The Best Innovation Award went to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Kim Phung, director of Refinery & Petrochemical Technology Research Center (RPTC) of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM). She was recognised for her "Advanced Bio-based Aerogels from Agricultural Waste for Water Treatment” project and duly awarded JPY3 million, equivalent to US$26,300.

Elsewhere, the Outstanding Innovation Award was given to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Xuan Thanh, head of Laboratory (VNU-HCM Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology). He was granted the honour thanks to his “Wetland roof (WR) system for domestic wastewater treatment and sustainable cities” project.

The two projects were highly acclaimed for their effectiveness, practicality, and environmental sustainability due to their treatment of waste products.

The Hitachi Global Foundation, founded in 2015 in a merger of five corporate social responsibility branches of Hitachi, aims to seek to provide social schemes in home upbringing, youth development, and the promotion of science and technology. This is in addition to raising awareness of environmental conservation and supporting greater human development throughout Asia, according to the Japanese company's website.

The foundation started the annual Asia Innovation Award in 2020 to promote science, technology, and innovation to help solve social issues and realise a sustainable society in Southeast Asia.

It seeks to highlight the outstanding achievements made in research and development in the fields of science and technology, all of which contribute to an ideal future society and the achievements of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2021 a group of Vietnamese scientists also won top prize of Asia Innovation Award thanks to the collaborative project on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) led by Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong from Vietnam’s Institute of Chemical Technology.

Source: VOV