Vietnam Establishes New Committee for Ho Chi Minh and State Awards in Science and Technology

Vietnam has established a new specialized committee to select recipients for the Ho Chi Minh Award and State Award in Science and Technology. This committee will report its selection results to the Prime Minister, and will be chaired by the Minister of Science and Technology, Vu Hai Quan. According to Decision No. 1492/QD-TTg signed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the newly formed committee is tasked with organizing the selection and awarding of the Ho Chi Minh Award and State Award in Science and Technology for the Prime Minister. Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Minister of Science and Technology, will serve as the Chairman of the committee. Professor, Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, will serve as Vice Chairmen. The committee consists of 20 members, who are experts from diverse fields including healthcare, life sciences, social sciences, materials science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, military technology, geology, irrigation, education, and science and technology management. Notable members include Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong, former Head of the Neurology Department at Military Medical University 103; Professor, Dr. Thai Hoang from the Institute of Materials Science under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; Dr. Nguyen Quan, former Minister of Science and Technology; and Mr. Bui Hoang Phuong, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. The functions and duties of the committee will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Government Decree No. 18/2024 on the Ho Chi Minh Award, State Award, and other awards in science and technology. The Ministry of Science and Technology will serve as the Standing Office of the committee, and a working group will be established by the Minister's decision. The committee is authorized to use the seal of the Ministry of Science and Technology for its operations and will be dissolved upon completion of its mission. Specialized committees at the state level are expected to complete their selections by August 30, with the State-level committee finalizing its choices in September. The results will be submitted to the Prime Minister by the end of November, and the award ceremony is tentatively scheduled for September 2, 2027. The Ho Chi Minh Award and State Award were established in 1996 and are presented every five years. They are the highest honors awarded by the Communist Party and the State to individuals and works that have made significant scientific, technological, and practical contributions. The most recent award ceremony, the 6th edition, was held in Hanoi on November 23, 2022. Across six award cycles, a total of 263 works have received recognition, with 105 receiving the Ho Chi Minh Award and 158 receiving the State Award.