Richard Friend - Chairman of the VinFuture Prize Council, affirmed that the scientists honored in 2025 will bring outstanding scientific discoveries, contributing to creating great benefits for society - both in terms of human welfare and sustainable development.

"Sometimes we worry that new science might open a 'Pandora's box' and that care must be taken to steer powerful technologies in a safe and just direction. But more than that, as you will see tonight, the benefits of these innovations are clear - and behind them are inspiring stories of intelligence, resilience and faith in science," Professor Richard Friend emphasized.

Professor Richard Henry Friend, Chairman of the VinFuture Prize Council: "VinFuture has connected the world's intellectual elite, the spirit of responsibility and the aspiration to serve humanity" - Photo: NGUYEN KHÁNH

Over the past five years, VinFuture has honored many outstanding scientists who have gone on to be recognized with other prestigious awards around the world, including the Nobel Prize. The VinFuture Prize has received an increasing number of nominations, with 1,705 nominations this year alone.

"Looking to the future, I believe that VinFuture is expanding beyond the framework of an award. As we have witnessed this week: VinFuture has connected the world's intellectual elite, a sense of responsibility and aspiration to serve humanity," said the Chairman of the VinFuture Award Council.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/le-trao-giai-thuong-vinfuture-2025-da-co-ba-giai-dac-biet-duoc-trao-20251205173739161.htm