Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Science andTechnology (MoST), the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and Australia's national scienceagency – CSIRO - on June 30 organised a “Vietnam-Australia Innovation PartnershipDay” in Hanoi.
The event showcases achievements that theVietnam and Australian have made thanks to their cooperation in innovationfield.
Since 2018, the Australian Government has helped Vietnam develop an innovation ecosystem through its flagshipAus4Innovation programme. Australia recently announced that the Aus4Innovationprogramme will be extended to 2028, making it a 10-year commitment with a totalbudget of 33.5 million AUD (22.17 million USD).
Speaking at the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said the two countries’ innovation cooperation is substantial,efficient, and full of trust. It happens at all levels – individual,institution, and government, and proves to be enduring.
“As our two countries are working towards upgrading ourrelations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we will continue to deepenour cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and knowledgeand innovation,” he said.
Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Science and Technology saidthat the partnership with Australia, through the Aus4Innovation programme, hasdelivered tangible, significant results that are having substantial positiveimpact on the lives of the Vietnamese people.
With the introduction of the strategy for the development ofscience, technology and innovation (STI) in Vietnam until 2030, the countryaffirms the pivotal role of STI in addressing emerging economic, societal andinstitutional challenges.
Dat said that MoST is working hard to meet the goals set bythe strategy; and knowing that in that process, it will have the support of atrusted partner like Australia to achieve much more in the next five years, andbeyond.
CSIRO’s Executive Director of Growth Jonathan Law said thatthe next phase of the Aus4Innovation programme will build upon the solidfoundations already established.
Over the next five years, the programme will put a strongerfocus on areas of Vietnam’s priorities, such as resilient agriculture and food,as well as introducing appropriate interventions for the digital era, includingresponsible artificial intelligence, he said.
After five years in operation across 37 provinces in Vietnam, the Aus4Innovation programme has laid the foundation for 82 partnerships between Australianand Vietnamese universities, research agencies, high-tech businesses, andpolicy makers; established a pool of 875 trainers and experts throughcapacity building activities; and contributed to national policies on science, technology andinnovation, as well as developed practical tools for innovation policydevelopment to help contribute to a more enabling environment./.
