VAST strives to promote technological applications in daily Life
Guiding students of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi – VAST in conducting highly practical research projects. (Photo: USTH)
Bringing scientific achievements into practice
In recent years, VAST has been granted nearly 300 intellectual property patents, an increase of 52% compared with the previous term. Most research projects have high applicability, focusing on materials science, physics, biotechnology, and environmental studies.
A prime example is the DNA Identification Centre under the Institute of Biotechnology, one of the three leading national units participating in the project to identify remains of fallen soldiers without information, under the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 150/QD-TTg. With the capacity to analyse 4,000 samples per year and the use of gene sequencing and SNP analysis technologies, the centre has achieved a 70% success rate, offering hope to thousands of families. To date, about 800 samples have been extracted and over 1,200 results returned.
In physics, Dr. Do Hoang Tung (Institute of Physics – VAST) is the creator of PlasmaMed, a device that accelerates wound healing without antibiotics. After four years of research, Dr. Tung and his team successfully developed one of the world’s first plasma generators using arc-sliding technology, now in use at several hospitals and aesthetic clinics. At the same time, many research models from the Institute of Physics have been directly transferred to farms and aquaculture ponds, helping farmers apply advanced technologies—such as the biofloc tilapia farming model, which improves water quality, reduces pollution, conserves resources, and allows shrimp–fish crop rotation to boost productivity and meet export standards.
Prof. Dr.Tran Tuan Anh, Vice President of VAST, stated that in just five years, the Academy published over 12,000 scientific works, including 8,400 international papers, a 73% increase compared with the previous period. Six of its journals are indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, with each PhD researcher publishing nearly two ISI-standard papers on average. These results affirm the Academy’s orientation to link basic research with practical applications, focusing resources on fields with direct socio-economic impact. This approach is also an important criterion in topic evaluation, ensuring research resources are focused and not fragmented.
At present, VAST masters many core technologies in clean energy, materials, biology, national defence, agriculture, and aquaculture. Several products have been successfully commercialised with revenues of tens of billions of VND, such as heat-resistant paint and nano-curcumin. The Academy also emphasises training young human resources through the Graduate University of Science and Technology and the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, which supply personnel for research institutes, universities, and enterprises.
In the coming time, VAST will focus on key areas such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, nanotechnology, and marine pharmaceuticals, contributing to the practical deployment of more products. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Tien Dung, Head of the Department of Technology Application and Deployment, noted that many applied products have proven effective and are highly valued by enterprises and localities.
Bridging research and market application
Despite notable achievements, the transfer and commercialisation of technologies from VAST’s research outcomes remain limited. Dr. Nguyen Tran Dien, Deputy Head of the Department of Technology Application and Deployment, explained that the main challenge lies in the small number of technology transfer contracts—only 2 out of 36 units have active agreements. Businesses often order services rather than co-invest in research, while institutional and legal obstacles have also slowed scientific applications.
Meanwhile, implementing the autonomy mechanism under Decree No. 60/2021/ND-CP has revealed shortcomings, being inconsistent with the high “latency” and “risk” characteristics of scientific work. This has left many institutes and research centres struggling to operate efficiently, hindering their innovative potential.
Difficulties in technology transfer reflect not only regulatory and market barriers but also human resource challenges. Dr. Phan Ke Son, Secretary of the VAST Youth Union, stressed the need to build a research–market linkage network, with the Government acting as a “conductor.” He proposed granting greater autonomy to research institutions, managing by output performance, and completing laws on investment, public assets, and intellectual property.
Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of VAST, highlighted that the new approach now goes beyond planning—it involves innovative models that turn research into a driving force for development. VAST is orienting towards establishing innovation and start-up centres, encouraging the creation of spin-off enterprises from research institutes, and implementing the programme “Each Institute Associated with One Enterprise” to pilot, commercialise, and scale up technologies.
Resolution 57 sets a target that by 2030, Vietnam will have 12 researchers in science, technology, and innovation per 10,000 people, while building strong research institutes and universities that tightly link training, research, and application.
Accordingly, VAST aims to enhance training quality to international standards, attract and reward talent, prioritise investment in research centres and key laboratories, encourage enterprises to invest in R&D, and soon issue special mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign experts. These efforts will create an innovation ecosystem and a favourable working environment for scientists to maximise their potential.
Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version
