Vietnam to use small satellites to build capacity in Earth observation
Potential plans and roadmaps were proposed to build national capacity in Earth observation using small satellite systems during a seminar held by the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) in Hanoi on June 30.
Engineers at VNSC are building a small satellite. (Photo: VNSC)
Hanoi (VNA) – Potential plans and roadmaps wereproposed to build national capacity in Earth observation using small satellitesystems during a seminar held by the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) atthe Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) in Hanoi on June 30.
In his remarks, VNSC General Director Assoc. Prof., Dr. PhamAnh Tuan said the Government in February 2021 announced a strategy for the development andapplication of aerospace science and technology by 2030,aiming to utilise achievements in the fields to address defence and securityissues, strengthen management of environment and natural resources, monitornatural disasters and minimise their impacts, and provide related services forpeople.
This seminar forms part of the efforts to translate thestrategy into reality, according to Tuan.
The seminar is held by the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) in Hanoi on June 30. (Photo: nhandan.vn)
Studies jointly conducted by the VNSC, the Japanese Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Japan International CooperationAgency (JICA) found that developing small satellites will work the best forVietnam, and it is also a trend as many countries worldwide are leveragingconstellations of satellites in Earth observation activities, he noted.
Japanese experts said Vietnam has an advantageousposition to expand the use of new satellite technologies to ASEAN andAsia-Pacific. The combination of Vietnam’s ground infrastructure and satellitesand Japan’s technologies and services is critical to open more opportunitiesfor the use of satellite data for both sides, they said.
They also held that multi-layered capacity building programmes,which encourage the participation of the private sector in aerospace, can helpVietnam make big steps in automation and enable more sectors to reap benefitsfrom satellite data./.
A workshop on the application of satellite data in monitoring pollution and research was held in Hanoi on December 1 as part of the projects "Join hands for clean air” and “Improving air pollution monitoring and management of Vietnam with satellite PM2.5 observation”.
Installing vessel monitoring systems (VMS) is one of the important measures the European Commission (EC) recommended for Vietnam to remove the EC’s “yellow card” warning against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Scientists of the Space Technology Institute under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and other Vietnamese experts have successfully restored the system control servers and enabled VNREDSat-1, Vietnam’s first remote sensing satellite, to take pictures again from April 4, according to the academy.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang has visited a facility of Thales Group in Cannes which develops technology solutions for satellite, aerospace, defence, transportation and security markets.
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.
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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.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
The week features a rich lineup of activities, including a plenary conference on blockchain and AI development, thematic seminars on future technology trends and investment visions, applications of blockchain and AI in business, the Super Vietnam PitchFest, as well as forums for blockchain and AI.
According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, dated December 22, 2024, on making breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, this is considered a decisive factor in the development of nations. It is seen as a prerequisite and the best opportunity for Vietnam to become prosperous and powerful in the new era of the nation’s rise.
Vietnam’s demographic advantage, including a youthful population of 100 million in a “golden age”, further bolsters its ambitions. Its dynamic workforce, with a natural inclination toward science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is a key asset in attracting private investment to innovation-driven sectors.
Engineers at VNSC are building a small satellite. (Photo: VNSC)
The seminar is held by the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) in Hanoi on June 30. (Photo: nhandan.vn)
