Vietnam's top ten science and technology events in 2010

2010 was an impressive year in terms of Vietnam’s science and technology research marked by economic, cultural and education milestones.

1. NAFOSTED made a breakthrough in scientific research management.

The Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) is a new body for managing research activities in Vietnam which officially began its work in 2008.

The foundation operates in conformity with international standards, which will improve the research quality and help narrow the gap between Vietnam and developed countries.

As of the end of 2010, the NAFOSTED financed 600 research projects with the participation of 3000 scientists across the country.

2. The establishment of research institutes in businesses.

Science and technology play the a role in sustainable development of businesses. Therefore in 2010, many businesses set up their research institutes. This serves to muster “brain-drain” for the development of both science and technology and business operation.

The FPT Technology Research Institute was inaugurated on May 25 in Hanoi. The Binh An Fishery Research Institute was inaugurated on July 30 in Tra Noc 2 Industrial Zone, Can Tho City.

3. The completion of the State level scientific research coded (KX-09) on the 1000^th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

The results of the State level scientific research (KX-09) were announced on October 2, 2010 by the Hanoi Municipal People's Committee and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The KX-09, which included 12 themes, attracted the participation of 578 scientists from 89 science and technology organisations. It proposed 54 scientific measures to develop Hanoi city.

4. The Thang Long Royal Citadel recognised as a world cultural heritage site.

The UNESCO recognised Thang Long Royal Citadel as a World Heritage site. Scientists spent four years researching and preparing necessary applications for the nomination.

The World Heritage Committee ratified a resolution to recognise the centre of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi as a World Cultural Heritage site. The resolution was approved at the Committee’s 34^th session in Brasilia (Brazil) on July 31, 2010.

The cultural value of the site is based on its long history, as a centre of power, and abundant layers of artifacts in the area.

5. The first successful heart transplantation in Vietnam.

For the first time, in Vietnam, a heart taken from a brain dead donor was successfully transplanted into an unnamed patient by doctors from the Vietnam Military Medical University on June 17, 2010.

6. A 32-bit processing chip VN 1632 was presented.

The Integrated Circuit Design Research and Education Centre (ICDREC) on October 17 produced a 32-bit processing chip VN 1632 which can be used in complicated control systems with high processing speed, such as mobile phones, encoding, communications and image processing equipment.

7. 1,200-tonne large-tonnage crane.

Quang Trung Mechanical Engineering enterprise in Ninh Binh province manufactured the first 1,200-ton supper crane.

This is the biggest ever crane designed and made by Vietnamese engineers.

Professor Ngo Bao Chau won the Fields Medal

8. Bkav anti-virus listed in world's top 10 anti-virus software.

Vietnam’s BKAV anti-virus software defeated 50 other similar products made by leading foreign trade names to enter the world’s top ten.

BKAV ranked 7^th among 64 verified anti-virus softwares in the Britain’s famous Virus Bulletin (VB).

9. Vietnam and the US co-operate in nuclear energy.

The Minister of Science and Technology Dang Dinh Tien and the US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on nuclear energy co-operation on March 30 in Hanoi.

The MoU opened the opportunity for increased co-operation in such areas as the development of human resources, safety and security infrastructure, access to reliable sources of nuclear fuel, and the management of radioactive waste and used fuel.

10. Professor Ngo Bao Chau won the Fields Medal.

Professor Ngo Bao Chau, 38, was awarded the Fields Medal.

The award, comparable to the Nobel Prize for mathematics is awarded by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) to mathematicians under the age of 40.