The third VinFuture Sci-Tech Week, a series of world-class events that bring together leading scientists and experts in key technological domains, kicked off on December 18 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The four-day event, centered around the theme of “Boundless Unity”, aims to promote scientific collaboration and technology transfer for the benefit of humanity.
VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony honors breakthrough achievements
The highlight of the VinFuture Sci-Tech Week is the VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony, which will take place on December 21. The VinFuture Prize is a prestigious global award that recognizes scientists for their groundbreaking achievements that significantly impact the lives of millions worldwide. The prize was established in 2021 by Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, who are the founders of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest conglomerate.
The 2023 VinFuture Prize laureates will be announced at the ceremony, along with the Grand Prize winner, who will receive $3 million, the largest cash prize for a science and technology award. The laureates will also share their insights and inspirations at the “Talk Future: Dialogue with the 2023 VinFuture Prize Laureates” event, which will be open to the public.
Science for Life Symposia explores key technological domains
The VinFuture Sci-Tech Week also features the “Science for Life” Symposia, which take place on December 18 and 19. The symposia consist of four sessions, each focusing on a key technological domain that has the potential to transform the world and improve the quality of life for people. The sessions are:
- “Semiconductors Unleashed: The Backbone of Modern Innovation”, which covers the latest developments and challenges in semiconductor technology, which is the foundation of many fields such as computing, communication, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.
- “Advancing Precision Immunology Therapy for the Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders”, which discusses the advances and applications of precision immunology, a branch of medicine that uses the body’s own immune system to fight diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- “Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Transportation”, which explores the solutions and opportunities for building sustainable and resilient infrastructure and transportation systems that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
- “Artificial Intelligence: Transformative Opportunities and Challenges”, which examines the impact and implications of artificial intelligence, a rapidly evolving field that has the power to enhance or disrupt various aspects of human society, such as education, health, security, and ethics.
The symposia serve as an eminent platform that unites policymakers, scientists, experts, and businessmen from prestigious domestic and international organizations. Some of the distinguished speakers include Professor Teck-Seng Low, Senior Vice President at the National University of Singapore; Dr. Sadasivan Shankar, Research Technology Manager at SLAC National Laboratory in Stanford University; Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, Immunologist and Distinguished Professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University; Professor Jang-Soo Chun, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Director of the Korea National Creative Research Initiatives Center for Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis; and Professor Christian Borgs, Director of the Bakar Institute of Digital Materials for the Planet (BIDMaP) and Member of the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab at University of California, Berkeley.
VinFuture Discovery Talk Series fosters partnerships and technology transfer
Another new feature of the VinFuture Sci-Tech Week is the “VinFuture Discovery Talk Series”, which is organized for the first time to foster partnerships and technology transfer between the world’s leading scientists and Vietnam’s prominent research institutes, universities, and businesses. The series consists of nine dialogues, each focusing on a specific topic that addresses a pressing global or local challenge, such as:
- “New Technology in Cancer Treatment”, which introduces the latest innovations and breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and therapy, such as nanomedicine, immunotherapy, and gene editing.
- “Modern Agriculture Aiming for Net Zero Emissions”, which showcases the best practices and technologies for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability, such as precision farming, smart irrigation, and biotechnology.
- “New Technology in Treating Infectious Diseases and HIV for Young Women”, which highlights the novel approaches and solutions for preventing and treating infectious diseases and HIV, especially among young women, who are more vulnerable to these health risks.
The dialogues aim to create opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange between the participants, as well as to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators in Vietnam.
The VinFuture Sci-Tech Week is expected to attract more than 10,000 attendees, including government officials, academics, entrepreneurs, students, and media representatives. The event is also broadcasted online via various platforms, reaching millions of viewers around the world. The VinFuture Sci-Tech Week is not only a celebration of scientific excellence and innovation, but also a testament to the vision and commitment of the VinFuture Foundation and its partners to create a better future for humanity.
