Vietnam, Germany fortify sci-tech cooperation
Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat held working sessions with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), several major universities, hi-tech parks and startup centres, as part of his working trip to Germany from June 25-28.
A highlight of the trip was the third meeting of the Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and BMBF held in Berlin on June 27. This biennial meeting aimed to update their respective policies on sci-tech development and innovation, review achievements since the previous meeting, and discuss future directions and plans for bilateral cooperation activities.
Both sides agreed to expand numerous bilateral cooperation programmes between government agencies, research institutes, universities and sci-tech organisations of both countries. In the lead up to the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Science and Technology Agreement in 2025, the two sides will collaborate in organising meaningful activities to mark these milestones.
The Vietnamese delegation also visited a hi-tech park and held working sessions with the Centre of Excellence for Startups and Technology Transfer of North Rhine-Westphalia state, and the President of the pioneering technology group WILO SE and toured a smart factory in Dortmund. They also worked with Humboldt University, one of Germany's oldest universities, and met with Vietnamese-origin scientists and intellectuals working in Germany.
Before heading back to Vietnam, Dat had a brief meeting with Timon Gremmels, Minister of Science and Research, Arts and Culture of Hessen state in Frankfurt to discuss cooperation proposals.
