First Vietnamese scientist named at UK’s TechWomen 100 Awards

With outstanding achievements in biotechnology, Dr Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh from University College London (UCL) has become the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards.

Dr Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh (yellow long dress) from University College London (UCL) becomes the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards. (Photo: VNA)
Dr Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh (yellow long dress) from University College London (UCL) becomes the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards. (Photo: VNA)

London (VNA) - With outstanding achievements in biotechnology, Dr Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh from University College London (UCL) has become the first Vietnamese scientist to win the UK's TechWomen 100 Awards.

The award ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on November 21.

Founded in 2017, the TechWomen 100 Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in the field technology, focusing solely on women working in technology below director level, with an aim to create a new generation of female role models for the industry and a pipeline of future leaders.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondent in the UK at the award ceremony, Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE, CEO and Founder of WeAreTheCity/WeAreTechWomen and organiser of the Awards, said the Awards aim to find incredible women working in technology or across STEM fields to honour their achievements and at the same time support them with a full development program, building up an ecosystem of women in technology that are supporting one another and opening doors of opportunities.

To become one of the 100 most outstanding women in the field of technology this year, Linh, lecturer of Biomaterials at UCL’s Eastman Dental Institute, surpassed 1,150 applicants to be in the shortlist of 200 candidates, winning the Award for her extensive research and academic contributions in biotechnology, including biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.

Vanessa Vallely said it was an honour to have Linh as one of the winners, trusting Linh will be an asset to the group and a flagship for Vietnam. She hoped in the future the Awards will see more candidates from Vietnam.

Linh said she was happy and proud to be the first Vietnamese to receive the TechWomen 100 Award. Although living and working in the UK, Linh is always proud to be Vietnamese and believes that efforts of Vietnamese can make a difference wherever they are.

She believes the Award is not only a recognition of her efforts but also helps promote the image of Vietnamese women in science and technology, proving that Vietnamese women can make achievements in such challenging fields as science and technology.

Linh hopes her Award will inspire female Vietnamese scientists both at home and abroad, especially young people, to be confident and overcome all barriers to pursue their passion for science.

Nguyen Thuy Ba Linh was born in 1980 in Ho Chi Minh City. She graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Sciences in Chemistry in 2003 and did postdoctoral research at the Republic of Korea’s Soonchunhyang University, focusing on regenerative medicine. In 2016, she joined the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering as a postdoctoral researcher, contributing to significant advancements in biomedical engineering and tissue regeneration.

In 2019, Linh transitioned to a faculty position at UCL’s Eastman. Her research interests include biomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, and thermo-responsive polymers for stem cell expansion and harvesting.

In addition to academic pursuits, Linh founded SmileScaff, dedicated to developing advanced scaffold technologies for accelerated wound healing and tissue regeneration. The company integrates cutting-edge biomaterials with practical medical applications, aiming to revolutionize tissue engineering. She also chaired the Vietnam Young Academy from 2021-2023 and mentor young scientists through the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland./.

VNA

See more

Participants in the Vietnam–India Innovation Gateway Bootcamp (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, India boost innovation cooperation

Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in India, highlighted the shift in Vietnam–India relations from traditional cooperation to partnerships based on innovation, technology, and digital transformation.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam emerges as new hotspot for AI data centre investment

A wave of investment in artificial intelligence (AI) data centres is sweeping across Vietnam, with both domestic and international corporations announcing multi-billion-USD projects that are set to transform the country into a rising hub in the regional AI infrastructure map.

An overview of the international seminar, themed “Building resilience against online frauds and scams in Southeast Asia: Spotlight on Vietnam". (Photo: VNA)

Experts propose anti-scam solutions suited to Vietnam’s conditions

Vietnam’s digital transformation has achieved remarkable progress. However, similar to other countries in the region, online scams and fraud cases are on the rise. Last year, authorities recorded 10,000 online fraud cases, with estimated losses of nearly 759 million USD.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the Vietnam Open Technology Forum 2025 in Hanoi on November 3. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam looks to develop, master digital technology through open standards

Vietnam has chosen to pursue this direction — developing open technologies, open-source software, and open data — to enable individuals and enterprises to co-create new values. With this approach, it will become a technology-driven nation that both benefits from and contributes to global knowledge.

The seminar held in London on October 28 between Party General Secretary To Lam and leading strategists on AI and technology in the UK and the world. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party chief attends seminar on AI, technology in London

With its aspiration to become a pioneer in digital economy, Vietnam seeks to learn from the UK - the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and the homeland of great minds such as Isaac Newton, John Locke, Adam Smith, Alan Turing, William Shakespeare, and Charles Dickens - to build an innovative, human-centred, and sustainable technological ecosystem.

Int'l press conference highlights key outcomes of Hanoi Convention signing

Int'l press conference highlights key outcomes of Hanoi Convention signing

The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly held an international press conference to announce the outcomes of the Signing Ceremony and High-Level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (also known as Hanoi Convention) in Hanoi on October 26.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Pham The Tung addresses the policy discussion in Hanoi on October 26. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi Convention: Fostering global cooperation in combating cybercrime

A policy discussion focusing on promoting international cooperation in combating cybercrime, with national approaches to implementing the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (the Hanoi Convention), took place in Hanoi on October 26 on the sidelines of the convention's signing ceremony.