Group of researchers from the Việt Nam Military Medical University received Bảo Sơn Award 2020. — Photos courtesy of organiser

HÀ NỘI — A test kit to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus researched and developed by a group of scientists from the Việt Nam Military Medical University received the Bảo Sơn Award 2020, which is worth $60,000 in cash.

The ceremony took place yesterday in Hà Nội with representatives of Bảo Sơn Group, founder of the award, and the Ministry of Education and Training, advisor of the award.

The Real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test kit reveals test results after a little more than an hour.

Results confirmed Vietnamese scientists’ high professional skills and their contribution to pandemic prevention and control, said Minister Phùng Xuân Nhạ.

“We have followed the development of the award since its establishment in 2011 and acknowledge that the Bảo Sơn Award is meaningful in honouring contributions and creations that better people’s lives,” said Nhạ.

Due to the lockdown, the award of the year 2019 was granted on the same day. Phd Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his team from the HCM City University of Technology and Education received the award of $50,000 for their research on freeze-drying techniques.

Bảo Sơn Awards, initiated by Nguyễn Trường Sơn, CEO of Bảo Sơn Group, honours research in five fields: educative renovation, hunger elimination and poverty reduction, sustainable economic development, community healthcare and literature. 

Each year, winners will receive a prize with the value increasing $10,000 year after year. The recipients this year will receive $60,000 each. — VNS