Exploring solutions to ignite passion and creativity
The rise of new technologies is creating a profound and growing impact on every aspect of social life. This presents both a challenge and a significant opportunity for young people to learn, innovate, and contribute, playing an integral role in shaping the future of society and the nation's development in this new era.
President Phan Xuan Dung, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VIFOTEC Le Xuan Thao, and Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Science and Technology & Environment Department of VUSTA Le Cong Luong co-chaired the Workshop
On the morning of October 29th, VUSTA organized a workshop titled "Innovating and enhancing the quality of science and technology competitions to ignite the passion for scientific research and innovation among the younger generation”.
In his opening remarks, VUSTA President Phan Xuan Dung cited President Ho Chi Minh's famous words: "Whether Vietnam’s landscapes flourish and whether the Vietnamese people rise to stand alongside global powers depends greatly on the efforts of our young generation in their studies”.
VUSTA President Phan Xuan Dung delivers opening speechat the Workshop
President Phan Xuan Dung explained that one of the ways to implement President Ho Chi Minh's teachings is through the organization of Science and Technology Innovation Competitions by VUSTA, aimed at sparking the passion for scientific research and creativity among the younger generation. This initiative has been ongoing for decades, with each year seeing continuous improvements.
However, the current state of our country is vastly different from 10 or 20 years ago. We have overcome poverty and transformed into a country with significant economic potential, ranking 35th in the world, with a population exceeding 100 million. In 2024, Vietnam's Global Innovation Index is ranked 44th out of 133 countries, an improvement of two spots compared to 2023. Yet, the world is not standing still. It is advancing at an unprecedented pace, driven by the scientific and technological foundation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This rapid development is turning the impossible into the possible and transforming dreams into reality. For these reasons, VUSTA is hosting today’s workshop to find improved solutions for continuing to nurture the passion and creativity of the younger generation-an exceptional group that will shape the future of our nation and stand among the global powers. This reflects the vision of President Phan Xuan Dung.
Vice Secretary General and Head of the Science, Technology, and Environment Department at VUSTA, Le Cong Luong, delivers remarks at the Workshop
At the workshop, Le Cong Luong, Vice Secretary General and Head of the Science, Technology, and Environment Department at VUSTA, proposed five solutions to enhance the quality of innovation awards, competitions, and events organized by VIFOTEC: Innovating and expanding the competition categories to keep pace with the rapid advancements in science and technology during the 4.0 industrial revolution; Strengthening collaboration with ministries, agencies, and central departments, especially co-organizing bodies, to establish effective coordination mechanisms; Revising outdated or irrelevant regulations related to awards, competitions, and events that were issued a long time ago; Creating an electronic database of award-winning projects to serve as a reference and promote them to the public; Implementing unified regulations and templates for competition submissions and updating the judging process, alongside organizing training sessions to enhance the skills of personnel involved in the organization of awards, competitions, and events..
Echoing Le Cong Luong's views, former Vice President of VUSTA, Nghiem Vu Khai, highlighted the importance of quickly integrating new fields into the competitions and events, including digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), green technology and the circular economy, medical biotechnology and healthcare, as well as smart infrastructure and urban development....
Former Vice President of VUSTA, Nghiem Vu Khai speaks at the Workshop
Mr. Khai emphasized that the role and responsibility of organizers in enhancing the quality of science and technology competitions are vital. As such, organizers must design a trustworthy and inspiring competition framework, set clear objectives and priorities, develop comprehensive and transparent evaluation criteria, and provide essential resources and guidance, such as materials and laboratory access. They should also encourage collaboration and teamwork, ensure inclusivity and equal access, establish ethical standards, recognize and support ongoing work on inventions, promote a long-term vision for participants, and cultivate a spirit of lifelong learning and growth....
Director of the Center for the Development of Science, Technology, and Young Talent, Nguyen Thien Tu speaks at the Workshop
Nguyen Thien Tu, Director of the Center for the Development of Science, Technology, and Young Talent, shared the view that improving the quality of science and technology platforms for young people requires prioritizing several key tasks. These include enhancing communication efforts to ensure that society—particularly youth, parents, and educational institutions—better understands the role and value these scientific and technological activities bring to young individuals. It is also essential to regularly update global science and technology trends, conduct surveys to identify the needs of youth, parents, educational institutions, and society, and adjust the content, format, and organizational methods of these platforms accordingly. Furthermore, the goal of developing the scientific and technological capacities of youth should remain the central focus when organizing these platforms.
Overview of the Workshop
Mr. Tu also highlighted the importance of selectively referencing models and methods for organizing science and technology platforms from advanced countries to diversify and innovate these platforms, ensuring they align with the practical needs and demands of today’s youth. He emphasized the need for robust digital transformation in organizing these platforms, the implementation of policies to support and nurture young talents emerging from these scientific and technological initiatives, and the importance of mobilizing resources through sponsorships, support from organizations and businesses, or contributions from the participants themselves. The ultimate goal is to establish a stable, sustainable, and significant resource base to enhance and elevate these platforms....
VUSTA President Phan Xuan Dung presents commendation letters to students with outstanding achievements in science and technology innovation competitions
VUSTA President Phan Xuan Dung presents VUSTA Merit Certificate to the Institute of Innovation Research and Attribute Verification(RIVA)
During the workshop, the Organizing Committee and the Policy Association of VUSTA held a ceremony in which President Phan Xuan Dung presented commendation letters from VUSTA to students who had achieved outstanding results in science and technology innovation competitions. He also awarded Certificates of Merit from VUSTA to the Institute of Innovation Research and Attribute Verification (RIVA) for their exceptional contributions to creative endeavors.
