HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Science and Technology Journalists Club under the Việt Nam Journalists Association has announced ten outstanding science and technology events in 2022, covering policy, social science, natural science, research and application, and outstanding scientists.

Following is the list of the top 10 events:

1. Issuing the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation Development until 2030.

Making of microchips at Trung Nam EMS company in Đà Nẵng Hi-tech Park, Đà Nẵng City. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Dũng

The Prime Minister on May 11 issued the Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation Development until 2030. The strategy holds a vital role in the science and technology sector and the entire political system. It was developed on a scientific and practical basis in sync with relevant contents in documents promulgated by the Party and State on economic development orientations, especially the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the Socio-economic Development Strategy in the 2021 to 2030 period.

2. The Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Intellectual Property was approved

The Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Intellectual Property was adopted at the third session of the 15th National Assembly on June 16. The document will officially take effect from January 1, 2023.

This law project requires knowledge related to the field of intellectual property, practical application and understanding of international commitments related to intellectual property to ensure that after it is promulgated, the law will be closer to international practices, meeting practical requirements, and those to ensure rights and interests of the people and businesses.

3. Piloting local innovation index

The Việt Nam Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation, in collaboration with units of the Ministry of Science and Technology, have developed an index framework and contents to instruct localities to collect data serving the pilot of the local innovation index. 2022 is the first year that the ministry implements and pilots the application of the index with 20 localities, thus learning from experience to better implementation methods and evaluating the impact of the index on localities. The index frame consists of 51 indicators. Local departments of Science and Technology are focal points for collecting and synthesising data related to localities.

4. The national seminar on the value systems of the country, culture and family, and the Vietnamese human norms in the new period.

The Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education hosted a hybrid seminar on November 29 in Hà Nội, which aims to concretise the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and the direction of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the National Cultural Conference in 2021, in association with the implementation of cultural and human building and development tasks meeting the country’s sustainable development requirements.

5. Mastering CRISPR/cas9 gene-editing technology

Since it was discovered in 1987, CRISPR/cas9 has been widely applied to many research subjects such as microorganisms, plants, animals, and even human cells. The research was published in the International Journal of Scientific Reports in August 2022. The technology has been applied in improving resistance to powdery mildew on soybeans and cucumbers, enhancing salt tolerance or nutritional deficiencies of paddies, and improving the nutritional value of tomatoes.

6. INTECH Group successfully builds global-standard highest-grade cleanrooms

The engineered space meets the criteria established by NEBB, the US-based international certification association for firms that deliver high-performance building systems. A clean room is well isolated and controlled to maintain a very low concentration of airborne particulates. Such rooms are commonly needed for scientific research and high-tech industrial production serving aerospace, semiconductor, electronics, optics, and biotechnology, among other sectors. The making of a super clean environment by INTECH Group has contributed to affirming and enhancing Việt Nam’s scientific and technical position in the world. The Hà Nội-based company, established in 2012, specialised in factory solutions, electrical engineering, automation, import and export.

7. FPT Semiconductor debuts integrated circuits (IC) applied in the Internet of Things (IoT) products for the medical field

The IC, launched in September, was the first in the sector. As planned, the company – a member of the FPT Corporation – a leading ICT firm in Việt Nam – will introduce seven more types of ICs to the market next year, serving a wide range of fields of technology, telecommunications, IoT, lighting equipment, smart devices, automotive technology, energy, electronics and refrigeration.

8. Việt Nam’s largest cloud computing ecosystem is officially launched

The launching ceremony of Viettel Cloud in October 2022, with the attendance of Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng. Photo from the Ministry of Information and Communications

With its preparation beginning in 2018, Viettel Cloud (by the military-run telecom group Viettel) is considered among the largest, most modern and safest ecosystems in Việt Nam with 13 data centres spreading across three regions; more than 9,000 racks; and 60,000sq.m of floor area. It includes data centres, technology platforms, cloud software and services, security technologies, and management and operation services. By 2025, Viettel Cloud will get an additional investment of VNĐ10 trillion (US$424.17 million) to expand its scale to 17,000 racks.

9. Sixth Hồ Chí Minh Awards and State Awards on Science and Technology announce winners

The awards took place in Hà Nội on December 23, honouring 29 research projects. These works have great and long-lasting effects on people's lives, making important and practical contributions to the country’s socio-economic and sci-tech development, national defence and security.

10. 2022 VinFuture Prize presented

VinFuture Grand Prize awarding ceremony in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

The award ceremony took place in Hà Nội on December 20. Five scientists won the VinFuture Grand Prize at the event, worth US$3 million. The VinFuture Prize was set up by the VinFuture Foundation, a non-profit organisation established on December 20, 2020, by billionaire and founder of Vingroup Phạm Nhật Vượng and his wife, Phạm Thu Hương. The prize aims to honour remarkable scientific and technological studies by global inventors and researchers who make meaningful changes to the daily life of millions of people. — VNS