During the state visit of US President Joe Biden to Vietnam from September 10 to 11, 2023, the leaders of the two countries issued a joint declaration on the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on cooperation in science, technology and innovation. In particular, the leaders of the two countries supported the rapid development of the semiconductor ecosystem, promoting the development of semiconductor human resources in Vietnam.

At the meeting, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son briefly introduced the training context and prospects for developing semiconductor chip technology in Vietnam and at VNU to the Counselor. Currently, VNU has 9 strong research groups with 6 semiconductor chip laboratories. The orientation for developing Integrated circuit (IC) design technology at VNU focuses on IoT system-on-chip models combined with artificial intelligence for applications in smart cities, digital society, digital transformation, digital agriculture, etc. In addition, VNU’s research groups are interested in designing security chips for applications in defence and national security through research cooperation with the Government Cipher Committee, the Military Technical Academy, the Institute of Military Science and Technology, etc.

In addition to its facility strengths, VNU has abundant young human resources with a good mathematical thinking foundation, highly qualified human resources and growing talent training programs. Engineering technology; especially, information technology, automation, electronics, and computer engineering are attracting the attention of young generations. These are the fields relating to the different steps in the semiconductor industry.

In order to effectively exploit and promote the strengths in semiconductor chip design and manufacturing research and training, VNU determines international cooperation as a key factor, securing the success of the entire program. Cooperation with US partners is VNU’s priority in researching the design and manufacturing of semiconductor electronic devices. Therefore, VNU always expects support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam in establishing cooperative relationships with US partners and the US Government, helping to mobilize funding and support from the US Government in developing programs, centers and laboratories to serve VNU’s training and research in semiconductor technology.

VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son also expressed his hope that the US Embassy would be a connecting bridge for promoting the exchange of semiconductor and microchip technology experts between the US and Vietnam, providing young scientists in Vietnam in general and at VNU in particular with the opportunity to study and research at leading US laboratories as well as to attend student exchange programs.

Addressing the meeting, Ms. Mary Elizabeth Polley said that the US side was very willing to support the Vietnamese Government in semiconductor technology development. Vietnam currently has about 6,000 semiconductor technology engineers working in domestic and foreign semiconductor manufacturers and aims to train more than 50,000 high-quality engineers between now and 2030, with priority given to training semiconductor circuit design engineers. Ms. Mary Elizabeth Polley also wished that VNU would take advantage of the upcoming opportunities in this field and play an important role in semiconductor chip production human resource training and research to serve the country's economy.

She also expressed her willingness to help connect VNU with leading universities in the United States, such as Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, etc. in exchanging undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, and scientists. Furthermore, the US Embassy will always support and help connect VNU with key research laboratories and leading semiconductor chip corporations in the US.