Singapore (VNA) - The Vietnamese community in Singapore is strengthening its role as a bridge for bilateral science, technology and innovation cooperation, as experts, researchers and entrepreneurs gathered at the Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Forum on May 23 to explore practical solutions for supporting Vietnam’s development ambitions.
The forum, jointly organised by the liaison committee of the Vietnamese community in Singapore and the Vietnamese Embassy there, aimed to establish a platform for advancing science, technology and innovation initiatives in support of national development.
Addressing the forum, Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Phuoc Anh expressed appreciation for the initiative to connect Vietnamese intellectuals in Singapore and make the most of the city-state’s strengths in science, technology and innovation.
According to the ambassador, the ability of overseas Vietnamese experts to share knowledge and collaborate with domestic institutions in maximising scientific and technological resources carries significant meaning for Vietnam’s development. He noted that such forums are especially timely and relevant amid the country’s accelerating push for innovation-driven growth.
Ta Thuy Lien, head of the liaison committee, stressed that the 2026 forum was designed to go beyond the format of a conventional academic conference.
This forum must become a coordinate for action, where participants move beyond networking to truly become co-creation partners with the country, she said, emphasising the need for practical and measurable cooperation models.
It created an open platform for dialogue and exchange, providing participants with updates on Vietnam’s demand for high-quality talent and opportunities for collaboration with domestic agencies, universities, research institutes and enterprises.
Discussions focused on core technology transfer and solutions to national strategic challenges, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and quantum technology, biomedical technology, green materials, the circular economy and blockchain applications.
Sharing perspectives on technological sovereignty, Professor Vu Minh Khuong from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore highlighted the importance of balancing sovereignty with deep global integration. Drawing lessons from Singapore’s development experience, he argued that sovereignty in the modern era is demonstrated through deep participation in global technological ecosystems rather than isolated development.
For many participants, the forum represented more than an academic exchange. It also served as a platform connecting overseas Vietnamese intellectuals with opportunities to contribute knowledge, international networks and practical expertise to Vietnam’s long-term development.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Nguyet Minh, Graduate Programme Director at the Department of Pharmacology under the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, shared her journey of studying and working in Singapore since 2001. She recalled dedicating nearly a decade to translating the book “Molecular Biology of the Cell” into Vietnamese language as one of her earliest projects supporting education and scientific development in Vietnam./.
VNA
