Vietnam - UK expand strategic cooperation in semiconductor field

Vietnam is looking for a launching pad to break through in the digital era, where semiconductors are key to growth. Cooperation with the UK is expected to be the key to opening up opportunities to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Digital age and golden opportunity for Vietnam

On the morning of August 18, 2025, in Hanoi, the National Innovation Center (NIC) in collaboration with the British Embassy in Vietnam organized the "Vietnam - UK Semiconductor Forum". The event brought together businesses, research institutes, universities and experts from both countries, opening up opportunities for extensive cooperation in the semiconductor sector, an industry considered a strategic pillar for socio -economic growth in the digital transformation era.

In his opening speech, Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), emphasized: "Vietnam is entering a pivotal stage of development, when the double-digit growth target that General Secretary To Lam once affirmed is becoming the driving force for the entire system. To achieve that aspiration, the country must find new "engines", and the semiconductor industry is one of those engines."

Not simply the foundation of high-tech industries, semiconductor chips are present in all fields from artificial intelligence, electric cars, mobile devices, to healthcare, education , and finance. Therefore, seizing opportunities from the semiconductor industry not only helps Vietnam improve productivity, quality, and competitiveness, but also creates the key to expanding its position on the global technology map.

Delegates take a photo at the Vietnam - UK Semiconductor Forum.

The Vietnamese government has soon positioned semiconductors as a strategic industry, demonstrated through a series of policies such as Resolution 57 on science, technology and innovation, the National Strategy for Semiconductor Industry Development, and the Training Program for 50,000 Semiconductor Engineers by 2030. At the same time, Vietnam aims to increase R&D spending to 2% of GDP, entering the Top 40 of the Global Innovation Index (GII).

At the forum, Mr. Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam affirmed: "Vietnam has a young, enthusiastic and ambitious workforce, while the UK has a long-standing technology, research and training foundation. This combination opens up huge potential for new ideas, businesses and cooperation."

According to him, the presence of leading British technology and academic corporations such as ARM, Oxford Instruments, Renishaw, and the University of Liverpool demonstrates a commitment to long-term cooperation. These are organizations that have contributed to making the UK one of the technological powers with more than 1,000 billion pounds invested in this field.

ARM introduced the Flex Access program, an initiative to support Vietnamese universities in accessing chip design tools, training and certification for semiconductor engineers. The University of Liverpool affirmed its capacity for cooperation in chip design, materials research and photonic devices. Oxford Instruments brought solutions for analyzing and manufacturing semiconductor materials, along with experience in mining important minerals.

On the other hand, Vietnam also demonstrated its readiness when representatives from Hanoi National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, FPT Semiconductor, and CT Semiconductor simultaneously shared plans to participate more deeply in the global value chain. Prof. Dr. Tran Xuan Tu, Director of the Institute of Information Technology (Hanoi National University) affirmed: "Training and researching on microchip and IC design is the first step for Vietnam to form core competencies for the semiconductor industry."

Towards global value chains

Ambassador Iain Frew said that semiconductor chips are the foundation for the two countries to promote the development of artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, digital education and especially financial technology (fintech).

Notably, Vietnam has just announced plans to build an International Finance Centre (IFC). According to the Ambassador, the connection between Vietnam's IFC and the UK's technology finance centre will create a stable flow of capital for innovation projects, ensuring investment focused on future technologies.

This is an important intersection, while Vietnam craves high-quality capital to nurture semiconductor and technology projects, the UK wants to expand investment cooperation in a dynamic market with a young workforce and great potential.

Experts say that if Vietnam makes good use of cooperation mechanisms, it can gradually escape the assembly-processing position and move up the value ladder in the global supply chain, where more economic and technological value is created. This is also the way for Vietnam to affirm its position as the new technology factory of Southeast Asia.

The atmosphere at the Vietnam - UK Semiconductor Forum showed the openness and high determination of both sides. While the Vietnamese Government reaffirmed its commitment to creating a favorable investment environment and accompanying international businesses, British corporations and research institutes also clearly demonstrated their willingness to invest, cooperate and share knowledge. More importantly, the forum laid the foundation for specific cooperation from human resource training programs, joint research, to investment cooperation projects. These "seeds" of cooperation will blossom into new businesses, new ideas, new products in the future.

According to the UK's assessment, with a favorable business environment, young and technology-savvy human resources, Vietnam is an ideal partner for the UK to increase cooperation and investment.

On the other hand, with the rapid development of technology and the digital economy, Vietnam will receive strong support from leading experts and companies in the UK, helping to enhance competitiveness and create new opportunities for the long-term development of both countries. This strategic relationship will certainly continue to thrive, opening a new era of cooperation and innovation.

The Vietnam-UK Semiconductor Forum has opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. With the right policies, abundant human resources, and the support of experienced international partners, Vietnam is meeting all the conditions to become a new semiconductor hub in Asia./.

according to Investment newspaper

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-vuong-quoc-anh-mo-rong-hop-tac-chien-luoc-trong-linh-vuc-ban-dan-197251019081043185.htm