Hanoi (VNA) - A ceremony to announce the US International Technology and Security Innovation (ITSI) Fund in Vietnam took place in Hanoi on September 11. The event was organised by the National Innovation Center in collaboration with the US Department of State, the US Embassy in Vietnam, and Arizona State University.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung noted that the event is a meaningful and practical activity to celebrate one year of the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development between Vietnam and the US. This also marks an important milestone in the implementation of the project "Developing Human Resources for the Semiconductor Industry by 2030, with a vision towards 2050," which the Ministry of Planning and Investment has developed and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval, he added.
"In addition to cooperation in training and human resource development, Vietnam and the US have agreed to make innovation and high technology, especially the semiconductor industry, an important pillar in the bilateral collaboration," he stated.
According to the minister, the announcement ceremony not only marks the beginning of a new training programme with international standards regarding packaging and testing microchips for university lecturers and students in Vietnam, but also represents a significant step in the journey towards mastering technology in the semiconductor industry - a crucial solution to enhance the value of Vietnamese human resources in the socio-economic development strategy.
Thanking the US Government and all partners who have contributed to the success of this initiative, Dung called for collaboration from businesses, research institutes, and universities in both the US and Vietnam.
At the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper emphasised the importance of the programme in connecting organisations of both countries. He stated that the US is proud to invest in the future of Vietnam through workforce development programmes, thus creating a long-lasting partnership.
The US and Vietnam are building relationships among organisations that will shape the semiconductor industry for years to come, he noted.
Established under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the ITSI is designed to enhance semiconductor capabilities and the resilience of the global semiconductor supply chain.
Vietnam is one of eight strategic countries selected for this initiative, alongside Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, and India. The US Department of State has given Arizona State University 13.8 million USD to promote talent development and formulate public policy recommendations in these countries.
In late January 2024, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez discussed the direction of cooperation with Vietnam, saying one of the hottest areas currently is semiconductors. When the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023, cooperation on semiconductors was included in the joint statement between Vietnam and the US.
On September 21, the Vietnamese Prime Minister issued a national strategy for semiconductor industry development and a human resource development scheme for the industry until 2030, with orientations to 2050. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has proactively worked with relevant ministries, agencies, and domestic and foreign partners to enhance the training of a quality workforce for AI and semiconductor industries. The goal is to train 50,000 engineers by 2030./.
