Brian Jeffrey
Trinh Dinh Nang is a remarkable inventor who defies conventional expectations. Lacking formal education and advanced laboratory facilities, he has nonetheless secured five influential patents. His solitary work has catalyzed various technological innovations that have gained national and international recognition.
Resolution 57 from Vietnam’s Politburo concerning the strategic advancement of science, technology, and innovation has paved new avenues for inventors such as Trinh Dinh Nang.
This initiative emphasizes practical application, enabling those without traditional qualifications to have a substantial impact, provided they are afforded the chance to experiment, engage, and share their inventions.
“Resolution 57 fosters creative thought and eliminates conventional hurdles. It values outcomes over diplomas and titles. For dedicated, self-taught researchers like myself, it’s a groundbreaking shift,” explained Nang.
His optimism is the result of enduring struggles. For many years, he engaged in scientific inquiry solo, disheartened by the fact that numerous costly projects remained unrealized outside of academic environments. “Whenever I tackle a project, my goal is to apply science and technology practically,” he remarked.
At a scientific conference in 2019, an elderly man was spotted shedding tears in silence. Little did attendees know why—until he spoke: “We pour so much into science, yet countless inventions languish in labs, lacking real-world impact.”
This man was Trinh Dinh Nang, who left school after seventh grade and has no formal training. Despite this, he holds five patents. While foreign firms have proposed lucrative contracts, he prefers to keep his innovations within Vietnam.
His story reflects resilience. Due to family difficulties, he had to leave school and relocate with his parents to the remote Bac Kan province. Despite the absence of formal education, his thirst for knowledge was relentless. He consumed books, reached out to local chemistry and physics teachers, and adopted hands-on learning.
While employed as a laborer at the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Plant and subsequently at a wood factory in Bac Kan, Nang continually sought methods to enhance efficiency through scientific principles. His first notable invention emerged while working at the steel plant, earning him a cash prize he holds dear above any academic certificate.
In the winter of 1996, watching a Nobel Prize event on TV, he was captivated by a presentation about fullerene, a carbon molecule of significant scientific importance. This inspired him for the next two decades, culminating in success after more than 4,000 trials in May 2015. By 2018, his production system for C60-C70 fullerene received a national patent, opening the door for a new industry in Vietnam.
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An international conference introduced Nang to the therapeutic properties of Vietnamese herbs, igniting a new chapter in his research. Gaining access to the Ministry of Science and Technology’s library, he immersed himself in studies, created custom machines, and initiated experiments. However, his initial attempt to extract curcumin using conventional methods turned out to be unfeasible financially.
Undeterred, he returned to the basics. He lived at his workplace for five months, opting for local glutinous turmeric as his primary raw material, which had a mere few cents per kilogram value compared to the thousands it fetched globally as purified curcumin.
Ultimately, he developed a highly efficient nano-curcumin extraction process, achieving a 95% efficiency rate. This project was his quickest success and laid the groundwork for other herbal extractions, including gynostemma, crinum latifolium, solanum procumbens, and gac fruit. His vacuum extraction method ensures the retention of bioactive compounds, purity, and potency.
“This research has forayed into new territory for the production and processing of natural compounds. It’s more than just core technology—it sets the stage for a refined herbal medicine sector tailored to Vietnam,” stated Nang.
He also holds a patent for a medical waste incinerator that minimizes toxic emissions by rapidly cooling exhaust from over 1,000°C to below 100°C within a fraction of a second, thus preventing harmful dioxins and furans from forming.
A female entrepreneur proposed to purchase his incinerators in bulk on the condition that he inflated the price in procurement documents, but Nang categorically refused, stating, “As a researcher, I cannot entertain unethical or illegal practices.” Later, a company in Taiwan offered a substantial sum for his patent, but he again declined, choosing to preserve his innovation for Vietnam.
Even after years of solitary work, he does not feel alone. “Resolution 57 has relieved a burden. It appreciates practical applications and endorses policies that link grassroots ideas to larger frameworks,” he noted.
During a high-level meeting on April 1, Party General Secretary To Lam emphasized the importance of being grounded and broadening understanding, particularly by learning from innovations in the private sector. He remarked that scientific and technological efforts in Vietnam have often focused excessively on administration rather than real productivity.
Nang concurs. He cites numerous world-class scientists who lack formal degrees, advocating that scientific reasoning holds greater merit than academic qualifications. This belief has underpinned his diligent journey—constructing devices, setting up makeshift laboratories, and meticulously testing each component.
Now in his 60s, Nang adheres to a distinctive routine: asleep by 8 PM and awake at 1 AM. He refers to this time as “the hour when the universe rests”—a serene interval where ideas blossom, materials unveil their truths, and innovative concepts take shape.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Noi, Director of the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Green Development at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nang’s achievements stem from his passion, discipline, and unyielding curiosity.
He also highlights Nang’s rare blend of scientific insight and entrepreneurial spirit. “He understands that innovations must address real-world needs—not merely personal fulfillment. This mindset aids in commercializing inventions, securing funding for future research.”
