Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology reviews performance in 2025 and implements the plan for 2026
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Executive Committee of the Government Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and President of VAST, delivered the opening remarks at the Conference to review performance in 2025 and implement the plan for 2026
The year 2025 holds particularly significant importance as the final year of the 2021–2025 five-year planning period, the first year of implementing Resolution 57 of the Politburo, and also a pivotal year to prepare the mindset for entering the 2026–2030 period. Upholding the spirit of creativity, unity, and determined efforts, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology implemented scientific and technological tasks in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, proactively approached new research directions, promoted technology application and transfer, strengthened international cooperation, and successfully fulfilled the planned targets set for 2025; as well as most of the targets stipulated in the Resolution of the 8th Congress of the Academy’s Party Committee for the 2020–2025 term; thereby continuing to affirm its core role within the national science system.
The year 2025 is the third year of implementing the Development Strategy under Decision 166/QD-TTg dated 28 February 2023 of the Prime Minister; and also the first year in which the Academy began operating its new organizational structure following the rearrangement, consolidation, and streamlining of its apparatus in accordance with the direction of the Central Steering Committee and Decree 38/2025/ND-CP dated 26 February 2025 of the Prime Minister. The Academy has completed the Government’s directive on reducing the number of subordinate units; to date, the Academy has 24 subordinate units, including 13 research units, 6 public service units, and 5 advisory units. Although there remain certain difficulties and obstacles, with the efforts and unity of the entire leadership, officials, civil servants, and scientists, the Academy has quickly stabilized its operations and continued to successfully carry out many of the tasks that had been set.
Seizing new development opportunities while overcoming numerous challenges, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has continued to maintain its scientific and technological achievements.
VAST currently has a total of 3,081 officials, public employees, and workers. Among the 2,045 staff on the state payroll, there are 53 Professors, 184 Associate Professors, 13 Doctors of Science, and 902 PhDs, along with 768 Master’s degree holders. In 2025, VAST added 3 Professors and 24 Associate Professors. This scientific workforce directly implements research and training programs and tasks, while also providing an important foundation for VAST to enhance the quality of its publications, expand international cooperation, and develop interdisciplinary research directions in the new period.
Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of VAST, emphasized that VAST has completed many major tasks, such as restructuring its organizational apparatus, successfully organizing the 9th Congress of the VAST Party Committee, fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Politburo and the Government, and, in particular, exceeding the targets set for the 2021–2025 period
As of October 2025, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology had published a total of 2,437 scientific works, including 2,332 papers published in reputable journals; and 105 patents and utility solution certificates. The number of internationally published works was maintained at a high level, reaching 1,699 publications, accounting for more than 73% of the total number of publications. Many published works involved the integration of multiple specialized fields, demonstrating multidisciplinary linkages in research at VAST. The number of publications in 2025 continued to remain high, with a ratio of 1.9 international publications per PhD per year. Notably, the number of intellectual property titles increased remarkably, reaching 169% compared to 2024. In addition to publishing scientific results, VAST scientists described 124 species, 7 new genera, and 1 new family to science, and published 17 monographs.
Training activities continued to operate effectively, with the Graduate University of Science and Technology, the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, and the Institute of Mathematics improving the quality of education and training. In 2025, VAST recorded 68 PhD candidates, 36 Master’s candidates, and 502 Bachelor’s students who successfully defended their theses. All doctoral candidates who defended their dissertations had international publications. The training units of VAST enrolled 1,419 new undergraduate and postgraduate students.
In 2025, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology actively implemented external relations activities to strengthen and expand international cooperation in scientific research and technological development with partners in the region and worldwide. VAST continued to be assigned by the Government to implement major and important ODA projects aimed at building and developing infrastructure and technological capacity in the field of space technology research and applications. In parallel, VAST completed and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval the Scheme entitled “Plan to Enhance National Capacity in Earth Observation Based on Small Satellite Systems to 2030, with a Vision to 2040”, and is in the process of finalizing the dossier for the Scheme “Enhancing the Capacity of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to a Level Comparable to Advanced Countries in the Region and Worldwide”, to be submitted to the Prime Minister in the second quarter of 2026. In addition, VAST has been developing and is continuing to develop a number of other schemes as assigned by the Politburo and the Secretariat.
VAST’s routine activities in organization and personnel, administrative affairs, planning and finance, technology application and deployment, and inspection and supervision continued to achieve positive results.
A particularly notable hallmark of 2025 was the successful organization of the Party Congress of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for the 2025–2030 term, marking an important transition in the Academy’s development process. The Congress not only comprehensively reviewed the outcomes of the Party Committee’s leadership and direction during the previous term, but also set forth orientations, objectives, and key tasks for the coming period. This serves as an important political foundation for VAST to continue affirming its core role in scientific research and innovation, and to make practical contributions to the country’s rapid and sustainable development.
The overall achievements attained have affirmed the research strengths and determination for renewal of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in 2025, creating a solid foundation for subsequent stages of development. On that basis, each research field and key area of activity of VAST has also recorded its own distinctive highlights.
The projects of the Vietnam National Space Center, the project for the construction of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, and the project for site preparation and infrastructure development of the Vietnam National Museum of Nature for the 2021–2025 period all implemented many important components. The Vietnam Space Museum was inaugurated and put into operation.
Earthquake monitoring, earthquake information dissemination, and tsunami warning activities in Vietnam in accordance with Government regulations have continued to be maintained on a continuous basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From 1 January 2025 to 27 November 2025, the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Center recorded 386 earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 7.6 on the Moment Magnitude scale occurring within the territory and maritime areas of Vietnam or having impacts on Vietnam.
The DNA Identification Center has been and continues to closely coordinate with the International Commission on Missing Persons in the implementation of an ODA project. To date, two DNA extraction methods and three NGS-SNP sequencing protocols have been developed for Vietnamese skeletal remains; next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has been applied to analyze DNA samples from the remains of fallen soldiers at the Tra Linh Cemetery, Cao Bang Province; a DNA database of relatives of fallen soldiers has been established to support identity matching; and the process for analyzing and matching SNP DNA data between skeletal remains and relatives has been completed, resulting in two cases of successful matches.
With a team of leading scientists, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has deployed scientific research and technological development activities extensively across many fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, information technology, new materials, energy, environment, marine science, and space science, making important contributions to fundamental research, high-technology development, and providing strategic policy advice on science and technology development to the Party and the Government.
Fundamental research is the most important function and mission of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. In 2025, VAST continued to maintain its position as the leading institution nationwide in fundamental research.
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology continued to organize the honoring of outstanding research works across different research fields conducted by its own scientists. Accordingly, seven outstanding published works were selected in the following fields: Mathematics – Information Technology; Mechanics – Physics – Space Technology; Chemistry; Biotechnology; Ecology and Biological Resources; Earth Sciences; and Environment – Energy.
Scientists at Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology continued to achieve many outstanding accomplishments, notably Associate Prof. Dr. To Mai Huong, who was awarded the national L'Oréal – UNESCO Scholarship “For Women in Science 2025”; Associate Prof. Dr.Sc. Vu Cao Minh, together with the author group, who received the Tran Dai Nghia Award in 2025; and Dr. Dang Thi Le Hang and Master Nguyen Ba Manh, who were awarded the Golden Globe Award in 2025.
Basic survey activities are interdisciplinary in nature, long-term in scope, and constitute a traditional strength of VAST. With a network of 83 monitoring stations distributed across the national territory and maritime areas, stable operations have been maintained and natural environmental parameters continuously collected. VAST implemented 20 basic survey projects, including 9 projects in the field of Earth Sciences and 11 projects on biodiversity and bioactive compounds. These projects focused on investigating and assessing geological conditions, socio-economic conditions, and natural resources, serving disaster prevention and mitigation as well as orientations for sustainable exploitation. The results recorded many new species, collected valuable specimens, and made significant additions to the Academy’s resource databases, creating an important foundation for fundamental research, applied research, and practical deployment.
Overview of the review conference
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology continued to promote research and technological development activities, closely coordinating with ministries, sectors, and international organizations in the formulation of policies and standards on intellectual property and technology commercialization. The Academy also actively participated in science and technology events and was honored with a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister at the exhibition “80 Years of the Journey of Independence – Freedom – Happiness”. The Academy was granted 105 patents and utility solution certificates; many core technologies in biology, new materials, energy, and the environment have been mastered and effectively transferred. The Tran Dai Nghia Award 2025 was successfully organized, honoring two works with high application value. DNA identification, identification of rare species listed under CITES, and forensic specimen examination continued to provide practical support to competent authorities. Upholding the spirit of autonomy, subordinate units signed 836 science and technology contracts with a total value exceeding VND 532 billion, affirming efforts to bring science into daily life and production.
VAST’s training activities continued to be implemented in an orderly manner, maintaining its role as a leading institution for training high-quality science and technology human resources nationwide. VAST’s training units enrolled 1,419 new trainees and students for the new academic year, and 663 trainees and students graduated at the undergraduate and master’s levels, while 63 doctoral candidates successfully defended their PhD dissertations, meeting the criterion that each doctoral candidate has at least two international publications.
In 2025, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology continued to effectively implement cooperation and international integration activities. Many high-level international delegations visited VAST for exchanges and the signing of agreements, thereby promoting scientific cooperation. The year 2025 also marked a successful year in international integration, as several of the Academy’s scientists were honored by major international science and technology organizations. At the same time, VAST actively promoted more concrete cooperation activities, such as implementing marine research survey activities, major bilateral research tasks, technology transfer missions, and actively participating in activities while emphasizing its role as the science and technology organization of the Government of Vietnam within international organizations.
Delegates attending the review conference
In 2025, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology renewed its advisory activities for the Party and the Government, with many consultative and policy advisory reports produced by the Academy being utilized and highly evaluated in the fields of science and technology. In addition, the Academy actively participated in the formulation of mechanisms and policies on science, technology, and innovation, particularly in areas related to the development of research, fundamental technologies, and strategic technologies.
The results achieved in 2025 clearly affirm the dedication, intellect, and sustained spirit of contribution of the Academy’s staff and scientists. These achievements not only made practical contributions to the country’s science and technology development, but also created a distinctive milestone in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment and development of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (1975–2025).
Other routine activities of VAST in organization and personnel and inspection, administrative affairs, and planning and finance were conducted in an orderly manner and achieved positive results, together with the active participation of the Veterans Association, the Trade Union, and the Youth Union, contributing to the Academy’s overall achievements.
Entering 2026, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 9th Congress of the Party Committee of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, the targets and requirements set for the development of science and technology are substantial and pose many challenges. At the same time, these are also tasks that are a source of pride and honor for the scientists and for VAST. In the 2026–2030 period, VAST aims to achieve breakthrough development in scientific research, technological development, and the training of high-quality human resources. Key research directions will continue to be promoted, with several fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology striving to reach advanced levels in the region and internationally. By 2030, VAST aims to become a science and technology center among the leading group in the region, making practical contributions to the country’s sustainable development.
Awarding the Emulation Flag to four outstanding units
At the Conference, in order to commend units, collectives, and individuals with outstanding achievements in 2025, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology awarded the Emulation Flag of the Academy to four units; the title of VAST Emulation Fighter to three individuals; and the title of Outstanding Labor Collective to 16 units and 27 departmental-level collectives and equivalent units. In addition, six units, three departmental-level collectives and equivalent units, and seven individuals received Certificates of Merit from the President of VAST for collectives and individuals that excellently fulfilled their tasks in 2025; while one collective and six individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit from the President of VAST for exceptional outstanding achievements in 2025.
At the conclusion of the Conference, President Chau Van Minh launched the 2026 emulation movement under the theme: “Emulation for innovation, creativity, acceleration, breakthroughs, and the development of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in the new era.” The President called upon all officials, public employees, and workers of VAST to uphold the tradition of solidarity, strive to achieve the highest possible results, contribute to the successful fulfillment of assigned political tasks, and help build VAST into an increasingly strong and sustainable institution.
Some other photos from the Conference:
Commending units, collectives, and individuals with outstanding achievements in their work
Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version
