Top ten scientific and technological events in 2017

Antiques in the basement of National Assembly House

National Assembly passed the Technology Transfer Law (amended). The law has changed and amended some contents, including important contents such as the State policies on transfer technology; technologies encouraged for transfer, technologies subject to transfer restrictions, and technologies prohibited from transfer; technology assessment in investment projects and solutions to encourage technology transfer and develop technology markets.

2. Government issues Directive No. 16/CT-TTg on strengthening the capacity to access the 4th Industrial Revolution

On May 4, 2017, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg on strengthening the capacity to access the 4th Industrial Revolution. The directive pointed out the main tasks of the Ministry of Science and Technology, including focusing on promoting the innovative startup ecosystem in order to develop innovative start-up enterprises; co-ordinating with ministries, sectors and localities to implement effectively the project “National Program to Support Innovative Startup Ecosystem in Viet Nam by the year 2025”.

3. Project on displaying artifacts and relics in the basement of National Assembly House

The Party, the Government decided to spend a part of the space in the two basement levels of National Assembly House to display important artifacts and relics, which were discovered at the World Cultural Heritage Site - Thang Long Royal Citadel, aiming to reflect the vitality of the National Assembly House – the centre of power in the flow of national history. The Institute of Archaeology under the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences implemented the project for five years.

4. Nha Trang-based observatory established in late September 2017

The Nha Trang Observatory, located on Hon Chong (Husband Islet) in Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa Province, hosts physics and astronomy research, teaching and training, as well as astronomical knowledge sharing sessions for the community.

Developed by the Viet Nam National Space Center, it is the largest component of a bigger project called the Viet Nam National Satellite Center, the largest scientific project ever launched in the Southeast Asian country. The most important equipment at the Nha Trang Observatory is an enormous telescope produced by the Italian firm MARCON. The telescope can be used to observe the galaxy, search for astronomical objects near Earth, study the stars or research the atmosphere.

5. Doctor Ha Phuong Thu wins Vietnam Women Award in 2017

The Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Central Committee presented the Viet Nam Women Award 2017 to Dr. Ha Phuong Thu - Head of the Nano-biomedical Department of the Institute of Materials Sciences under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology for her contribution to the community-based healthcare.

Dr. Ha Phuong Thu, one of the few outstanding young scientists in Viet Nam, has 30 international publications in the field of nano-biomedical and has been chairing a number of state-level projects under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology and the National Science and Technology Development Fund.

6. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Liem wins ASEAN Science and Technology Meritorious Service Award

On October 20, 2017, the Organising Board of the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST-17) presented the ASEAN Science and Technology Meritorious Service Award (AMSA) to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Liem, Director of the Institute of Materials Science, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Liem has published over 150 articles in many prestigious international and national scientific magazines. He is also the co-author of the project “Basic research on optical-electric-magnetic properties of some advanced electronic materials”, which was received the State Awards for Science and Technology.

7. Ceremony marks 20 years of the Internet in Viet Nam

November 19, 1997 marked a significant milestone in the history of the information and communication sector in Viet Nam when Viet Nam officially connected to the Internet.

According to statistics, since the beginning of 2017, the number of internet users in Viet Nam has reached 50 million, equivalent to 54% of the population, higher than the global average of 46.46% and Viet Nam is among the Asian countries with the largest number of internet users.

8. Viettel deploys 4G network

In only six months, the Viettel Group almost completed the 4G network nationwide. According to telecommunication experts, with over 36,000 4G BTS stations, Viettel may help Viet Nam enter the list of top 20 countries with the most modern 4G infrastructure and largest coverage of 4G services to its population.

Currently, no more than 10% of service providers in the world are using 4TX/4RX beam-forming technique. With the modern technique, Viettel could improve its service quality.

9. RoK builds aircraft engine parts factory at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Hanwha Techwin held the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hanwha Aero Engines plant at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, in Ha Noi, on September 21,. It was the first aircraft engine parts factory in Viet Nam. The plant will produce components and engines for some of the world's leading airlines, including General Electric (GE), Pratt & Whitney (PW) and Rolls-Royce.

Previously, the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park Management Board issued the investment registration certificate for the project with a total investment of US$ 200 million and was designed to expand its scale to US$ 260 million. It covers a total area of 96,789 meter square.

10. Traphaco inaugurates the most modern medicine factory in Viet Nam

On November 8, 2017, Traphaco Joint Stock Company held a ceremony in Hung Yen province to inaugurate the most modern pharmaceutical factory in Viet Nam. The factory is built on an area of over 46,200 meter square, with the total investment amounting to VND 477 billion, including three workshops and five production lines with a capacity of 1.2 billion product units per year and creates jobs for 130 employees.

Production process of eye and nasal drops is fully automated by the technology of blowing, pouring and welding which is the most modern in the pharmaceutical industry in Viet Nam. The production line of pills uses automatic and consecutive equipment system, which is operated by the robotic arm of European standards.- ND