On 11^th June 2025, at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre (AVSTC) was officially released to provide strategic technology cooperation and innovation between Australia and Vietnam.

The Centre was established through a cooperative initiative between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the host of PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) with Nokia – the world’s leading corporation in 5G/6G technology – as a founding partner from the business side.

AVSTC was established to bring about reasonable benefits for strategic technology between the two countries. This is the architecture of Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung during his trip to Australia, when he experienced the 5G laboratory at UTS University.

Ambassador in charge of cyber security and critical technology issues of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brendan Dowling, said that this initiative will put both countries at the forefront of global connectivity and support the provision of economic growth, security as well as expanding access to digital technology for the community.

The Centre was officially declared with the presence of Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Bui The Duy, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird PSM, Prof. Andrew Parfitt – Rector of the University of Technology Sydney, Prof. Dr. Tu Minh Phuong – Chairman of PTIT Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac – President of PTIT, Mr. Henrique Vale – Vice President of Asia – Pacific region of Nokia, and more than 300 delegates representing government agencies, research institutes, universities and enterprises from Australia, Vietnam and internationally.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Bui The Duy emphasized the importance of developing technology and future innovation. This event marked a turning point in the strategic cooperation relationship between the two countries, especially in the field of technology – a key driving force for economic development, competitiveness and innovation in the 21st century.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy emphasized that in recent years, the Vietnamese and Australian Ministries of Science and Technology have had a close partnership in science, technology (S&T) and innovation (I&I), focusing on digital transformation and strategic technology. “We appreciate Australia’s strong support through technical assistance, expert exchanges and policy dialogue.

“The launch of the Centre is an important step towards strengthening cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in strategic technologies, promoting digital transformation, promoting technological and industrial innovation, and enhancing international network stability as a core driver of sustainable development.”

Deputy Minister Bui The Duy also shared that Vietnam is currently in the process of revising the Law on Science and Technology, which was first adopted in 2013. This revision is not a routine update – but a transformational reform in line with Resolution 57 of the Politburo, issued in December 2024. For the first time, innovation is officially recognized and placed on par with science and technology.

The revised law reflects a shift from input-based management to results-oriented management; promoting autonomy in research while enhance accountability; enable researchers to own and benefit from their results. The law also empowers businesses to lead in R&D through strong incentives and co-investment models.

Sharing at the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Ms. Gillian Bird PSM said: “The Australian Government is proud to work with Vietnam to promote innovation and digital transformation, which are important factors in Vietnam’s economic growth”.

“This promising new centre in Hanoi is a concrete demonstration of Australia’s commitment to supporting the science and innovation partnership between the two countries, which is an important focus within the framework of the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Ambassador Bird emphasized.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac, President of PTIT, said that PTIT is one of the five key universities in Vietnam in training in engineering and technology, with a high growth rate, high openness in terms of scale, quality of training, and in-depth R&D research to meet the meaningful goals of the parties.

The PTIT President also said that the Centre is equipped with a Nokia NDAC independent 5G network, which is a controlled experimental environment for testing and optimizing 5G applications in industry. Through this, businesses and research institutes can develop practical solutions. The system and other equipment at the Centre also help test to find vulnerabilities in the 5G system and find solutions to overcome them; research non-traditional information networks (NTN) and experience the application of quantum technology.

First outstanding activities

Within the framework of the Opening Ceremony, the Centre also announced funding for 8 strategic technology “seed” projects to promote cooperation between Vietnamese and Australian scientists.

In particular, the Centre founded and awarded the Women in Technology and Innovation Award to 19 female scientists, students, and engineers, to honor and encourage women pioneers in the field of technology and innovation.

The Centre also awarded nearly 100 “Australia – Vietnam Strategic Technology” scholarships to young engineers, managers, and researchers nationwide, inspiring young generations to pursue a career in technology and innovation.

With the mission of promoting and connecting research, technology, and related policies, after the opening ceremony, AVSTC invited businesses, technology leaders, and leading scientists in the world to participate in the Australia – Vietnam Strategic Technology Forum.

The event took place on the afternoon of June 11 and 12 with the main contents such as: Shaping Vietnam’s future with 5G; Ensuring digital infrastructure security; AI applications and AI governance; Opportunities and challenges in space technology; Non-traditional networks in space and 6G; Quantum technology and applications; 5G and 6G network security./.