Representatives of Việt Nam National University HCM City and US chip giant Synopsys sign an MoU on March 15 to develop high-quality human resources for the semiconductor industry, especially in the field of IC design. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday between Việt Nam National University HCM City (VNU-HCM) and the US-based electronic design automation (EDA) company Synopsys to collaborate in developing high-quality human resources for the semiconductor industry, especially in the field of IC design.

VNU-HCM Chancellor Vũ Hải Quân said the training and research activities in the field of IC design need to address five major challenges, including attracting good students, developing teaching staff, building new training programmes, investing in laboratories and software, and R&D cooperation between businesses and universities.

Under the MoU, the two sides will collaborate to establish VNUHCM Semiconductor Research Institute (VSRI), which will become a place providing equipment for training and research for universities and startups, and a centre for connecting and developing cooperation in the field of semiconductors between VNU-HCM and businesses, institutes and universities at home and abroad.

Synopsys will provide training curriculum and licences to use its IC design software and tools for students of VNU-HCM.

It will offer internship and job opportunities at home and abroad for IC design engineers trained at VNU-HCM.

It will support VNU-HCM to train young lecturers in the field of IC design through the short-term "Train-the-Trainer" programme.

Accordingly, the lecturers will work at Synopsys for four months to foster practical knowledge. VNU-HCM has sent three lecturers from its member universities to participate in the first course.

Synopsys will support connections so that VNU-HCM will provide high-quality human resources for Synopsys's global partners, and promote these partners to build an R & D centre at VNU-HCM.

According to statistics from Synopsys, more than 53 per cent of engineers working for IC design businesses have graduated from VNU-HCM’s member universities.

VNU-HCM is training about 6,000 students in majors related to semiconductor technology.

It targets to train about 1,800 engineers and 500 master's degree students in IC design by 2030, contributing to the implementation of the university’s goal to become Asia's leading centre for training, research, entrepreneurship and innovation in the field.

It will establish a semiconductor research institute, which will be the focal point for strong development of research groups and laboratories for in-depth and modern training and research in the field of semiconductors.

The institute will help promote experimental manufacturing, scientific research, international publications and inventions.

In 2018, VNU-HCM invested more than VNĐ60 billion (US$2.4 million) to establish a lab for microchip and high-frequency systems at the HCM City University of Technology.

This year, it will recruit students to learn its new training programmes in IC design and semiconductor technology at its three member universities - the HCM City University of Technology, the HCM City University of Science, and the HCM City University of Information Technology.

It also plans to invest about VNĐ80 billion ($3.3 million) for two new laboratories on semiconductor technology with modern equipment to serve training and research at the University of Science and the University of Information Technology.

Throughout more than 35 years of development, Synopsys is a global leader in EDA and semiconductor IP.

Synopsys Vietnam has expanded its offices in HCM City and Đà Nẵng, attracting more than 500 qualified engineers. — VNS