About the AURORA Awards
The AURORA Scientific Research Awards are the flagship academic programme of the Vietnam Australia Innovation Network (NIC AU). Established to create a credible, annual platform for Vietnamese scientists, PhD candidates and research-track postgraduate students based overseas, AURORA fosters scholarly exchange, community building and the dissemination of scientific knowledge.
AURORA aims to transform research outcomes into practical solutions that address Vietnam's most pressing economic and social challenges, connecting the global Vietnamese research community with domestic institutions, enterprises and innovation ecosystems.
In 2026, AURORA expands beyond Australia to welcome participants from Singapore, the United Kingdom and other countries — reflecting the growing reach and ambition of the programme.
Research Fields
Green Transition & Sustainable Development
ESG, green finance, circular economy, climate change, smart cities, sustainable supply chains
Agricultural Science & Smart Farming
Biotechnology, precision agriculture, food science & safety, climate-adaptive farming
Industry 4.0 & Innovation
AI & machine learning, IoT & big data, robotics, blockchain & fintech, cybersecurity, clean energy
Economics & Applied Finance
Development economics, international financial centres, green & digital economy, policy research
Advanced Materials & Technology
Smart materials, semiconductors, biomedical & environmental materials, cross-disciplinary research
Vietnamese Language in Technology
Vietnamese-language learning apps, NLP for Vietnamese on mobile & AI products
Programme Timeline
Call for Entries
Promotion, outreach, workshops on research methodology, and submission of research papers by participants.
Review & Judging
Scientific council formation, preliminary screening, peer review and shortlisting of finalists.
Finalists Announced
Shortlisted research projects announced; mentoring, presentation coaching and industry matchmaking for finalists.
Grand Final & Awards Ceremony
Live presentations before the scientific council in Hanoi, followed by the formal awards ceremony and networking.
Prize Structure
Awards are given in two streams: completed research and ongoing research.
| Award | Completed Research | Ongoing Research |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | USD 2,000 | USD 1,000 |
| 2nd Prize | USD 1,000 | USD 500 |
| 3rd Prize | USD 500 | USD 200 |
All participants receive a Certificate of Participation and a Letter of Commendation from the Vietnamese Embassy.
Who Can Enter?
- Vietnamese scientists under 45 with completed research or technology products
- Vietnamese PhD candidates currently enrolled at an overseas institution
- Vietnamese research-track Master's students at overseas universities
Entries are individual. Each participant may submit one research project. Submissions must be in Vietnamese (technical terms may use English with explanation).
📝 Register via the official form: forms.gle/47XFEAJyGosCeUen8
AURORA 2025 Results
The inaugural AURORA awards attracted researchers across strategic fields. Here are the 2025 winners:
1 / 51st Prize
Flexible multifunctional silicon carbide for biologically interactive cancer cell treatment
2nd Prize
Optimising the wheat rhizosphere in acid soils for improved drought tolerance and nutrient uptake
3rd Prize
A comprehensive model for microplastic remediation in the Mekong River basin — from survey to technology testing
Merit Award
Recycling durian husks for wastewater treatment — sustainable agriculture meets environmental technology
Merit Award
Developing a fire ignition prediction model to mitigate bushfires under climate change
Evaluation Criteria
Research projects are assessed by the Scientific Council against four groups of criteria on a 100-point scale, ensuring scientific rigour, innovation, practical relevance and quality of presentation.
Research Objectives, Significance & Urgency
- 10 pts — Clear research objectives with practical application direction; aligned with national science and technology development priorities; potential for real-world implementation in Vietnam.
- 10 pts — Addresses an urgent social, environmental or economic challenge in Vietnam; short-to-medium-term positive impact potential; clear pathway to practical, policy or technology transfer application.
Academic Content, Innovation & Methodology
- 15 pts — Solid theoretical foundation; appropriate, logical and reliable research methodology; use of advanced tools, models or experiments to validate hypotheses.
- 10 pts — Novel approach with creative and breakthrough thinking beyond existing research; proposes new models or methods that expand knowledge in the field.
- 20 pts — Real-world deployment potential in Vietnam; potential for commercialisation, technology transfer or investment attraction.
Quality of Presentation
- 10 pts — Clear, logical structure; supported by data, models and scientific illustrations; professional presentation meeting academic standards.
- 10 pts — Full and accurate citation of references; use of up-to-date literature reflecting the latest developments in the field.
Scientific Contribution & Academic Impact
- 5 pts — Generates new knowledge of disciplinary or interdisciplinary value; potential to underpin further research; collaboration with Vietnamese research organisations.
- 10 pts — Publication in prestigious international journals (ISI/Scopus Q1, Q2) or leading conferences; patents, science awards or real-world application in Vietnam.
Entry Requirements & Presentation Format
All submissions must be prepared in Vietnamese (or bilingual Vietnamese–English). Technical terms with no Vietnamese equivalent may be written in English with explanation.
📋 A. Required Entry Documents
- Word file or introductory video presenting the research project
- Academic curriculum vitae of the participant
- Portfolio of relevant scientific achievements (if applicable)
📄 B. Written Research Paper Format
- Maximum 10 pages A4 (excluding cover page and appendices)
- Title: maximum 25 words — state problem, subject and proposed solution clearly
Required sections:
- Research objectives and background context
- Academic content, methodology and innovation
- Novelty and creative approach
- Research methodology (step-by-step, with diagrams if needed)
- Feasibility and application potential
- Research team capability and track record
- Benefits and impact (scientific, practical, policy)
- Outputs and dissemination (publications, conferences)
- Full reference list (APA format, max 1 page)
🎤 C. Grand Final Presentation
Total time: 30 minutes
- Presenter: 15 minutes
- Q&A from Scientific Council: 15 minutes
Presentation structure:
- Introduction (10%) — self-introduction, problem and urgency
- Literature review (15%) — gaps and novel contribution
- Methodology (25%) — detailed steps, model, data collection
- Results and discussion (35%) — with visuals and data
- Conclusions and recommendations (15%)
Slide presentations must be clear and professional. Language: Vietnamese or bilingual Vietnamese–English.
Enter AURORA 2026
Nominations are open from April to July 2026. Complete the official registration form to express your interest — NIC AU will provide research methodology guidance and support throughout.