The events cover aspects of policy, social science and humanity, research of application, international integration and outstanding scientists. This is the 13th year the club has issued the list.

Following is the list of the top 10 events:

1. The Digital Vietnamese knowledge system was put into operation. 

The project, launched under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, aims to share knowledge, encourage creativity and connect the community for Vietnam’s future. The system collects the world’s knowledge translated into Vietnamese and Vietnamese knowledge that has been systematized for easy study and search.

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Digital Vietnamese knowledge system's interface. Photo: Vietnam+

2. Dr. Tran Dinh Phong, Director of the Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, and his group win the Ta Quang Buu Award for their research project in the physics field entitled “Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide.”

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Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (first, left) and Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh (first, right) present Ta Quang Buu Award to the outstanding scientists.

The catalyst for this chemical reaction is platinum, a rare and expensive material. The research of Dr. Phong and his collaborators successfully demonstrated the structure and mechanism of amorphous molybdenum sulfide, an easy-to-fabricate, low-cost material as an alternative to platinum for the hydrogen evolution reaction from water. Dr. Phong’s research is a considerable step in the race to find solutions to clean energy and cut CO2 emissions.

3. Viettel Group’s online charging system called vOCS 3.0 wins gold for best new product or service of the year in telecommunications by International Business Stevie Awards in London on October 10.

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Photo for illustration

Currently, vOCS 3.0 is used in 11 countries with 170 mobile service subscribers, with the capacity of each site serving up to 100 million subscribers. The most distinctive feature of vOCS 3.0 is the ability to design for each customer a tariff package, thus opening opportunities for vICS 3.0 to be applied in many countries around the globe.

4. A machine that makes snow ice from seawater to preserve seafood during offshore fishing was introduced.

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A look of the machine

The machine is made by Le Van Luan and his colleagues from the Centre for High Technology Development under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). Using snow ice made from seawater to preserve seafood helps prolong storage time of seafood on board due to lower storage temperature than ice made from fresh water, with faster icing time, thus improving seafood quality, reducing post-harvest loss and contributing to protecting the environment.

5. Vingroup debuts Fund for Science and Technology Applications

The VND 2 trillion (USD 86 million) fund provides assistance for research projects in computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, nanotechnology, renewable energy and next-generation materials.

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Prof. Vu Ha Van, manager of the Fund for Science and Technology Applications, addresses the ceremony to introduce the fund.

6. Project to build A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment factory gets approval

On November 1, the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park Management Board granted an investment license to the A Chau Industrial Technology Joint Stock Company to build the A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment Factory. On the same day, the company and France-based Schneider Electric Group signed a cooperation and technology transfer agreement. The signing marked a breakthrough in production, integration, development, management and monitoring the automation of the energy system in Vietnam.

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At the signing ceremony

7. Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018

The large-scale international event took place from July 11-13 chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, drawing nearly 2,000 delegates, including ambassadors, foreign experts and representatives from international organisations and domestic and foreign enterprises. It served the building of policies for Vietnam to participate in the fourth Industrial Revolution in a proactive and effective manner. It also offered a chance to promote investment in technology.

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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018

8. Vietnamese Professor Dam Thanh Son wins 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize

On August 8, Dam Thanh Son from the University of Chicago was named one the three winners of the 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize by International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), together with Subir Sachdev of Harvard University and Xiao-Gang Wen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Professor Dam Thanh Son

They received the honor for their independent contributions toward understanding novel phases in strongly interacting many-body systems, introducing original cross-disciplinary techniques.

9. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep honored as the world’s young talented scientist

Nguyen Thi Hiep was selected to be part of the International Rising Talents Program of the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science Awards, revealed on March 21 in Paris, France.

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Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep (R) introduces her research.

Her work focuses on biomaterials such as bio-glue, bio-tape and needleless suturing for wound repair that can be used by patients at home. Her most recent project involves the development of a gel that is mainly formed by cross-linking hyaluronic acid (which contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration) and chitosan (useful in tissue regeneration). It can carry other ingredients such as silver and curcumin nano-particles for different uses.

10. Relics of prehistoric humans found in the volcanic caves in Krong No, the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

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Photo for illustration

Source: VNA