On September 4th 2020, a membership workshop of the Vietnam - Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) was held in Ha Noi with the participation of Vice Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy, Former Vice Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh, Prof.Dr. Bui Tat Thang - Former Director of Institute of Development Strategy (Ministry of Planning and Investment), Dr. Kum Dongwha - President of VKIST and all VKIST staff.
The workshop is an opportunity for VKIST to introduce about its vision, system, policies, research directions as well as the plan from the second half of 2020 to 2021.
Overview of the workshop
According to Vice Minister Bui The Duy, VKIST is a symbol of the strategic cooperation between the Government of Viet Nam and the Government of Korea. At present, VKIST has been facing great competition from other research Institutes and Universities. However, with the support of 2 Governments, VKIST will become a leading industrial research Institute with distinct objectives and at the most advanced level. At the same time, the Institute can directly find out research directions for manufacturers in Viet Nam.
Vice Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy presented at the workshop
Dr. Kum Dongwha said that VKIST has been realizing the direction of a Contract Research Institute. Specifically, with the financial support of the Vietnamese Government, VKIST has managed to pay salaries for staff to ensure their living expense.
During the working process, employees are always encouraged to ask the questions "Why?", "How?" and find a way to solve it. That point makes the big difference between VKIST and other public research Institutes. Also, it is really important for staff of Administration Division and R&D Planning and Coordination Division to actively support R&D Divisions for the highest work efficiency.
Dr. Kum Dongwha, President of Vietnam – Korea Institute of Science and Technology, made a speech at the workshop
Currently, VKIST has been implementing applied research activities including the development of health care products originated from Viet Nam, electronics, information technology and biosensors.
Especially, there was the participation and presentation of Prof.Dr. Bui Tat Thang (Former Director of Institute of Strategic Development - Ministry of Planning and Investment), one of the writers of the VKIST ODA project proposal from the very first days. According to Dr. Thang, the process of forming VKIST was really challenging, but he is happy to know that VKIST has been on the right track since its inception. Dr. Thang also believes that with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the leadership of Dr. Kum Dongwha, VKIST will successfully build a new model of research Institute orienting to industrial technology development.
Dr. Kum Dongwha gave souvenirs to Pro.Dr. Bui Tat Thang
Regarding the medicinal herbs field, Assoc.Pro.Dr. Phuong Thien Thuong - Head of BioTechnology Division said that the current research focus is on upgrading the extraction process with high output of active compounds, upgrading the quality standard of final products; lowering cost and constraining side effects. Besides, traditional remedies are being developed into modern forms.
Currently, VKIST is cooperating with pharmaceutical companies in Viet Nam to carry out a number of research projects such as development of health care products from Gac tree or enhancement of curcumin extracts and essences from turmeric.
Assoc.Pro. Phuong Thien Thuong presented about research direction of Biotechnology Division
As for electronics field, VKIST is developing electric motor technology for electric vehicles and control and charging systems for electric cars. Currently, the Electronics Division, led by Mr. Pham Duy Hoc, is implementing 02 projects on 2-seat electric cars and calculation and simulation tools for design of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM).
According to Dr. Nguyen Duy Tai, Head of Information Technology Division, VKIST is developing application solutions for smart agriculture in Viet Nam thanks to the application of AI, Big Data, IoT, which helps to save production costs. Ongoing projects are ICT solutions for melon production in Hung Yen province, ICT solution for buffalo artificial insemination in Tuyen Quang province, ICT solution for management of patient flows in hospitals in Ha Noi, etc. Since September 2020, VKIST has cooperated with MOST to create robots to clean shrimp and fish ponds, improving the quality of aquaculture.
VKIST's field of biosensors goes into upgrading and localization of biosensor technologies in Viet Nam, creating a new generation of biosensors.
According to Assoc.Pro.Dr. Truong Thi Ngoc Lien, Head of Integration of Biotechnology and Information Technology, for 2020-2023 period, the research team plans to release the product “Magnetic nanoparticles-based lateral flow immuoassay strips and contacless scanning prototype based on tunneling magnetoresistance sensors for rapid quantification of cancer antigen CA 15-3”.
VKIST leaders took photos with former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh and Prof.Dr. Bui Tat Thang
Mr. Tran Tuan Thanh, Head of R&D Planning and Coordination Division and Mr. Nguyen Thuy Sy, Chief Accountant presented activities for the first half of 2020 and implementation plan for the second half of 2020. The administrative work, consisting of various contents, has the mission to best support Research Divisions to conduct R&D projects. Administration staff have always tried their best to meet work requirements and implement activities such as regulations and plans making in order to develop research programs and ensure sustainable development of VKIST.
The workshop was held successfully and provided VKIST's staff with a lot of knowledge and information. Therefore, it is expected that VKIST will organize more internal activities in the coming time.
