STI Days foster ASEAN-EU cooperation in science, innovation
The ASEAN-EU Science, Technology and Innovation Days (STI Days) began on May 10, serving as a platform for scientists, policymakers and innovation companies from the two blocs to boost cooperation.
The ASEAN-EU STI Days open in Hanoi on May 10 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 💛– The ASEAN-EU Science, Technology and Innovation Days (STI Days) kicked off in Hanoi on May 10, serving as a platform for scientists, policymakers and innovation companies from the two blocs to boost cooperation in the fields.
The STI Days are held annually on a rotational basis between ASEAN and EU countries. This year’s event, which will last until May 12, is the third to be held so far.
It is organised within the framework of the SEA-EU-NET 2 project, funded by the EU Commission’s seventh Framework Programme (FP7), to provide flexible and dynamic forums along with other events on science, technology and innovation.
At the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh said the SEA-EU-NET is a project to enhance scientific cooperation in areas that both ASEAN and the EU are interested in.
Under the FP7 and Horizon 2020, an EU research and innovation programme, more than 200 Southeast Asian research organisations have engaged in joint research projects that aim to address global pressing issues such as environmental protection, health care, disease prevention, food safety, water resources management, and new energy.
There is great potential for the two regions to further cooperation, especially in the field of innovation, he added.
The 2016 STI Days are expected to feature 15 workshops attended by nearly 600 delegates from over 40 countries, along with 24 exhibition booths of 10 nations.
Specialists will also gather at meetings to discuss such topics as the main social challenges concerned by both regions, and the connection between infectious diseases, water, food and energy.-VNA
The European Union (EU) pledges to strengthen and elevate its dialogue relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a greater height.
ASEAN and the EU agreed to intensify human rights cooperation and policy dialogues at a series of events during an ASEAN delegation’s visit to Belgium’s Brussels from October 19 to 25.
Hungary on February 5 expressed its strong interest to forge closer ties with the Southeast Asian region and said it recognised the immense potential of the ASEAN Community.
Representatives from ASEAN and the European Union (EU) reiterated their commitment to further strengthening the existing close trade and investment relations between the regions.
VietNEST (Vietnamese Nurturing Education for Science & Traditions) is a mobile app and digital platform for Vietnamese language learning among overseas children.
The networks bring together universities, research institutes and domestic and foreign businesses. Members will work closely in training, research, and technology transfer by sharing curricula, improving faculty capacity, providing access to laboratories and research facilities, and jointly implementing science and technology projects.
The Better Choice Awards (BCA) 2025 is a key highlight in the lead-up to Vietnam Innovation Day that falls on October 1, an annual event expected to attract hundreds of innovative enterprises, research institutions, investment funds, and startups from both Vietnam and abroad.
The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
With the launching of its two-tier local administration model, the city is incorporating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to enhance service delivery for citizens and businesses, aligning with the Politburo’s Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.
Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.
Vietnam is no longer just an emerging blockchain market, it is stepping into a leadership role, with global investors, developers, and experts recognising its growing potential to become a leading hub for digital assets in the region.
Taking place on August 1–2, the event features more than 20,000 attendees and over 200 speakers from Vietnam, the h Korea, Singapore, the UAE, Hong Kong (China) and the US.
Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
The two-day academic forum, themed “Resilience, Sustainability & Digital Transformation in a Changing World: Perspectives from Southeast Asia”, aims to share interdisciplinary research insights, focusing on adaptive capacity, sustainable development, and digital transformation amid evolving global and regional landscapes.
With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.
Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.
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The visit aimed to assess the new two-tier local government model, preparations for upcoming Party congresses at levels, and implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion on school construction in border areas.
Under the theme “Breakthrough Era with the Development of Industrial Internet”, the event gathered over 400 delegates, including senior officials, leading Internet experts, and technology engineers from Vietnam and abroad.
The ASEAN-EU STI Days open in Hanoi on May 10 (Photo: VNA)
