VinFuture Prize calls for nominations

HÀ NỘI — The VinFuture Foundation on Wednesday announced its first prize nomination criteria, which will impact on millions of people in the past or next ten years.

With the global vision for the VinFuture Foundation, the prize is officially open for nominations until June 7, 2021, aiming to be awarded for fundamental advances in science and engineering that align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, including eradicating poverty and hunger, enhancing health and quality of life, promoting access to quality education, clean water, and renewable energy, reducing inequality or addressing climate change.

The nomination criteria have been developed and agreed upon by a council, which comprises 11 world-renowned scientists. There are nine key eligibility criteria for the Grand Prize and the three Special Prizes. 

There are further criteria for each prize category. What makes the VinFuture Prize’s nomination criteria unique is the requirement for clear evidence of the impact on millions of people in the past or next ten years.

Breakthroughs in science must result in positive impacts for humankind on a global scale. This is an integral criterion, consistent with the mission of "creating meaningful change in the everyday lives of millions of people by promoting breakthrough scientific research and technological innovations” that VinFuture has set forth.

The VinFuture Prize calls for nominations to be submitted by eligible nominators including recognised organisations such as universities, research institutes, national academies of sciences, networks, professional associations, technology and industrial corporates or businesses, incubators, as well as prominent individuals in relevant fields.

On January 20, 2021, the Inaugural Prize Council Meeting took place. It was agreed that nominations will be sought from all nations. — Photo courtesy of the foundation

Prof. Sir Richard Henry Friend – Chair of the VinFuture Prize Council commented: “We need cooperation on a global scale to tackle the global challenges we now face, such as infectious diseases, public health and climate change. For these, we now recognise that science and technology must deliver benefits to all peoples and all nations. The VinFuture prizes will recognise those whose brilliant science or engineering can have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across the planet.”

Concurrent with the release of the nomination criteria, the VinFuture Prize has officially opened its call for nominations worldwide from February 3, 2021 to June 7, 2021.

VinFuture Foundation’s Founder, Phạm NHật Vượng, chairman of Vingroup remarked: “Apart from recognising exceptional scientists worldwide, VinFuture wishes to promote and bring research work and inventions into life for the betterment of humankind. I hope that the VinFuture Prize can discover and recognise the most deserving scientists and inventors as well as projects that bring about great values to millions of people.”

The Inaugural Prize Council Meeting  takes place on January 20, 2021. — Photo courtesy of the foundation

The VinFuture Foundation and VinFuture Prize were introduced on December 20, 2020. As an annual global prize for science and technology, VinFuture Prize is one of the most valuable prizes to date with its total prize value of VNĐ104.5 billion (US$4.5 million). — VNS

In box

Nine major nomination criteria of the VinFuture Prize:

1. There should be clear evidence, or potential, for an end-product or service based on the solution, which has an everyday practical application;
2. Solutions should have already benefited millions of people in the past 10 years for the Grand Prize, or have the potential to benefit millions of people in the next 10 years for the Special Prizes;
3. Solutions should be aligned with one or more of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals;
4. Solutions must be scientifically proven (i.e. there should be clear evidence of passing relevant scientific trials, and in the case of research, it must be empirically proven or widely reviewed);
5. Open to researchers or inventors who were involved in developing the underlying solutions, and not entrepreneurs or corporates who helped in commercialisation/diffusion of the technology;
6. End-products of the research should benefit people globally, including those from developing and less developed countries, as well as lower-income and disadvantaged communities;
7. Open to individuals or teams of researchers/inventors;
8. Preference for nominees in the active stages of their careers;
9. Same individual/team can be nominated for one or more of the VinFuture Special Prizes if eligible.