Deal with Nvidia helps realise Vietnam's plan to become regional tech hub: Journal
A recent agreement reached between Vietnam and the US chipmaker Nvidia to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) research and development center in the country marks a significant step forward in Vietnam’s plans to turn itself into a regional tech hub, commented the current-affairs magazine The Diplomat in a recent article.
Vietnam and the chipmaker Nvidia have signed an agreement to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) research and development center in the country (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - A recent agreement reached between Vietnam and the US chipmaker Nvidia to establish an artificial intelligence (AI) research and development center in the country marks a significant step forward in Vietnam’s plans to turn itself into a regional tech hub, commented the current-affairs magazine The Diplomat in a recent article.
According to the article, the agreement will involve the expansion of an AI data centre owned by the Vietnamese military-owned Viettel Group, which already uses Nvidia technology. Nvidia also said it has acquired healthcare startup VinBrain, a unit of the prominent Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup.
In a statement released after the signing of the deal, Nvidia expressed “confidence in the country’s bright artificial intelligence future.” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was quoted in the statement as praising Vietnam’s “vibrant ecosystem of researchers, startups, and enterprise organisations.”
The article recalled that visiting Hanoi late last year, Huang said that his firm was committed to investing in Vietnam and making the country its “second home.” In particular, it said it planned to expand its partnerships with Vietnam’s top tech firms and support the country in training talent for developing AI and digital infrastructure.
Last year, Nvidia began collaborating with FPT Smart Cloud – its first Vietnamese cloud partner. In April, FPT announced that it and Nvidia would build a 200 million USD AI “factory” using Nvidia’s graphic chip and software.
All of these activities are part of Nvidia’s broader push into Southeast Asia, where demand for data services has surged on the back of its exploding digital economy. According to a recent report, this was worth 263 billion USD in 2023, up from just 31 billion USD in 2015, it noted.
This focus reflects the growing importance to foreign tech firms of Southeast Asia, a region with a young, upwardly-mobile, and tech-savvy population, as both a manufacturing hub and a market for tech products.
♛ This year, the CEOs of the US tech giants Apple and Microsoft also made tours of Southeast Asia, announcing billions of US dollars in investments, particularly in data centres designed to support the expansion of AI services, the article notes./.
Two cutting-edge AI research centres, namely Vietnam Research and Development Centre and AI Data Centre, will be established under the partnership between Vietnam and US tech giant NVIDIA, making a significant milestone in the country’s technological transformation.
The Vietnamese Party and State consider US tech giant NVIDIA as a leading strategic partner in semiconductor and AI – the two domains that have been prioritised for the country's breakthroughs in improving productivity and competitiveness, Party General Secretary To Lam said on December 6.
US tech giant NVIDIA will develop a research centre and data centre dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) studies in Vietnam, the National Innovation Centre announced on December 5.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
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.
