Vietnam – US tech seminar in Ho Chi Minh City explores AI, innovation
Discussions also focused on how universities and tech companies can synergise to nurture top-tier AI talent for the global market and ensure AI's responsible development aligned with sustainable development goals.
HCM City (VNA) – A scientific seminar, themed “Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of ♓US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration”, took place in Ho Chi Mi♚nh City on May 9.
The event was co-hosted by the Centre for Technology Incubation and Innovation Support (ISC), the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) Institute of Innovation (UII), and the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD).
CTD Vice Rector Assoc. Prof. Trinh Thuy Anh said the event aims to foster interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, as well as advance education values tied to innovation and sustainability. The college aspires to serve as a sustainable platform that unites academia, businesses, and the public in the pursuit of digital transformation, social innovation, and global knowledge transfer.
She framed the event as a timely response to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57, which prioritises sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation as pillars of sustainable growth. The UEH, she added, has clearly positioned itself as a pioneer in championing innovation, community service, international collaboration, and cultivation of a digital workforce. Through its affiliated units, UEH is gradually building an open academic and technological ecosystem where academia meets real-world application, technology aligns with social responsibility, and education seamlessly integrates with businesses and the broader community.
Do Huy, Chairman of SAVVi Code - a network of professionals supporting Vietnamese businesses and founder of a technology and startup community, drew on his three decades of experience in technology investment to outline how Vietnamese startups can tap into U.S. capital and networks to boost their global competitiveness.
Beyond technology transfer, he stressed the importance of sharing knowledge, management mindset, and innovation-driven leadership to build an ethical, inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem.
Kenneth Katz, Managing Director & Head of Asia at TAU Investment Management - a private equity firm headquartered in New York and Hong Kong, stressed that many global investment companies are reshaping their portfolios through AI technologies. He pointed to ample potential for collaboration between Vietnamese startups and international partners in green technology, smart supply chains, and automation in manufacturing.
Anthony Tuan Phan, Chairman and CEO of Vietnam Artificial Intelligence JSC and a veteran of multibillion-dollar AI projects at Meta and Amazon, spoke about the critical role of data infrastructure and ethics in AI development. He called for a robust AI engineering workforce in Vietnam to meet the Asia-Pacific’s growing demand for digital transformation.
Discussions also focused on how universities and tech companies can synergise to nurture top-tier AI talent for the global market and ensure AI's responsible development aligned with sustainable development goals./.
Vietnam is entering a new phase of growth, where innovation, science, and technology are at the forefront of shaping its future. From being an emerging market, Vietnam has now risen to become a strategic destination for technology investment in Southeast Asia, driven by the aspirations of the entrepreneurial community and strategic guidance from the government
The programme, announced on April 23 in Ho Chi Minh City, is jointly organised by Orochi Network, FPT Online, and the Da Nang Centre for Research and Training in IC Design and AI (DASC). It aims to attract domestic and international resources to promote digital transformation and enhance Vietnam’s global tech standing.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Vietnam views sci-tech as a decisive factor in national development and a key tool for achieving sustainable development goals, and is ready to boost sci-tech cooperation with Venezuela for mutual prosperity.
The Government will always accompany companies, including CMC, and request ministries, agencies, and Hanoi authorities to further support them by promptly removing any obstacles to their growth, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
