A science competition for middle and high school students in Vietnam has become embroiled in controversy as its winners prepare to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair next week, widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious event of its kind. The allegations include fraud and plagiarism.

Observers in Vietnam noted that the questioned project appeared unusually complex for two high school students to complete, especially considering that one student specializes in mathematics and the other in geography. According to the rules of the Vietnam Science and Engineering Fair (ViSEF), the project — titled “Development of Multifunctional Flame-Retardant, Thermally Insulating, and Antimicrobial Polyurethane Composite Materials for Applications in Construction and Daily Life” — was supposed to have been completed within 12 months while both students continued their regular school studies.

Investigators from a Vietnamese research integrity group identified numerous similarities between the students’ poster and a study published in RSC Advances in February 2025.

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