Denning Tan, Director of the GenAI presents 2024 ASEAN GenAI Startup Report. (Photo: Vietnam+)
Hanoi (VNA) - The report, presented on September 19 at an event in Hanoi co-hosted by the GenAI Fund, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Databricks, and Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC), offers insights into the rapidly growing GenAI ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
Denning Tan, Director of the GenAI Fund, explained that the report is based on a survey conducted in six ASEAN countries, highlighting trends, opportunities, and resources shaping the future of GenAI.
It offers data-driven insights for startups, government agencies, and businesses on how GenAI is transforming industries across the region, with Vietnam emerging as a key innovation hub.
The launch event for the first ASEAN GenAI Startup Report in Hanoi. (Photo: Vietnam+)
Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of NIC, emphasized that AI is a foundational technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, crucial for boosting productivity, enhancing national competitiveness, and fostering sustainable economic growth. Generative AI is driving unprecedented breakthroughs, opening limitless possibilities across sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture.
Recognizing AI’s importance, the Vietnamese government has implemented several policies to promote AI research, development, and application. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister to develop human resources for the semiconductor industry by 2030, with a target of training 5,000 engineers specializing in AI for the semiconductor sector.
Additionally, a specialized AI Training, Research, and Application Center is planned to foster startups and advanced research, aiming to train 7,000 AI experts and incubate 500 AI startups by 2030.
Thinh highlighted these proactive steps as part of Vietnam’s ambition to become a leading hub for AI innovation and application in ASEAN and globally.
At the event, three pioneering GenAI startups in Vietnam presented their innovative applications across various industries. Reforged Labs shared GenAI solutions for game marketers, Lex Engine introduced legal industry tools powered by GenAI, and Laka.ai showcased an AI-powered travel planning platform.
The GenAI Fund, the first Southeast Asia-based fund dedicated to Generative AI, was established with an initial capital of $10 million by Laura Nguyen and Denning Tan, both former AWS executives who played key roles in building AWS's startup ecosystem in the region. The fund focuses on early-stage GenAI startups, emphasizing strategic growth and future market opportunities./.
By boosting cooperation with reputable partners across the globe, Vietnam is taking steps to gain a foothold in the world’s semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) industries.
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.
