Vietnam-Australia Innovation Partnership Day launched in Hanoi

The event highlights the achievements which both nations have recorded thanks to co-operation in the field of innovation. 

Since 2018 the Australian Government has helped the nation to develop an innovation ecosystem through its flagship Aus4Innovation programme.

This comes following Australia recently announcing that the Aus4Innovation programme will be extended to 2028, making it a 10-year commitment with a total budget of US$33.5 million.

Upon addressing the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski stated that innovation co-operation between both side is substantial, efficient, and full of trust. It happens at all levels, including individual, institution, and government, with ties proving to be enduring.

“As our two countries are working towards upgrading our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we will continue to deepen our cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and knowledge and innovation,” he said.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that the partnership with Australia, through the Aus4Innovation programme, has delivered tangible and significant results that are having a substantial positive impact on the lives of the Vietnamese people.

Through the introduction of the strategy for the development of science, technology and innovation (STI) in the country until 2030, the nation affirms the pivotal role of STI in terms of addressing emerging economic, societal, and institutional challenges.

Minister Dat said that MoST is working hard in a bid to meet the goals set by the strategy, knowing that in the process it will have the support of a trusted partner like Australia to achieve much more over the next five years and beyond.

Jonathan Law, executive director of Growth of CSIRO, said that the next phase of the Aus4Innovation programme will build upon the solid foundations already established.

Over the next five years the scheme will put a stronger focus on areas of Vietnamese priorities, such as resilient agriculture and food, as well as introducing appropriate interventions for the digital era, including responsible artificial intelligence, he said.

After five years in operation across 37 provinces nationwide, the Aus4Innovation programme has laid the foundation for 82 partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese universities, research agencies, high-tech businesses, and policy makers. This is along with the establishing of a pool of 875 trainers and experts through capacity building activities; whilst contributing to national policies on science, technology, and innovation; as well as developing practical tools for innovation policy development to help contribute to a more enabling environment.