Vietnam Australia forum boosts AI and digital technology cooperation

A forum in Hanoi on October 12th aimed to transform cooperation agreements into practical projects and strengthen connections between businesses, research institutions, universities, and investors from Vietnam and Australia in AI, semiconductors, and innovation. The Digital Technology and AI Authority under the Ministry of Science and Technology, in partnership with the Vietnam-Australia Scholars and Experts Association, organized the event.

Nguyen Khac Lich, the general director, emphasized the shift from signing agreements to implementing concrete activities, focusing on digital technology, AI, semiconductors, and innovation. He highlighted that cooperation requires the involvement of enterprises, research institutes, universities, experts, investment partners, and market stakeholders.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh outlined science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as crucial elements for improving productivity, growth quality, and national competitiveness, implying that international cooperation is vital for accessing new knowledge, developing skilled workers, and enhancing domestic technological capabilities.

Le proposed focusing on four key areas: selecting projects based on practical realities, aligning research and development with human resource training, optimizing the V-Bridge platform, and implementing the plan with clear responsibilities and transparent evaluation milestones. VASEA president Nghiem Duc Long suggested that, following the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership upgrade, cooperation should shift from traditional models to comprehensive integration, facilitating the free flow of knowledge, talent, and resources between the two nations and co-creating new technologies.

Examples include the AI-powered Vietnamese language learning platform VietNest and the V-Bridge technology connector, intended to put the triple helix collaboration model into practice. Australia's embassy in Vietnam, Renee Deschamps, emphasized Vietnam's potential digital economy, AI, and semiconductors priorities under its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, stating Australia's commitment to building robust digital infrastructure, ensuring cybersecurity, and fostering deep integration between Australian innovative enterprises and the Vietnamese market.

The forum introduced the V-bridge platform to facilitate connections between businesses and organizations within the Vietnam-Australia technology ecosystem.