Can Tho (VNA)🍷 – The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is set to host a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – Agricultural Robotics – Pilot and Technician Training Centre, aimed at advancing smart farming practices in the Mekong Delta region.

The plan was announced at the scientific seminar jointly organised by Can Tho University and CT Group on September 9. Associate Professor Dr Tran Trung Tinh, Rector of Can Tho University, said that in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), automation and the space economy, Vietnam has the opportunity to make major strides if it can combine academic knowledge with technological strength and innovation. As the leading academic hub of the Mekong Delta, the university is well placed to converge talent and aspiration, while CT Group has mastered key UAV and robotics technologies. Their partnership to establish and operate the centre, he stressed, will play a significant role in driving smart agriculture based on digital technology. This project will not only deliver economic benefits but also transform agriculture, helping the Mekong Delta lead in climate-resilient smart farming and deeper integration into global value chains, Tinh underlined. It will focus on three core missions: research and application of UAVs and robotics in planting, cultivation, harvesting and carbon credit assessment; training of UAV pilots and high-quality technicians; and fostering innovation by linking universities, enterprises and authorities to support sustainable regional and national development. CT Group Chairman Tran Kim Chung affirmed the company’s commitment to supporting UAV and robotics development, with the long-term vision of positioning Vietnam as a global hub for smart agriculture. The group will support the development of digital infrastructure, data systems and shared platforms, ensure information security, and provide human resource training to serve digital transformation in agriculture. Digital security and technological self-reliance are seen as key drivers of the economy, Chung added. Practical applications are expected in marine economy development, offshore vessel monitoring, high-tech farming and biodiversity management. According to Associate Professor Dr Ma Truong Thanh of Can Tho University, most current smart agriculture applications in the Mekong Delta remain at the narrow AI stage, including sensor-based water quality forecasting, aquaculture environmental alerts, IoT systems, plant disease diagnostics, rice leaf disease recognition via mobile devices, and virtual agricultural assistants. Establishing the UAV – Robotics Centre will enable broader applications of AI and deep learning, accelerating the modernisation of the region’s agriculture./.