Vietnam - Australia promote technology and innovation cooperation

In recent years, Vietnam's science, technology and innovation have made many outstanding advances and achievements, making practical contributions to the country's industrialization and modernization, strengthening national defense and security, improving social security and people's quality of life, and contributing to sustainable socio-economic development. The Global Innovation Index 2024 report shows that Vietnam continues to rise 2 places compared to 2024, ranking 44/133 countries and economies, including 3 indexes leading the world. For 14 consecutive years, Vietnam has always had higher innovation results than its development level. Vietnam and Australia upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership earlier this year, opening up many cooperation opportunities for the two countries. Therefore, the workshop is of great significance in concretizing the cooperation orientations between the two countries, promoting connections between agencies, businesses, and scientists to exchange and share experiences in solving many current challenges globally, such as: Responding to climate change, water security, green development based on science and technology. Regarding smart urban development, according to the report of the Ministry of Construction in 2022, Vietnam has 48/63 provinces and cities implementing smart urban development projects. In that context, Australia is a country with many achievements in science, technology and innovation to respond to and solve these challenges and promoting cooperation between the two countries is expected to bring many useful lessons and solutions for Vietnam. On November 1-2 in Hanoi, the International Workshop "Promoting technological cooperation and innovation between Vietnam and Australia" took place. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney to promote cooperation between the two countries to solve many global issues with scientific, technological and innovative solutions, such as: Climate change, water security, smart urban development...

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski speaks at the conference. Photo: Internet.

At the workshop, a cooperation agreement was signed between the University of Technology Sydney and Hanoi University of Science and Technology to promote research cooperation and expert exchange activities to promote science , technology, and innovation towards sustainable development of the two countries.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh stated that the Party and Government of Vietnam have identified science, technology and innovation as playing a particularly important role and mission, as the main driving force for growth, and as a decisive factor in improving the country's competitiveness. Currently, Vietnam is focusing on perfecting mechanisms and policies to promote the development of the national innovation system, especially mechanisms and policies related to technology development and controlled testing of new technologies, new products, and new business models. Mr. Andrew Parfitt - President of the University of Technology Sydney, expressed his delight at the signing of a cooperation agreement between the University of Technology Sydney and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology. This will be an important key to promoting artificial intelligence (AI) for the common development of the two countries, especially Vietnam's domestic industry.

Workshop to promote innovation cooperation between Vietnam and Australia - Photo: VGP/Hoang Giang

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh also said that Vietnam is currently focusing on perfecting mechanisms and policies to promote the development of the national innovation system, especially mechanisms and policies related to technology development and controlled testing of new technologies, new products, and new business models. The Australian Government and the Vietnamese Government identify innovation as a new pillar in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, contributing to strengthening bilateral relations. The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in general and the cooperation in science, technology and innovation between Vietnam and Australia in particular have been developing strongly in recent times. In early 2024, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening up many cooperation opportunities for the two countries. Therefore, today's event is of great significance in concretizing the cooperation orientations between the two countries, promoting connections between agencies, businesses, universities, research institutes and experts to exchange and share experiences in solving many current global challenges such as: Responding to climate change, water security, green development based on science and technology and innovation. The Deputy Minister affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology will strive to create favorable conditions and encourage the participation of the community of scientists, businesses, universities, research institutes and international partners in science and technology and innovation activities./.

Thu Hang