Technological trends and advanced materials apply environmental treatment and energy saving

Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Lam, Director of the Graduate University of Science and Technology, spoke at the Workshop

Six interdisciplinary science and technology topics

Scientists exchanged and discussed six very new science and technology topics, including: Development of functional nanocomposite materials: Pilot-scale manufacturing technology and experimental application in smart sensor systems and industrial production; Hazards of microplastics and microplastic pollution management solutions; Soft magnetic materials and sensor applications; Research and application of rare earth magnets at the Institute of Materials Science; Cybersecurity threats and challenges to the Internet of Things system; and Application of cargo robots in logistics warehouses.

Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Phenikaa University, presented a report at the Workshop

At the Workshop, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Phennikaa University, shared: "In the field of materials, we often research, manufacture, survey characteristics and deploy applications. But we've taken the opposite approach with the question: How is the materials market growing today? Using a report by a unit that has surveyed more than 2500 startup companies, it is clear that with the development of the energy industry, logistics and high-tech industries, the demand for materials is very large." 

The global market capacity of the nanomaterials sector is about 13 billion USD in 2022, which is expected to increase by 14%, reaching about 28 billion USD by 2028. According to the analysis from the report, there are 10 development trends of the materials and innovation industry, including different fields, in which the group of materials related to sustainable development goals accounts for about 15%, nanotechnology about 12%, ultralight materials account for about 10%, smart materials, composite materials, graphene and 2D materials all account for about 10%, material informatics accounts for about 10%, and material management accounts for about 4%.

The research team of Prof. Le Anh Tuan has focused on the research and development of nanocomposite materials, smart sensor devices based on nanomaterials and advanced nanocomposite materials for outdoor artificial quartz rocks.

Research by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Thi Huong Giang, University of Technology, Hanoi National University, and colleagues in soft magnetic materials and application of magnetic sensors, going from basic research to application, have now mastered the core technology of electronic compass with high accuracy; non-destructive measurement equipment to detect iron and steel defects in buildings and develop biological sensor devices.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Manh, Director of Institute of Energy and Environment Science and Technology, presented a report at the Workshop

In the field of environmental technology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Van Manh, Institute of Science, Technology, Energy and Environment, has given worrying figures about plastic waste in the world. Up to now, the Earth is suffering from 8.3 trillion tons of plastic waste, of which 9% is reused, 12% incinerated, 79% in landfills and floating in the environment. It is forecasted that by 2050, about 12,000 million tons of plastic waste will be buried or put into the natural environment.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the countries with the largest amount of untreated plastic waste dumped into the water environment are: China accounts for 8.8 million tons/year; Indonesia accounts for 3.2 million tons/year; The Philippines accounts for 1.9 million tons/year. There are more than 1.8 million tons of plastic waste discharged, only 27% of which is recycled, Vietnam ranks 4th in UNEP statistics. Resolving this situation requires scientists to research plastic waste treatment technology, as well as basic research on microplastics.

Regarding the development of materials for energy-saving technology, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huy Dan, Institute of Materials Science, presented on the method of manufacturing hard magnetic materials, containing rare earths with high magnetic resistance, meeting the application requirements in motors and generators. The application potential of this material is huge in the wind power industry.

In addition to reports on research directions in materials, environment and energy, scientists also mentioned the issue of cybersecurity and the application of robots to transport goods in logistics warehouses.

According to Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan, from the perspective of market survey analysis, the field of high-tech materials, applied to the high-tech industry 4.0 is being researched and developed very strongly by startups around the world in 2024. Vietnam should go in this direction because we have a team of human resources capable of research and development, of course, it needs more support and assistance from the State and the companionship of domestic manufacturing enterprises.

Strengthening research collaboration

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dai Hung, Chairman of the Council of Science and Training, Graduate University of Science and Technology, assessed: The conference has raised modern and very obvious scientific and technological issues, especially when there are many research institutes of the Academy participating in research.  development and application in practice. Particularly in terms of advanced materials, application in the field of environment and energy, it can be affirmed as a strength of the Academy. Through the workshop, scientists have the opportunity to strengthen the promotion of scientific research results in their fields, and at the same time promote stronger cooperation between scientists and industrialists. Training institutions such as Graduate University of Science and Technology are and will receive active support from basic research orientation to applied research, thereby improving the quality of training human resources in science and technology.

Regarding the potential for cooperation between VAST’s research institutes and universities, Prof. Dr. Le Anh Tuan said: "We have a lot of cooperation in high-level research and training with the Academy, sharing resources, people and facilities to jointly create new values with high applicability. We need to share to get more information about scientific research and technology application development, so that we can connect and cooperate. Therefore, it is very necessary to have innovative scientific conferences for scientists, entrepreneurs and technology experts to meet and cooperate effectively."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Thi Huong Giang, University of Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, presented a report at the Workshop

As a scientist with many research collaborations with VAST, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Thi Huong Giang highly appreciated the meaning and value of the workshop. "Through the workshop, scientists and experts have shared information, exchanged advice and promoted cooperation to develop interdisciplinary research products. VAST is a place to gather leading scientists in multiple fields, ensuring resources to solve difficult problems and deploy different fields. Our research team in cooperation with VAST in general and with Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Lam in particular, has developed both basic and applied research, participated, learned and effectively exploited research resources", Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Thi Huong Giang said.

Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Lam emphasized that the workshop was carefully prepared in terms of content, with six06 excellent reports from the fields of physics, chemistry, information technology, mechanics, and environmental technology presented and discussed. The basic and application-oriented research reports are very high. On the occasion of Vietnam Teachers' Day (20/11), on behalf of Graduate University of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Lam congratulated the Professors and Associate Professors for always giving a lot of wisdom and enthusiasm, side by side with the mission of training high-quality science and technology human resources of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

Delegates taking a souvenir photo

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version