HÀ NỘI –  Vietnamese scientists have made great contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam said yesterday.

The official was speaking at the Trần Đại Nghĩa Award Presenting Ceremony held in Hà Nội by the Việt Nam Academy of Sciences and Technology.

The award, named after late major-general and academic Trần Đại Nghĩa, recognises scientists for their work in natural sciences and technology.

The scientists who receive the award are recognised for work in mathematics, mechanics, information science and computer science, physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, marine science, environmental science or energy.

This year, the award was presented for four pieces of outstanding research.

Prof. Lê Trần Bình, associated Prof. Đinh Duy Kháng from Biologic Technology Institute, and Dr. TRần Xuân Hạnh, from the Central Veterinary Medicine Stock Company won for their work of setting up a manufacturing process poultry flu vaccine type A/H5N1 in Việt Nam.

The group successfully produced vaccines on a large scale of millions of doses a year, which helped gradually replace imported vaccines.

The second group winning the award are Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thao from High-tech Development Centre, associated Prof. Đoàn Đình Phương, from the Materials Research Institute and Dr. Lê Văn Thụ, from the Ministry of Public Security.

They used nano materials to create anti-shock and bullet-proof suits for soldiers. The suits also protect soldiers from chemical and biological weapons.

The awards also honoured associated Prof. Trịnh Văn Tuyên and engineer Mai Trọng Chính from Environment Institute and Dr. Nguyễn Thế Đồng from Environment General Department for their work on treatment technology for hazardous solid industrial and medical waste.

The technology has been used by more than 50 entities for hazardous and solid industrial and medical waste treatment, and 25 wastewater treatment facilities nationwide.

Finally, research on breeding rice seeds for Cửu Long Delta Region by Prof. Nguyễn Thị Lang from Cửu Long Delta Agriculture High-Tech Institute was presented the award.

Prof. Academician Châu Văn Minh, president of the Việt Nam Academy of  Sciences and Technology, and president of the Award Council, said “with the spirit of bringing Vietnamese intelligence to the summit of science and technology of professor and academician Trần Đại Nghĩa, presenting the award aimed at encouraging Vietnamese scientists to actively study and apply scientific works into life so as to further contribute to the country’s socio-economic development”.

Each winning group received VNĐ200 million (US$8,500) in cash.

This is the second time the awards have been held, following their launch in 2016. – VNS