Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, Chairman of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), speaks at the working session in HCM City on February 4. — VNA Photo Huyền Trang

HCM CITY — Việt Nam and Germany are stepping up cooperation in sustainable development, energy transition and green hydrogen, with universities playing a key role in connecting academic research to real-world applications.

On February 4, a high-level delegation led by Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, Chairman of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), visited and worked with Vietnamese–German University (VGU) in HCM City’s Thới Hòa Ward.

During the visit, the delegation toured VGU’s automation and water technology laboratories and held discussions with university leaders, students and business representatives.

A highlight of the programme was the Vietnam Green Hydrogen Hub, inaugurated in October 2025 on the VGU campus.

The centre was established under a public–private partnership model within the H2Uppp programme - International Hydrogen Ramp-Up - implemented by GIZ and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

Prof. René Thiele, President of Vietnamese-German University, said sustainable development is one of the university’s core values, embedded across education, research and operations.

With its role in training high-quality human resources for the energy and green development sectors, VGU is considered a key academic partner in Việt Nam–Germany cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

The Vietnam Green Hydrogen Hub aims to foster a green hydrogen economy through three main pillars: business linkage and technology transfer; education and capacity building; and demonstration and testing of advanced green hydrogen technologies.

The centre is expected to become a nucleus for shaping a national hydrogen ecosystem and supporting Việt Nam’s sustainable energy transition.

Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel highlighted the strong commitment of Vietnamese partners to sustainable energy goals, noting that the long-standing development cooperation between Germany and Việt Nam is being elevated, with energy transition emerging as a strategic pillar to address global challenges.

Green hydrogen plays a crucial role in achieving climate neutrality and reducing industrial carbon emissions, he said.

“For a fast-growing economy like Việt Nam, green hydrogen offers opportunities to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.”

A high-level delegation led by Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, Chairman of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), visit and work with Vietnamese-German University in HCM City on February 4. — VNA Photo Huyền Trang

Schäfer-Gümbel stressed that international cooperation in green hydrogen is essential, requiring coordinated efforts in policy, technology, finance and innovation, with a focus on concrete and viable projects.

“The Vietnam Green Hydrogen Hub could act as a catalyst for connecting stakeholders, identifying priority applications and supporting the development of future green hydrogen projects.”

While immediate results may not be visible, the centre will provide a platform for learning, collaboration and innovation, gradually scaling up sustainable energy solutions.

From GIZ’s perspective, the organisation focuses on supporting enabling conditions and policy frameworks for green hydrogen development, including strategic planning, capacity building and confidence-building for public authorities and private investors.

He also highlighted the active participation of German and Vietnamese enterprises across the renewable energy value chain, from electrolysis technology to industrial applications and system integration. — VNS