These scientific works go far beyond technical feats - they reflect a shared philosophy: science must address real-life challenges, heal the human body’s limits, and expand human potential.

On December 2, the 2025 VinFuture Science and Technology Week presented four visionary innovations: a robot endowed with physical intelligence, a soft artificial heart that mimics human rhythms, a stroke rehabilitation robot that restores movement, and a Vietnamese AI platform reshaping sustainable agriculture.

Each of these breakthroughs offers a glimpse into the future. Together, they deliver a unified message: science has true value only when it serves humanity, heals what has been broken, and pushes the boundaries of life itself.

Robots that “think”: Physical intelligence opens new frontiers in robotics

The opening keynote by Professor Ho-Young Kim of Seoul National University ushered the audience into a new era of robotics - one where intelligence is not embedded in microchips, but emerges from the robot’s physical form and material properties.

This approach, known as “spontaneous physical intelligence,” draws inspiration from nature, where living organisms respond, coordinate, and adapt through simple yet effective mechanisms.

For Professor Kim, the robots of the future will not require massive databases or complex algorithms to act intelligently. They simply need to be designed to interact physically with their environments. Just as ants form bridges by naturally distributing their body weight, mushroom spores locate air gaps along leaf veins, or white blood cells detect invaders via surface chemistry - these are all expressions of emergent intelligence that require no central processing.

Soft robots and swarm robots developed by his team operate on the same principle: intelligent behavior arises without intricate programming.

In practice, these robots offer unparalleled advantages for tasks like search and rescue, navigating confined spaces, working in extreme conditions, or supporting humans in high-flexibility environments. Their soft structures make them highly adaptable, energy-efficient, and sustainable - paving the way for a future where robots are not rigid steel machines, but organic collaborators harmonizing with their surroundings.

Professor Kim, a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, champions a distinct scientific philosophy: the simpler a robot, the smarter it becomes. This refined simplicity may define the next generation of robots - closer to nature, and closer to humanity.

The soft artificial heart: A biomedical leap that lets doctors "see the future of surgery"

The next talk transported the audience into the world of cardiovascular medicine - a field that claims over 20 million lives annually. Associate Professor Do Thanh Nho of the University of New South Wales introduced his invention: a “soft beating artificial heart,” a highly personalized simulation that replicates the structure, pressure, blood flow, and pulse unique to each patient.

Heart disease is especially challenging because every heart is a unique case. Static diagnostics, generic simulations, or animal testing fall short of replicating this complexity. As a result, doctors often make life-or-death decisions based on limited data, risking complications.

Dr. Nho’s soft artificial heart replicates real-heart movement and interaction forces with millimeter precision. It allows doctors to trial cardiovascular devices, rehearse complex surgeries, and assess risks on a personalized model - before ever touching the patient. This breakthrough could reduce reliance on animal testing, improve surgical safety, and unlock true personalized medicine.

With over 12 international patents and research featured in Reuters, The Washington Post, and IEEE Spectrum, Associate Professor Do Thanh Nho is among the most influential young minds in biomedical robotics. At VinFuture 2025, he shared a powerful message: when technology reaches the depths of life itself, every invention becomes a chance to save a heart.

Stroke rehabilitation robot: When engineering restores dignity and life

Professor Raymond Tong from The Chinese University of Hong Kong brought a deeply humanistic tone to the stage. He shared the story behind “The Hope Hand,” a wearable soft exoskeleton that can “read” the motion intent of stroke patients and help them regain movement in their hands.

But the device doesn’t just assist motion - it stimulates the brain to rewire neural pathways, allowing patients to relearn lost movements.

His next innovation, XoMuscle - a soft, lightweight, wearable artificial muscle - ushers in a new era of rehabilitation. It mimics natural biomechanics and enables those with muscle weakness to walk, move, and even lift weights beyond their normal ability. More than a medical device, XoMuscle restores independence, self-worth, and confidence to patients.

Professor Tong is a world-renowned expert in neural engineering and rehabilitation robotics. He was named a “Global Influencer on Aging,” won the Grand Prix in Geneva, and ranks among the top 2% most-cited scientists globally. His technologies have helped thousands regain mobility - and paint a future where robots don’t replace humans, but revive what was thought forever lost.

Enfarm: Vietnam’s AI takes its place on the global tech map

The VinFuture 2025 technology showcase became complete with the appearance of Enfarm - a homegrown Vietnamese innovation championing regenerative AI-powered agriculture.

In a world where climate change threatens global food production, Enfarm introduced two platforms: Enfarm App and Enfarm FM, both designed to lead Vietnamese agriculture into the era of smart farming.

Enfarm App uses lab-grade soil sensors combined with AI to give tailored recommendations for each farmer. As a result, farmers can increase yields by up to 30%, cut fertilizer use by 30%, lower emissions, and meet the high standards of sustainable agriculture. The generative AI also acts as a "farming assistant," offering guidance tailored to specific crops and plots.

Enfarm FM is designed for enterprises, helping them manage raw material zones, assess risks, trace origins, and meet ESG reporting requirements with full transparency. By connecting data from field to business, Enfarm is building a digital ecosystem that allows agriculture to adapt to climate change.

Led by CEO Nguyen Do Dung, Enfarm has expanded into 14 provinces in Vietnam, covers 30,000 hectares in the Philippines, and is piloting an anti-desertification project in Africa. Vietnam’s agri-tech innovations are thus no longer just local tools - they’re global problem-solvers, perfectly aligned with the VinFuture spirit: technology for humanity.

The four stories presented at the “Breakthrough Technologies of the Future” event revealed a common vision: robots are smarter when they mimic nature, medicine is more precise when it mirrors the human body, rehabilitation is more effective when it honors human dignity, and agriculture is more sustainable when powered by data.

These technologies are not only advanced - they are profoundly humane. They affirm one truth: every breakthrough is truly meaningful only when it helps people live healthier, safer, and more fulfilling lives.

Thai Khang