VINIF – 5-year journey to promote the development of scientific research in Vietnam

During 5 years of operation, VINIF has sponsored over 100 science and technology, culture and history projects; granted 1,200 scholarships; supported 2,500 scientists... with a total budget of nearly 800 billion VND, contributing to the development of scientific research in the country.

VINIF was established with the aim of supporting young scientists from universities and academies to conduct scientific and technological research and innovation. After 5 years, the Fund has expanded in both breadth and depth by simultaneously implementing 7 programs. These are the Science and Technology Project; Master's and PhD scholarships; Cooperation in training Master's degrees in Data Science; Domestic post-doctoral scholarships; Workshops and events; Public lectures and guest professors and Preserving cultural and historical values ​​(VHLS). The programs have the participation of a Scientific Council with more than 300 prestigious scientists at home and abroad, managers, policy and financial experts who contribute advice and criticism.

The total budget of the Fund for sponsorship activities has reached nearly 800 billion VND to date. Specifically, in the field of science and technology: the Fund has sponsored more than 100 projects, 6 joint master's training projects, more than 1,100 master's and doctoral scholarships and 90 post-doctoral scholarships. In the field of culture and history, the Fund has sponsored 8 projects and 30 events. In addition, VINIF has continuously organized and implemented 130 prestigious science and technology seminars, influential public lectures with many leading professors in the world and in the country.

After 5 years, VINIF has contributed to the creation of thousands of works published in prestigious international journals, nearly 400 products, over 70 inventions, nearly 20 start-up and spin-off businesses (a form of commercialization of intellectual property rights). VINIF's programs have contributed to changing the culture of scientific research, limiting the brain drain, creating new training fields for the country such as Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. VINIF also promotes the preservation and promotion of cultural and historical values ​​bearing national identity.

Speaking at the 5-year summary conference, Professor Vu Ha Van (Scientific Director of VINIF - Vingroup) shared: “VINIF was established by Vingroup with the desire to contribute to building a creative, honest and internationally standardized research culture - creating a generation of young, creative and socially responsible scientists. The greatest reward for VINIF over the past 5 years is that our funding programs have attracted the trust of scientists, students, trainees, postgraduates, and even more closely monitored by policy makers. We hope this will be the premise for creating greater breakthroughs in supporting scientific research in Vietnam.”

VINIF's programs not only contribute to diversifying investment sources for Vietnam's science and technology but are also expected to have a positive impact on current scientific funding and support activities.

Prof. Dr. Le Quan, Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi said: “Vietnam National University, Hanoi is one of the organizations receiving the most support from VINIF with 10 projects, totaling nearly 60 billion VND in funding over the past 3 years. Thanks to this support, we have boldly issued regulations on scholarship support of up to 100 million VND/year for graduate students and 120 million VND/year for young doctors with excellent research and international publication capacity.”

The method of selecting funding fairly, practically, and emphasizing quality has become a characteristic of the Fund. “The way VINIF funds projects contributes to changing the mechanism, selection, and evaluation of topics in a quality and streamlined direction. These positive impacts not only affect Hanoi University of Science and Technology but also the scientific community and domestic management agencies,” Associate Professor, Dr. Huynh Quyet Thang, Director of Hanoi University of Science and Technology shared.

The workshop “Vingroup Innovation Fund - 5-year milestones of operation” was attended by more than 300 people including leaders of universities, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, research institutes, policy and financial experts and scientists. At the workshop, in addition to important scientific and technological works and projects presented, the event also had 2 discussions on “Promoting research, application and towards commercialization of scientific and technological products” and “Opportunities, challenges and solutions in scientific and technological research and training”.

PV

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vinif-hanh-trinh-5-nam-thuc-day-phat-trien-nghien-cuu-khoa-hoc-viet-nam-post258003.html