The VinFuture Prize is an annual international award established in 2020 by the Vietnam-based VinFuture Foundation. The foundation aims to promote research in health, technology, and sustainability.
Founders The VinFuture Foundation was founded in 2020 by Phạm Nhật Vượng (founder of Vingroup) with his wife, Phạm Thu Hương. The organization operates as an independent nonprofit entity with the stated mission of recognizing research in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Prize Council The VinFuture Foundation Prize Council is responsible for setting criteria, evaluating laureates, and selecting winners in recognition of research that "has or will have the potential to bring solutions that can be applied to the everyday life of ordinary people." The Prize Council is chaired by Sir Richard Henry Friend, the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and includes members from international universities and research institutions.
Members Prof. Pascale Cossart, FRS (Pasteur Institute, Paris, France) Prof. Van-Chi Dang (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; Johns Hopkins University, United States) Prof. Martin Andrew Green (University of New South Wales, Australia) Prof. Daniel Kammen (University of California, Berkeley, United States) Prof. Sir Konstantin (Kostya) S. Novoselov, FRS (University of Manchester, United Kingdom) Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, (Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India) Prof. Pamela Ronald (University of California, Davis, United States) Prof. Daniela Rus (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States) Prof. Leslie Gabriel Valiant, FRS (Harvard University, United States)
Honorary members There are 15 honorary members recognized for strategic advisory roles, including Prof. Susan Solomon, Prof. Albert P. Pisano, Dr. Xuedong Huang, Prof. Myles Allen, Prof. Jennifer Tour Chayes, Prof. Gérard Albert Mourou, Prof. Michael Eugene Porter, and Prof. Soumitra Dutta.
The VinFuture Prize Pre-Screening Committee The Pre-Screening Committee is responsible for identifying and reviewing qualified nominees based on the selection criteria established by the Prize Council, as well as preparing and presenting supporting documents for the shortlist to the Prize Council.
Members Prof. Thuc-Quyen Nguyen (University of California, Santa Barbara, United States) Prof. Ngoc-Minh Do (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States; VinUniversity, Vietnam) Prof. Ana Belén Elgoyhen (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) Dr. Filippo Giorgi (Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy) Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim, FRS (Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, South Africa) Prof. Ermias Kebreab (University of California, Davis, United States) Dr. Jayshree Seth (3M, Minnesota, United States) Prof. Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter (University of Würzburg, Germany) Prof. Fiona Watt (European Molecular Biology Organization, Germany) Prof. Vivian Yam (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC)
Honorary members Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber Prof. Mônica Alonso Cotta Prof. Alta Schutte Prof. Albert P. Pisano Prof. Myles Allen Mr. Akihisa Kakimoto Prof. Duc-Thu Nguyen Prof. Molly Shoichet Mr. Truong Quoc Hung Prof. Trac D. Tran Dr. Bui Hai Hung
Award process
Nomination Nominations are compiled and qualified by the VinFuture Prize Secretaries before the pre-screening round, which includes experts in natural science, health science, earth science, environmental science, computer science, material science, engineering, agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, biotechnology, environmental conservation, and other fields. The nominations are evaluated by the VinFuture Prize Pre-Screening Committee, based on three core criteria:
Scientific and technological advancement Meaningful changes in people's lives Scale of impact and sustainability Candidates must adhere to the List of 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Selection Four scientific discoveries that improve human lives and enhance fairness and sustainability for future generations have been selected by the VinFuture Prize Council. A Grand Prize and three special prizes are awarded annually. The prize winners are announced at the VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony. The Grand Prize awards $3 million in funding, and the special prizes award $500,000 in funding to each winner based on the following categories:
Special Prize for an excellent researcher or innovator from a developing-nation institute. Special Prize for an outstanding female researcher or innovator. Special Prize for groundbreaking discovery or invention in an emerging field of science or technology that has the potential to make a substantial beneficial impact on mankind in the future.
Award ceremony The VinFuture Sci-Tech Week and Award Ceremony are held annually, aiming to foster connections between Vietnam's scientific and technological communities and the global community.
Performers VinFuture has invited international artists to perform, with the performance being broadcast on VTV (Vietnam Television).
The Sci-Tech Week The VinFuture Sci-Tech Week brings together scientists, politicians, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Scientists gather in Vietnam to participate in the four main events of the VinFuture Sci-Tech Week: a conversation with the Prize Council and Pre-screening Committee, a "Science for Life" Symposium, the inaugural VinFuture Award Ceremony, and a Scientific Dialogue with the inaugural VinFuture Prize Laureates.
The VinFuture Award Ceremony The VinFuture Award Ceremony is a formal event attended by Vietnamese government leaders, scientists, and recipients of scientific honors such as the Nobel Prize, Millennium Technology Prize, Turing Award, and others. The award ceremony is broadcast live on local and global science and technology platforms.
Laureates
Reception The nominations have received praise from Sir Richard Henry Friend, the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge. Nobel Laureate Sir Konstantin Novoselov has commented on VinFuture Prize's "promotion of diversity and inclusion in the global scientific community".
See also
Japan Prize Tang Prize Breakthrough Prize Turing Award
References
External links
Official website