Which Vietnamese scientists can expect from the VinFuture Prize?

According to a member of the VinFuture Prize Council, Vietnam needs more time to achieve top scientific achievements, but Vietnamese scientists can still aspire to win some special prizes of the VinFuture Prize.

Which projects will receive the VinFuture Prize 2025?

Since yesterday, December 1, many of the world's leading scientists have been present in Hanoi to attend the VinFuture 2025 Science and Technology Week. The highlight of the week will be the award ceremony. VinFuture Prize 2025 with main prize worth 3 million USD and 3 special prizes each worth 500,000 USD.

As the award was founded by Vietnamese people and awarded in Vietnam, public opinion in the country still expects more Vietnamese scientists (after the late Professor Vo Tong Xuan) to be named at the award ceremony.

Professor Dang Van Chi, member of the VinFuture Prize Council

PHOTO: THANH LAM

Speaking to the press on the occasion of the launch of VinFuture Week, Professor Dang Van Chi, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (USA), member of the VinFuture Award Council, said: Vietnam needs more time to achieve top scientific achievements, but from now on, Vietnamese scientists can still hope for some special prizes of the VinFuture Prize .

Professor Dang Van Chi said that after 5 years, all major universities in the world have known the reputation of the VinFuture Prize , and there are currently nominations for the prize from these universities.

"After being awarded the VinFuture Prize, at least four scientists (in my opinion, actually five) have won the Nobel Prize. Thus, we - as members of the award committee - have chosen the right people, chosen works that are truly worthy of honor," said Professor Dang Van Chi.

Regarding the possibility of which projects will be awarded this year, Professor Dang Van Chi said that VinFuture's message is that science and technology serve humanity, so the projects honored must have a positive impact on millions, even billions of people around the world. Looking back at the 4 award seasons, we see that each award is a wonderful discovery , ranging from medicine, energy to all areas that directly serve human life.

Professor Dang Van Chi said: "At the moment, I cannot reveal the details. I can only say: it must be research that affects millions of people. It could be research that solves the problem of how to provide more food for humanity. Or it could be research on how to make the ocean, or the air that people breathe... become cleaner. Any research that can truly improve the lives of humanity can receive the VinFuture Prize , if not this year, then in the future."

It takes time to reach the top

So far, only one Vietnamese scientist has won the prize, the late Professor Vo Tong Xuan (in 2023, the special prize will be awarded to scientists from developing countries, along with an American professor of Indian origin). Therefore, the public in the country is still eagerly waiting for the answer to the question of who will be the next Vietnamese scientist to be honored at the VinFuture Prize .

Faced with this concern, Professor Dang Van Chi shared: "I am Vietnamese so I understand the difficulties we have gone through. After decades of war and post-war, our lives have improved significantly in recent decades. This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day. Currently, we have a very clear trajectory towards the future in which breakthrough investment in science and technology development is an important strategy.

But investing in science takes time to achieve great results. In the past few years, we have received a few nominations from Vietnam. I believe that the number of nominations will increase over time. And I hope that the VinFuture Prize is truly a motivation for young Vietnamese scientists and technologists to strive."

Professor Dang Van Chi said that in order for the aspiration to be honored at the VinFuture Awards ceremony to become a reality, Vietnamese scientists need to pay deep attention to the fields promoted by VinFuture, such as solving environmental problems, to master core technologies in related fields.

"There is a category that I think Vietnamese scientists, especially young scientists, might be interested in, which is the special prize for female scientists. Looking at the past years, we see a trend of "rejuvenating" the winners of this special prize. Therefore, it is not necessary for veteran scientists like the late Professor Vo Tong Xuan to dare to hope to win the prize," said Professor Dang Van Chi.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nha-khoa-hoc-viet-nam-nao-co-the-ky-vong-o-giai-thuong-vinfuture-185251202134717197.htm