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Viet Nam wins innovator prizes
Tan Hiep Phat Trade Service Ltd.,Co. was the only Vietnamese enterprise to win a World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) 2008 prize last week.
The drinks company produces Number One green tea, Laser and Dr Thanh herbal tea.
Established in 1994, Tan Hiep Phat was the first Vietnamese manufacturer of bottled green tea in 2006 and recently invested US$20 million in a bottled herbal tea factory.
Director Tran Uyen Phuong said the company had diversified its products into bottled green tea and energy drinks to differentiate it from soft drinks made by Coca Cola and Pepsi.
An individual WIPO prize was also awarded to Dr Pham Hong Quang from the Automatic Controlling Software Joint Stock Co for his work in mechanics and automation.
Meanwhile, Le Thi Thanh Binh from the HCM City Agro-Forestry University took the top WIPO prize for women in applied biology.
Students Nguyen Hong Phuong, Phan Anh Dung and Ngo Duc Thuan from Ha Noi University of Technology won the WIPO prize for their invention that identifies Vietnamese language spelling mistakes.
During the awards ceremony, the Viet Nam Fund for Supporting Scientific and Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) also honoured 35 winners of its 2008 competition for technical creativity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor To Huy Rua, Politburo member, secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for Popularisation and Education commended the winning scientists and entrepreneurs for their achievements locally and abroad.
He also hailed the important contributions made by the Viet Nam Union of Scientific Technological Associations over the past 14 years in encouraging research and development.
In all, there were two VIFOTEC first prizes, eight second prizes, 12 third prizes and 13 consolation prizes covering six categories: mechanics and automation; materials technology; information technology, electronics and telecommunications; applied biology; technology for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources; and energy technology.
The Prime Minister also awarded certificates of merit to eight individuals and groups for winning top prizes at last year’s technological creation competition in South Korea.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation, which is based in Geneva, is an agency of the United Nations and was established in 1967. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.
VietNamNet, vietnamnews
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