Vietnam has initiated a proposal for enhanced collaboration with Japan in the realm of strategic technologies, notably semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. This initiative also includes a call for increased support in workforce development. The proposal was deliberated upon during a meeting on September 3, which brought together Vietnamese science and technology officials and a delegation from Japan’s House of Representatives. Discussions during the meeting centered around semiconductor research, artificial intelligence, energy technologies, personnel training, and fostering closer ties between businesses in these strategic technology sectors.
Under the framework of the NEXUS joint research program, both Vietnam and Japan are making strides toward co-funding a range of semiconductor research projects. These projects encompass chip design, advanced materials, supporting technologies, and manufacturing processes. The countries are setting their sights on expanding this cooperative effort further from the year 2027 onwards. Additionally, Vietnam is aiming for Japan’s support in developing its sovereign AI capabilities and creating Vietnamese-language large language models. To this end, a joint Vietnam-Japan working group is slated to convene in October to facilitate technology transfer and fortify business links within the semiconductor industry.
Vietnam has put forward a proposal to expand the NEXUS initiative into an annual cooperation mechanism, enriching the scope of research to include areas such as artificial intelligence, new materials, renewable energy, and biomedicine. The proposal also advocates for closer business partnerships and increased training opportunities for highly skilled engineers and experts in strategic technology fields. Japan, in response, has shown interest in Vietnam’s semiconductor development, labor policies, and its comprehensive energy strategy, which includes plans to further develop nuclear power capabilities.
In pursuit of a diversified energy mix, Vietnam is combining conventional energy sources with renewables and nuclear power, including research into small modular reactors. The country has acknowledged that its energy transition will necessitate significant investment and a highly skilled workforce. Vietnam has expressed hopes that Japan will continue to play a pivotal role in developing the necessary energy infrastructure to support its burgeoning high-tech industries.