HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 December 2023 - The VinFuture Foundation has honored four scientific breakthroughs in 2023. The US$3 million Grand Prize was awarded to the "Invention in creating a sustainable platform for green energy through production with solar cells and storage with Lithium-ion batteries." Three VinFuture Special Prizes were awarded to "Invention and advancement of disease-resistant rice varieties", "The discovery of the ozone depletion mechanism in Antarctica", and "The discovery of the role of glucagon-like peptides-1 (GLP-1), paving the way for widely used treatments for diabetes and obesity." The 2023 VinFuture Prize Award Ceremony was broadcast live nationally on Vietnam National Television VTV1. The ceremony was graced with the presence of His Excellency Vo Van Thuong - the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and leaders of domestic ministries and departments, international ambassadors, and eminent scientists from around the world. The four winning works surpassed nearly 1,400 impressive nominations originating from 90 countries and territories. These breakthroughs have a profound impact on the present and future of humanity in crucial fields such as green and sustainable energy, climate change response, sustainable agriculture, food security, and healthcare, impacting the lives of billions of people worldwide. Remarkably, all the projects share a common thread of collaboration between developed and developing countries, leveraging the diversity of different groundbreaking inventions. Through this, the awarded breakthroughs have created comprehensive technologies of global significance, contributing to the construction of a sustainable future for humanity. Speaking at the Award Ceremony, President Vo Van Thuong said: "With a global vision and a "Boundless Unity" approach, the VinFuture Prize recognizes and honors scientists who have outstanding research works. Innovative and groundbreaking technologies with high practical applications are crucial for enhancing people's lives and fostering connections within the worldwide scientific community. Since the first series of the award until now, the VinFuture Prize has consistently pursued its mission of "science for humanity" with a focus on the four core values: Equality, Global Reach, Sustainability, and Pioneering. It has achieved steady growth in quality, quantity, and diversity, as well as gained increasing international attention, influence, and reputation.The President also affirmed that: "The success of the VinFuture Prize as a well-deserved outcome of the founder's diligent and committed efforts. I express my appreciation and congratulations to the founders who established this Award."The 2023 VinFuture Grand Prize was awarded to four scientists: Prof. Martin Andrew Green (Australia), Prof. Stanley Whittingham (United States), Prof. Rachid Yazami (Morocco), and Prof. Akira Yoshino (Japan) for their breakthrough inventions in creating a sustainable platform for green energy through production with solar cells and storage with Lithium-ion batteries. The combination of these transformative projects spearheaded a revolution in sustainable green energy solutions for the modern world. Prof. Martin Green and his research team pioneered the Passive Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) technology, elevating energy conversion efficiency from 15% to an impressive 25%. These advancements deliver exceptional utilities, even in regions with limited sunlight conditions. Since its mass production in 2012, PERC solar cells have commanded a significant 60% share of the global solar cell market. Meanwhile, the advent of Lithium-ion battery storage has extended the reach of energy consumption across all geographical regions and socioeconomic classes, providing widespread access to green and sustainable energy solutions. Lithium-ion batteries power 15 billion mobile devices and 26 million electric vehicles globally, thanks to the work of outstanding scientists: Prof. Stanley Whittingham, Prof. Rachid Yazami, Prof. Akira Yoshino, and the late Prof. John Goodenough. The award ceremony also paid tribute to and honored the late Prof. John Goodenough – a pioneering scientist whose invention enabled Lithium-ion batteries to be safely rechargeable for the first time, improving the efficiency and saving resources. The synergy of these two groundbreaking technological revolutions has promoted the widespread adoption and accessibility of clean energy in our everyday lives through the conversion of solar energy into electricity by PERC solar cells and storage by Lithium-ion battery. In addition to the Grand Prize, three Special Prizes, each valued at US$500,000, have been awarded to innovators with outstanding achievements in emerging fields, female innovators, and innovators...