It gave away six first prizes and 12 second, 18 third, and 30 consolation prizes. The first-prize winners also received certificates of merit awarded by the Prime Minister’s Office.

A total of 441 scientific works were entered in this year’s competition in six areas — information technology-electronics-telecommunications; agriculture-forestry-fisheries-environmental resources; material-chemical-energy; automation -construction-transport; medicine; and education.

At the ceremony, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) also conferred awards on two individuals and a group for their research in industrial production.

Dr. Francis Gurry, the WIPO’s visiting general director, gave away the awards.

At a meeting the same day he told Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung that Vietnam, with its growth rate, would see a boom in intellectual property as a result of local demand and foreign investment.

So it is necessary to improve its IP-related agencies, he said.

IP has made important contributions to the country’s socioeconomic development, he said.

Vietnam has rightly assessed the importance of protecting IP and made successful efforts in this regard, he said, adding he valued the country’s cooperation with the WIPO.

VietNamNet/SGGP