During a meeting on September 3, Vietnam emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration with Japan in strategic technology areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy. The discussions, which involved Vietnamese science and technology officials and representatives from Japan’s House of Representatives, also highlighted the importance of workforce development. The two nations are aiming to strengthen partnerships in semiconductor research, AI, energy technologies, and personnel training, while fostering closer ties between businesses in these critical sectors.
Under the existing NEXUS joint research program, Vietnam and Japan have been co-funding semiconductor research, focusing on chip design, advanced materials, supporting technologies, and manufacturing processes. Both countries are looking to broaden their cooperation from 2027 onward. Vietnam has expressed a desire for Japan’s assistance in developing its sovereign AI capabilities and in creating large language models tailored to the Vietnamese language. An upcoming meeting in October of a joint working group between the two nations is planned to facilitate technology transfer and bolster business connections in the semiconductor industry.
Additionally, Vietnam has proposed turning NEXUS into an annual cooperative mechanism while expanding research efforts to cover AI, new materials, renewable energy, and biomedicine. The country is also seeking to deepen business partnerships and enhance training initiatives for highly skilled engineers and experts in strategic technology fields. Japan, in response, has shown interest in Vietnam’s advancements in semiconductor development, its labor policies, and its long-term energy strategy, which notably includes plans to expand nuclear power.
Vietnam is pursuing a diversified energy mix strategy, combining conventional energy sources with renewables and nuclear power, including research into small modular reactors. The nation acknowledges that its energy transition will necessitate significant investments and a highly skilled workforce. Vietnam has expressed hope that Japan will continue to play a central role in developing the necessary energy infrastructure to support its burgeoning high-tech industries.
