Representatives of Vingroup and Vietnam's research institutes  sign an agreement on funding projects on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), February 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Vingroup)

Under an agreement signed on Thursday, the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 will get nearly 350,000 USD to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will receive more than 320,000 USD for a project on the epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus.

A project to develop a national early warning system for the epidemic by the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health will get more than 190,000 USD.

The agreement makes Vingroup the first private enterprise in Vietnam to work with the State in controlling the virus and protecting public health.