Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the Kovalevskaia award ceremony, Hanoi, March 6, 2026. (Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV)

Named after 19th-century Russian mathematician Sophia Kovalevskaia, the award has honored 88 Vietnamese women scientists, both individuals and collectives, since 1985.

PM Chinh said that Vietnamese women are a strong internal resource for national development and called for expanding awards to recognize women scientists in natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

"There should be another award besides the Kovalevskaia Award presented on International Women's Day. As we also have Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20, I propose an award called ‘Talented, Creative and Devoted Women’, named after Nguyen Thi Thap, a well-known revolutionary leader and former chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union," the PM said.