Many positive results

A positive signal about infrastructure is that Da Nang has overcome difficulties to put into operation Da Nang Software Park No. 2 according to Decision No. 1238/QD-TTg dated October 22, 2024 of the Prime Minister on expanding the concentrated Information Technology Park of Da Nang Software Park.

Accordingly, Da Nang Software Park No. 2 with a total land area of ​​28,573m2 in Thuan Phuoc ward (Hai Chau district) is an extension of Da Nang Software Park (No. 2 and 15 Quang Trung, Thach Thang ward).

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Software Park No. 2 Project. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Also in October, the City People's Council approved the adjustment of the investment policy for the Danang Software Park No. 2 project (phase 1) with a total cost of more than VND 414 billion to synchronously complete 3 blocks of buildings (20-storey ICT, 8-storey ICT1 and 8-storey ICT2).

Thus, the total investment of the project is 1,400 billion VND. It is expected that in January 2025, the city will open ICT 1 building.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Thanh, Director of the Department of Information and Communications (DIC), said that another infrastructure is that the city established the Center for Research and Training on Microchip Design and Artificial Intelligence (DSAC) under the Department of Information and Communications and it will come into operation on January 26, 2024.

This is the first center in the country to organize investment support activities, research, training and international cooperation in the fields of microchips and artificial intelligence.

In October 2024, DSAC was honored as the solution for "Developing a semiconductor ecosystem for the future" at the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2024.

Regarding policy, the 21st session of the 10th City People's Council passed 3 resolutions regulating policies for the development of semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence, thereby concretizing Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on the organization of urban government and piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang city.

Regarding human resource enhancement, the city successfully organized the launching ceremony of the training program and opened a training class for lecturers in the field of microchip design on March 26, 2024.

Up to now, 4 universities have officially opened microchip engineering training programs and recruited nearly 300 students; opened 3 training classes to convert graduates from microchip engineering majors to microchip design for 41 students and 59 lecturers.

The city organized training for 17 lecturers participating in the test packaging program organized by Arizona State University (USA); coordinated with NVIDIA Corporation to grant artificial intelligence ambassador certificates to 7 lecturers from universities in Da Nang.

A prominent semiconductor event last year was “Da Nang Semiconductor Day 2024”. This event marked a new milestone in the development journey of Da Nang.

Within the framework of the event, many agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between Da Nang and partners, businesses and investors. As a result, by the end of 2024, the world's leading semiconductor and microchip design enterprises such as Synopsys, Marvell, and Renesas will be present in the city.

Da Nang has 5 more chip design companies investing, bringing the total number of chip design enterprises to 13. Recently, Da Nang has had 4 startups listed in the top 10 innovative startups in the field of semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence organized by Qualcomm Group: XB Technology Co., Ltd., Alpha Asimov Robotics Co., Ltd., Vox Cool Co., Ltd., VAS High-Tech Solutions Joint Stock Company (Delta X).

Continue to develop in 3 directions

In early October 2024, Mixel Vietnam Co., Ltd. was established in Da Nang. This is a member of Mixel Group (USA), the world's leading supplier of mixed-circuit IP cores.

Mixel's activities "span" many fields: artificial intelligence and machine learning, mobile devices, cameras, display technology, virtual reality, smart cars...

Mr. Nguyen Bao Anh, Director of the company, shared: “Our desire is to bring many advanced technologies in the world to Vietnam in general and Da Nang in particular. This will create more opportunities for students to be trained systematically, to try their hand at high technology and to have direct access to customers. Besides, I also want to build a team of highly qualified and experienced Vietnamese experts, creating a premise for high-end products from Vietnam in the future. The establishment of a new semiconductor company in Da Nang contributes to affirming that the city is changing strongly, welcoming the wave of technology shift in the world, especially semiconductors”.

Mr. Bao Anh also suggested that, in addition to attracting large corporations, the city needs to provide more support for small and medium-sized enterprises. These entities will create a sustainable technology ecosystem for the future.

In terms of technology, Mr. Bao Anh expects that there will soon be investment projects for microchip manufacturing, advanced packaging, traditional packaging and testing. Along with attracting foreign investment, the city should also invest in building research and training centers to develop internal capacity.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Thanh, the roadmap for developing the city's semiconductor and artificial intelligence industry includes two phases. Specifically, in the 2024-2027 period, the focus will be on training human resources associated with attracting foreign investment in the field of semiconductor and artificial intelligence design, preparing resources for development in the next phase.

In the 2027-2030 period, prioritize the development of domestic enterprises and startups, and attract investment in semiconductor design to promote investment attraction in the packaging and testing sectors.

In 2025, the city will invest in and put into use 3 laboratories, including 2 labs for training in microchip design, 1 lab for training in artificial intelligence in Da Nang Software Park No. 2; deploy investment to complete phase 2 of Da Nang Software Park No. 2 to put into use the ICT2 and ICT3 buildings.

Regarding mechanisms and policies, the city will develop a plan to implement the project on Developing semiconductor microchips and artificial intelligence in the city and resolutions.

Regarding human resource training, the city continues to deploy training courses and foster domestic and foreign source lecturers related to microchip design and packaging testing based on cooperation with Synopsys Company, Arizona State University - USA.

According to MAI QUE (Da Nang Newspaper)