7 signing agreements to promote science and technology cooperation between Vietnam and Australia

Seven memorandums of understanding were awarded between Vietnamese and Australian units aimed at connecting experts, training human resources, researching, transferring and putting technology into practical applications.

Memorandums of understanding (MOU) were awarded between the parties at the Vietnam – Australia Tech Connect event, August 10 in Sydney. Among the fields awarded this time, science and technology is one of the prominent fields, with seven memoranda of understanding between institutes, schools, businesses and management agencies, according to information from the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Science and Technology.

One of the typical agreements is the cooperation between the Department of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence (DAA) and the Vietnam – Australia Association of Intellectuals and Experts (VASEA). The two sides aim to connect Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Australia, promote research and transfer in the fields of digital technology, semiconductors, and AI, and support Vietnamese digital technology businesses to promote trade and investment in Australia.

In the education and research group, the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) agreed to cooperate in joint research, implementing the next phase of the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technology Center. The two sides focus on core technology, strategic technology, application development and new technology models, and expand cooperation between universities, research institutes, businesses and regulatory agencies through joint research and technology transfer.

Another direction of cooperation focuses directly on human resource training. PTIT and Australia’s Griffith University agreed to implement a dual-degree training program in Information Technology and Computer Science under the “educational franchise” model. The program lasts 4.5 years, including 9 semesters and two training periods. Graduates receive degrees from both schools.

In the corporate sector, the MOU between CMC Global and Investstream aims to bring technology into a specific field such as pensions, retirement and social security. The two sides will cooperate to introduce business opportunities, provide technology consulting, design digital transformation solutions and contribute appropriate technologies, tools, frameworks and methodologies for initiatives in this field.

On this occasion, the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and the Australian Scientific and Industrial Research Agency (CSIRO) also awarded a cooperation agreement. According to the Foundation, this is an important milestone, opening up more opportunities to strengthen research cooperation, connect resources and promote science, technology and innovation cooperation programs between the two sides.

At a meeting with Professor Andrew Parfitt, Rector and President of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on the same day, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan assessed that cooperation between Vietnamese units and Australian schools over the past decades has mainly focused on education. He suggested the need to expand activities from training to research and innovation, considering this a major shift that needs to be made.

The Vietnam – Australia TechConnect 2026 Forum took place on August 10 at the University of Technology Sydney, bringing together more than 300 delegates from the two countries’ science, technology, education and innovation ecosystems. The event includes high-level plenary sessions, thematic sessions, activities connecting institutes – schools – businesses and an exhibition area introducing technologies in AI, health, education, automation and renewable energy. This is an activity during the state visit to Australia on August 9-12 of General Secretary and President To Lam, at the invitation of Governor General Sam Mostyn.