Visitors explore information and experience innovations at the creative space of technology companies and corporations on the sidelines of the AISC 2025 forum. VNA/VNS Photo Khánh Hoà

By Mai Hương

Việt Nam’s ambition to establish itself as a global centre for AI and semiconductor development is gaining strong support from leading technology corporations at home and abroad through investment, innovation, and strategic collaboration.

The country is targeting rapid yet sustainable growth, aiming for at least 8 per cent annual expansion by the end of 2025 while paving the way for double-digit gains in the future.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has emphasised a people-centred approach, leveraging both global and domestic resources, with AI, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and semiconductors driving economic progress.

To achieve these goals, Việt Nam is implementing key measures, including regulatory reform, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce training.

The government plans to cut 30 per cent of unnecessary procedures, decentralise authority, and improve execution to create a more business-friendly environment.

The Politburo of the Việt Nam Communist Party passed last year a resolution on science and technology development, which sets ambitious targets for Vietnamese businesses to exceed global technology standards, with some sectors reaching international levels. The country also aims to rank among the top three in Southeast Asia for AI research and establish itself as a key hub for digital technology industries.

New policies are being introduced to support these objectives.

The National Assembly's resolution issued on February 19, 2025 on pilot implementation of special policies to create breakthrough in national digital transformation and the Government’s decree on December 31, 2024 on the establishment of an investment fund offer special incentives for science, technology development and innovation, particularly in AI and semiconductors.

The Prime Minister has also approved national AI and semiconductor development strategies, which include training 50,000 semiconductor professionals and 5,000 AI specialists by 2030, alongside establishing key research laboratories.

Recognising the importance of global cooperation in fostering innovation and growth, Việt Nam is calling for stronger international partnerships.

At the policy forum "Taking the Lead: Việt Nam’s Strategy for Semiconductor & AI Advancement” on March 14—part of the AI-Semiconductor Conference (AISC 2025)—the Prime Minister outlined six key areas where foreign businesses could support Việt Nam.

These included strategic vision planning, regulatory reforms, financial assistance, technology transfer, workforce development, and smart governance. He invited companies to provide practical recommendations to enhance the investment climate and facilitate innovation.

“We must act together—what we aim for must become reality,” he said, urging collaboration and shared responsibility in shaping Việt Nam’s digital future.

Tech giants rally behind VN

Leading technology corporations are actively supporting Việt Nam’s ambitions.

At AISC 2025, Michael Kenny, chief technology officer at Nvidia, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Việt Nam’s AI development. He highlighted Nvidia’s recent investment, including the opening of an office in Hà Nội and the expansion of its research and development (R&D) presence to support Việt Nam’s AI strategy.

Kenny emphasised AI’s transformative potential and Việt Nam’s advantages, such as a skilled workforce, a dynamic economy, and strong government support. Nvidia is partnering with over 65 universities to integrate AI and semiconductor education, collaborating with more than 30 startups, and working with cloud providers such as FPT and Viettel to develop AI infrastructure.

The company is also supporting key industries, including financial services, smart agriculture, and healthcare, through AI applications.

“We firmly believe that with continued cooperation and investment, Việt Nam will achieve its goal of becoming a leading R&D centre for AI and semiconductors. Nvidia is committed to being a long-term partner in this journey,” Kenny said.

Suresh Venkatarayalu, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Honeywell, also reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Việt Nam. Honeywell plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in the country by the end of next year, alongside continued investment in human capital through scholarships and university partnerships.

Suresh Venkatarayalu, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Honeywell, speaks at AISC 2025 forum held on March 14 in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

The company has also signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) focused on green energy, battery storage, and energy optimisation. Additionally, Honeywell is working on airport modernisation projects and aims to integrate AI and semiconductor advancements into Việt Nam’s industries.

Venkatarayalu stressed the need for policy alignment, cross-sector collaboration, and greater investment to enhance Việt Nam’s competitiveness.

“I am pleased to see that Việt Nam is already shaping forward-thinking policies for the future. My recommendation is to strengthen collaboration between academia, industries, and government institutions,” he said.

Workforce development

Experts have highlighted workforce development as a crucial factor in fostering innovation. Recognising this, Việt Nam is actively pursuing global partnerships.

The National Innovation Centre is collaborating with major institutions and technology firms—including the University of Arizona, Cadence, Siemens, Google, Meta, Samsung, and NVIDIA—to support research, training, and industry growth.

Domestic enterprises are also playing a key role in realising the nation’s ambitions.

According to Trương Gia Bình, chairman and founder of FPT Corporation, FPT engineers have been working extensively, earning nearly 10,000 Nvidia certifications. The company also aims to train 5,000 semiconductor specialists by 2030, with 1,600 students already enrolled in its programme.

A student explores AI technology applications at the "GenAI 2025 Technology Exhibition – Discovering Future Technological Solutions" held in Đà Nẵng on February 23 this year. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

FPT has risen to 48th place among global AI research centres, reflecting its significant investment and leadership in AI, according to an IDC’s Spotlight report.

For the past six years, FPT has maintained a strategic partnership with the Mila research institute, which brings together some of the world’s leading AI experts, including Professor Yoshua Bengio, known as the "Godfather of AI", and Andrew Ng, a pioneer in computer vision.

Bình reaffirmed FPT’s commitment to building Việt Nam’s advanced AI infrastructure. The company plans to expand to five AI factories worldwide by 2030, strengthening Việt Nam’s position as a key AI hub in the region and beyond.

"We are committed to training 10,000 semiconductor engineers and delivering 100,000 AI engineers," Bình said.

Anthony J. Annunziata, director of AI Open Innovation at IBM, praised Việt Nam’s regulatory approach for prioritising the removal of barriers and fostering key success factors, including skills development, technological advancement, infrastructure investment, and a supportive environment for businesses to experiment freely with government backing.

“This strategy is both crucial and encouraging, aligning well with global best practices for AI regulation. While different countries adopt varying approaches, Việt Nam’s focus on enabling innovation while maintaining safeguards strikes a strong balance between progress and responsibility,” Annunziata told Việt Nam News.

According to Google’s research, the potential of AI in Việt Nam is immense, with estimated economic benefits reaching up to US$79.3 billion by 2030 if AI tools are widely adopted. This figure is equivalent to nearly 12 per cent of Việt Nam’s GDP in that year.

With strong global backing, bold policies, and a growing talent pool, Việt Nam is well on its way to becoming a leading force in AI and semiconductor innovation. VNS