On the morning of March 8, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 40th anniversary celebration of the Kovalevskaia Prize and presented the 2024 awards to two distinguished female scientists.

This year’s recipients are:

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan, Director of the Institute for Research and Development of Natural Compounds and lecturer at the School of Chemical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi My Dung, Deputy Director of the Institute for Nanotechnology, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.

The Kovalevskaia Prize, named after the renowned Russian mathematician Sophia Kovalevskaia (1850-1891), is a prestigious award recognizing the contributions of female scientists in natural sciences.

The two awardees were honored for their exceptional research and practical applications that have significantly contributed to their institutions and industries in Vietnam. Their research achievements have been successfully transferred to enterprises, generating technology deals worth billions of dong.

Women’s contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and economic development

In his speech, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the indispensable role of women in family, community, and national development. He highlighted that Vietnamese women have continuously strived for excellence, making significant contributions to nation-building and economic growth.

Vietnam has been recognized as one of the earliest countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on gender equality and women’s empowerment. According to the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, Vietnam ranks 72nd out of 146 countries, climbing 11 places compared to 2022.

Women’s leadership in government has also grown, with female representation in the National Assembly (2021-2026 term) exceeding 30%, one of the highest rates in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the science and technology sector, female intellectuals have made remarkable progress, gaining recognition both domestically and internationally. Between 2019 and 2024, 601 women were appointed professors or associate professors, accounting for 21.5% of all academic promotions during this period.

Kovalevskaia Prize: A legacy of recognizing female scientists

The Kovalevskaia Prize, the first national-level award honoring female scientists, has played a vital role in encouraging Vietnamese women in science. Over the past four decades, the prize has gained significant prestige and recognition within the scientific community.

Prime Minister Chinh congratulated Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan and Dr. Dang Thi My Dung, praising their dedication and resilience. "Their achievements exemplify the intelligence, creativity, and perseverance of Vietnamese female scientists," he stated.

At the event, the Prime Minister urged government agencies and research institutions to provide greater support for women in science, technology, and innovation. He emphasized the need for equal access to scientific resources and opportunities, particularly in digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and research commercialization.

Vietnam aims to foster an environment where female scientists can thrive, contributing to technological advancements and national development in line with the Resolution 57 of the Politburo.

Quang Phong