Cooperation Program signed by Vietnam Women's Union and Ministry of Science and Technology

Speaking at the Signing Ceremony, Member of the Party Central Committee, VWU President Ha Thi Nga is delighted at the growth of the Vietnamese intellectual women in scientific and technological research. Women make up 46% of the country's research and development workforce and have accomplished many projects of high theoretical and practical value. Several young female scientists and professors have been honored by international organizations like UNESCO and included in the Top 1% of globally influential scientists and Top 100 outstanding Asian scientists. They cover diverse specialties including rice, pharmacy, education, biomedicine, healthcare, cosmetics, and even male-dominated domains like renewable energy and nuclear science.

_{VWU President Ha Thi Nga speaks at the event}

In recent years, the VWU has promoted gender equality in science and technology through various activities, including the Kovalevskaia Prize and research projects conducted by the VWU at central and provincial levels.

Technology and innovation have also been an important element of the VWU’s Project "Supporting women business start-up". After 7 years, the project has supported more than 72,000 women starting businesses, 1,470 female enterprises, and nearly 12,000 newly established cooperatives. Over 45,000 female businesses have been provided with funding worth over 15,700 USD; 147 women's startup projects won prizes at the Women Startup competition, of which 10 involved technology and innovation aspects. Within Project 8 "Realizing gender equality and addressing urgent problems for women and children", the VWU is also implementing science and technology application activities for cooperatives.

_{MOST leaders at the Ceremony}

With the signed MOU, VWU expects the MOST to pay more attention to promoting gender equality in science and technology, supporting women intellectuals and scientists to affirm their roles, and assisting female enterprises and new start-ups to apply science and technology in production and business. President Nga also suggests MOST to nominate women for the Kovalevskaia Prize.

_{MOST Minister Huynh Thanh Dat speaks at the event}

At the event, Member of the Party Central Committee, MOST Minister Huynh Thanh Dat acknowledged the VWU’s awareness of the importance of Science, Technology, and Innovation in enhancing the role and status of Vietnamese women. He believes this coordination program would create more favorable conditions for both agencies to realize their tasks in the process of "Stepping up renewal process, rapid and sustainable national development" as stated in the Document of the XIII Party Congress.

_{At the Signing Ceremony}

The Cooperation Program covers 3 important contents:

(1) Coordinating in scientific research, policy proposal, capacity building, and honoring outstanding female scientists.

(2) Coordinating in communication and training to improve capacity on science and technology application.

(3) Coordinating in the implementation of National programs (such as Program 844 and Program 939).

Translated by VWU International Relations Dept.