Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Science and Technology Journalists’ Club has unveiled a list of the top 10 sci-tech events of 2024, selected by reporters and editors of press agencies nationwide.
The top ten events are as follows:
1. Approval to resume Ninh Thuan nuclear power project
On November 30, during the 8th session, the 15th National Assembly passed a resolution to restart the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, with the Government tasked with arranging resources and considering amendments and supplements to relevant laws, including the Atomic Energy Law.
2. Semiconductor industry development strategy by 2030 issued
On September 21, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 1018/QD-TTg approving Vietnam's semiconductor industry development strategy through 2030, with a vision to 2050. It outlines a three-phase roadmap, aiming to establish at least 100 design companies, a small-scale semiconductor manufacturing facility, and 10 packaging and testing plants by 2030. The industry is also expected to generate over 25 billion USD in annual revenue and develop a workforce of more than 50,000 engineers and technicians.
3. Merger of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information and Communications
On December 6, the Government announced a reorganisation plan to streamline its structure, reducing the number of ministries and ministerial-level agencies to eight while merging 14 others. Among the key changes is the integration of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information and Communications, in a bid to optimise resources and eliminate overlaps in functions.
4. Launch of local innovation index
On March 12, the Ministry of Science and Technology introduced the local innovation index and released the 2023 rankings for 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam. Hanoi achieved the highest score, followed by Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong.
5. Institute of Geophysics’ mastery of earthquake monitoring and notification technology
Serving the work of earthquake notification and tsunami warnings in Vietnam, the Institute of Geophysics, under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, now operates nearly 100 earthquake monitoring stations nationwide.
6. Viettel launches Vietnam's largest data centre
In April, the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) inaugurated the Viettel Hoa Lac Data Centre, equipped with 60,000 servers, over 2,400 racks, and a floor area of 21,000 square metres. With a total power capacity of 30 MW, it is now the largest of its kind in Vietnam.
7. Techfest 2024 marks a decade of Vietnam's startup ecosystem development
The 10th national innovation and startup festival Techfest 2024 took place in Hai Phong city from November 26 to 28, drawing nearly 10,000 participants. The event featured over 1,100 speakers and experts, nearly 400 exhibition booths, and more than 50 specialised investment networking sessions. In the first nine months of 2024, 38 investment deals totaling approximately 372 million USD were made in local startups. Currently, the country is home to about 3,800 innovative startups, primarily concentrated in major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hai Phong. Vietnam jumps two spots, from 58th to 56th, in the global startup ecosystem index 2024.
8. FPT begins construction on AI centre worth over 4.36 trillion VND
On August 18, FPT Quy Nhon, in collaboration with the People's Committee of the central province of Binh Dinh, broke ground on an AI centre and its auxiliary urban area in Quy Nhon city. Spanning 93.2 hectares with a total investment of over 4.36 trillion VND (171.31 million USD), the facility aims to be a hub for AI research, education, software production, digital transformation support, cybersecurity solutions, and human-centric AI applications to enhance productivity and service quality.
9. Discovery of 8,000-year-old prehistoric settlement in Bac Kan
In August, the Vietnam Archaeological Association and Bac Kan Museum unearthed traces of prehistoric human activity at four sites across more than 20 caves in Quang Khe and Dong Phuc communes, Ba Be district, the northeastern mountainous province of Bac Kan. The discovery followed over a month of fieldwork.
10. Vietnamese scholar winning international astronomy award in Taiwan
Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Chi Thiem, 45, currently working at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and Korea University of Science and Technology, received the 2024 NCU-Delta Young Astronomer Lectureship Award from the National Taiwan University. Thiem is the first Vietnamese recipient of the award and the fourth individual based in Asia to achieve this recognition./.
