Binh Duong Smart City has worked tirelessly, assisted by ideas such as the “triple helix” collaboration method from ICF alumnus Eindhoven, the 2011 Intelligent Community of the Year, to transform a traditionally agrarian, low-population area into a core of Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Zone. (Photo: VNA)
New York (VNA) – Vietnam’s Binh DuongSmart City has been named the 2023 Intelligent Community of the Year by the IntelligentCommunity Forum (ICF).
The announcement was made at the annual IntelligentCommunity Awards Dinner in New York on October 26 (local time), the culminatingevent of this year’s ICF Global Summit conference.
Mai Hung Dung, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee, received the award for Binh Duong.
According to the ICF, Binh Duong had been previouslynamed a Smart21 Community five times and to the prestigious list of Top7 threetimes since 2019.
“Binh Duong has methodically executed ICF’sCommunity Accelerator Strategy while participating in our annual awards. Thecity is a great example of the power of teamwork, focus on a clear andpersistent strategy and a passionate dedication to creating a place that honoursits people and is part of a nation preparing its citizens for the 21st Century,”said ICF Co-Founder Louis Zacharilla.
Starting on October 25, the Summit featured two daysof programming, workshops and panel discussions around New York City
The ICF, headquartered in New York, is a globalnetwork of 197 cities, metro regions and counties. It has developed a uniqueeconomic development framework called the Community Accelerator Strategy, basedon its work with over 200 communities around the world, and offers training,consulting, community certification and international awards.
The ICF said in the heart of Vietnam’s southeasternBinh Duong province is a brand new city in development. Binh Duong Smart Cityhas worked tirelessly, assisted by ideas such as the “triple helix”collaboration method from ICF alumnus Eindhoven, the 2011 Intelligent Communityof the Year, to transform a traditionally agrarian, low-population area into acore of Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Zone./.
The southern province of Binh Duong is focusing on attracting investments in science-technology, especially high-tech, and digital technology, aiming to concretise its development targets, a local official told representatives of MiTAC, an IT solution provider of Taiwan (China).
Enterprises in the southern province of Binh Duong are projected to recruit between 10,000-12,000 employees from now to the end of the year, with skilled and unskilled labourers accounting for about 70% of the total.
Secretary of the Party Committee of Binh Duong province Nguyen Van Loi has pledged all the best conditions possible to foreign investors so they can undertake long-term business effectively in the southern locality.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
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.
Binh Duong Smart City has worked tirelessly, assisted by ideas such as the “triple helix” collaboration method from ICF alumnus Eindhoven, the 2011 Intelligent Community of the Year, to transform a traditionally agrarian, low-population area into a core of Vietnam’s Southern Key Economic Zone. (Photo: VNA) 
