Renewed landmark research partnership for UTS and HCMUT

Continuing ground-breaking research with Vietnam

A high-level visit led by Mr Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and his delegation took place on 13 May 2024, at UTS. The aim of the visit was to explore collaboration between Ho Chi Minh City and UTS and to witness the signing ceremony of the renewal agreements between UTS and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) for the Joint Research Center and the Collaborative PhD program. Accompanied by the delegation were His Excellency Mr Nguyen Dang Thang, Consul General of Vietnam in Sydney, Ms Sarah Hooper, Consul General of Australia in Ho Chi Minh City and other high-level government officers of Ho Chi Minh City. Co-hosting the event were NSW Minister, The Hon Mr Anoulack Chanthivong and other officers. 

The Joint Research Centre between UTS and HCMUT was founded in 2018. It was the first partnership of its kind between Australia and Vietnam, serving as a hub for research and technology transfer and collaboration between scientists and industry partners of the two countries, providing full scholarships and training for PhD students. The Centre focuses on the areas of mutual interest between the two countries, including emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor research, 5G/6G, cyber security, environment engineering and coping with climate change.

The Joint Research Center (JRC) between UTS and HCMUT is one of highlights of UTS's commitment to research and technology collaboration with Vietnam partners. It is well aligned with the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic partnership and UTS vision of a world-leading university with global impact, serving social justice, inclusions, and UN sustainable development goals. Since its establishment, in addition to PhD training, UTS and HCMUT have together successfully delivered various projects with impact (supported by both Vietnam and Australia governments under the Ministry of Science and Technology and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade). For example, the JRC developed the real-time seawater monitoring systems (unique among a few ones in the world); the AI-empowered UAVs with remote sensing capabilities for search and rescue operation (through Ripper Corp, Vietnam National Search and Rescue Committee); and the IoT-empowered arsenic removal systems for people in the Red River Delta. The JRC also led and hosted various workshops and events in Sydney and Ho Chi Minh City to promote and boost trade and foster technology collaboration between SMEs, industry partners of the two countries and between HCMC and NSW in particular, e.g., within the scope of the project “Unleashing Opportunities in Vietnam Innovation Ecosystem for Australia’s Technology-based SMEs”.

“The renewal of our joint research centre and collaborative PhD training program, especially on this very important occasion, hosting the visit of Ho Chi Minh City President and Delegates to Australia with UTS, Sydney, NSW as the first destination, also speaks well for itself. We are very honoured to have the witness of Ho Chi Minh City Government, Australian Government and NSW Government at such a memorable ceremony, marking our true friendship,” said Prof. Glenn Wightwick, UTS Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise).

Speaking at the event, Ho Chi Minh City Chairman, Mr Phan Van Mai, highly regarded the contributions of the JRC to the development and training of experts in emerging areas such as AI, digital transformation and climate change. “Ho Chi Minh City looks forward to and will do our best to facilitate the research and technology collaboration between UTS, HCMUT and other partners via the JRC”, said Mr Chairman. 

Sydney and NSW in general is home to more than 100,000 Vietnamese Australians of which many are from Ho Chi Minh City. Beyond the trade and many shared values, the people-to-people linkages between Ho Chi Minh City and NSW are the most important contribution that the JRC and other education and training that UTS and its partners like HCMUT in Vietnam make.

NSW Minister Mr Chanthivong

On behalf of UTS and its partner, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Prof. Wightwick thanked Ho Chi Minh City Government, Australian Government and NSW Government for the great support. He added that “Your support has helped us to apply our technologies to better serve our people. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with HCMUT and Ho Chi Minh City in general in the areas of education, training and technology transfer, especially in emerging areas such as AI, semiconductor research, chip design and testing, clean energy, digital transformation, and environment engineering.”

LEARN MORE about how UTS works with Vietnam