A total of 40 outstanding scientific and technological innovations were honoured with the 2019 Vietnam Fund for Scientific and Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) Award at a ceremony held in Hanoi on October 21 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

The 5 first, 8 second, 8 third and 19 consolation prizes were presented in six categories, namely mechanics-automation; materials technology; information technology-electronics-telecommunication; biotechnology in service of production and life; technologies in service of climate change adaptation, environmental protection and rational use of natural resources; and energy-saving technologies and using new energy sources.

The winning works were selected from nearly 200 entries which help to improve the productivity, production efficiency and quality of products.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam awarded certificates of merit to ten individuals, who are the heads and co-heads of the five first prize winning works.

In addition, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) awarded the WIPO Award to a project on growing and producing products from lemon grass by Dr Le Van Tri and his colleagues from the Hanoi-based Fitohoocmon Fertilizer Joint Stock Company.

The VIFOTEC Award was launched in 1995 by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations in co-ordination with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

It aims to encourage the exploration and creation of scientific and technological works, which are capable of addressing the urgent requirements of the current reality and raising the competitiveness of Vietnamese products that can be effectively applied to daily life.