Senior Vietnamese officials meet UTS leadership to explore collaboration through the Australia–Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC), with a focus on digital transformation and skills for Vietnam’s 2045 vision.
UTS leaders host the Vietnamese delegation led by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sydney, 7 August 2025 — The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) welcomed a high‑level Vietnamese delegation led by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), joined by Vietnam’s Consul General in Sydney, Vietnam’s former Ambassador to Australia and other representatives from Vietnam’s MFA and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The visit progressed discussions on technology‑enabled collaboration between Australia and Vietnam, following the June 2025 launch of the Australia‑Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC) in Hanoi.
Hosted by UTS Vice‑Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Parfitt and senior leaders, including Professor Diep N. Nguyen, Director of AVSTC, the program focused on opportunities in 5G/6G, cybersecurity, semiconductor talent development, digital transformation, and critical infrastructure resilience — priority domains for both nations’ innovation agendas.
“AVSTC aims to foster and translate world‑class research into solutions that serve communities and industry,” said Professor Andrew Parfitt, UTS Vice‑Chancellor and President. “This dialogue with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DFAT and our consular partners strengthens a practical pathway for joint research, workforce upskilling and innovation that benefits both countries and the region.”
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and AVSTC Director and Other Delegates
The engagement aligns with Vietnam’s Resolution 57‑NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, and with the country’s objective to become a developed, high‑income nation by 2045. AVSTC provides a practical bridge from policy priorities to on‑the‑ground pilots, industry partnerships and talent programs.
Planned areas of collaboration discussed through AVSTC include:
- Pre‑start‑up program with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MST): co‑designing a pathway for researchers and founders to develop and commercialise strategic technologies with Australian partners.
- Executive training for senior Vietnamese leaders (via CCOP): short courses on AI, big‑data application and governance, and digital transformation to support evidence‑based public administration.
- Semiconductor workforce development: opportunities for skills development and industry‑linked training aligned with Vietnam’s emerging semiconductor agenda.
- Joint research and demonstrators in 5G/6G and critical infrastructure resilience: leveraging UTS strengths and AVSTC testbeds to deliver trustworthy, deployable solutions for priority sectors.
About the Australia–Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC)
AVSTC is a bilateral platform led by UTS and Vietnamese partners to advance strategic technologies — including 5G/6G, cybersecurity, AI and advanced connectivity — through joint research, training and industry collaboration. The Centre supports Vietnam’s digital transformation and enhances Australia–Vietnam cooperation across government, academia and industry.
