Hanoi (VNA) – ꦰThe Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is strengthening connections and expanding the participation of new members in the Vietnam Innovation Network, including Vietnamese and international experts and intellectuals.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung had a working session with members of the Vietnam Innovation Network and technology giants in Silicon Valley in San Francisco, during his working trip to the US on June 22-26.

Preparing infrastructure facilities to attract investment

During the meeting, the minister acknowledged efforts in coordination and connection made by the Vietnam Innovation Network in Silicon Valley. He highly appreciated the participation of members in major programmes and projects run by the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and the MPI, including a project to develop human resources for semiconductor industry to 2030, with an orientation to 2050, a project to build AI application research and training centre, and the Vietnam Innovation Challenge programme. He requested the network’s members to promote connections with the world's leading experts, institutes, and universities that can collaborate and provide training programmes; and organisations that can support Vietnam in innovation activities. The network should continue to connect with new members, including Vietnamese and international experts and intellectuals, based on generating long-term benefits for the country, he said. Will Abby, executive vice president and chief sales officer of the ARM company owned by SoftBank Group said that the company's technology is applied in more than 95% of smartphones and software operating systems around the world. To date, 70% of the world's population uses ARM chip-based products and the firm has a monopoly on chip architecture. Chip design businesses in Vietnam are all ARM customers, Abby said. However, he noted that ARM does not have a representative or office in Vietnam and is building a plan to launch an office, he added.

Minister Dung stated that Vietnam needs to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers, including 15,000 design engineers. Therefore, the Vietnamese government has been improving the business and investment environment for high-tech investment projects, especially in semiconductors and AI. Vietnam is also preparing infrastructure, human resources, and institutions to attract and cooperate with large technology corporations, including ARM, he added. He asked ARM to consider an investment cooperation plan in Vietnam, especially in human resources development and training, and connecting with ARM’s partners in Asia and around the world, adding that ARM should open a representative office, and R&D centre at NIC in Hoa Lac to promote business activities, research cooperation, and introduce new technologies. He also pointed out the opportunity for cooperation between ARM and NIC in developing a shared semiconductor laboratory for training, business incubation, and supporting Vietnamese startups to develop chip design using ARM's technology and intellectual property.

Developing digital talents

Marvell, a leading US chip design company with an annual revenue of 5.5 billion USD and valued at about 160 billion USD, has been operating in Vietnam since 2013. The company currently has around 400 employees, 97% of whom are highly qualified engineers specialising in chip designing and electronics. Marvell Vietnam currently has two offices in Ho Chi Minh City.

Marvell can expand its investment and R&D centre in Vietnam to become a leading hub, Dung said. He also hinted at Marvell's research into opening a representative office and R&D centre at NIC to bolster business operations, research collaboration, and introduction of new technologies. Regarding training digital talents, Kareen Ghanem, Google Group's Director of government relations and public sector policy, said that Google has invested and cooperated in digital transformation, e-commerce, innovation, and startups, and it is planning to produce mobile phones. Recently, Google has cooperated closely with NIC to implement digital talent training and business incubation programmes, which are participated in by a lot of Vietnamese training institutions and students, he said. Minister Dung pledged to closely coordinate with ministries, agencies, and localities to create favourable conditions for Google to invest, research and develop in Vietnam. He suggested elevating the relationship between the MPI and Google to a comprehensive strategic cooperation by promoting high-tech investment projects in Vietnam and cooperation with NIC./.