Nvidia has announced plans to establish its first Research and Development (R&D) centre in Vietnam, marking a significant step in the company's strategy to stimulate the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within the country. The announcement was made on Thursday, and the centre is set to harness Vietnam's skilled workforce of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates to advance AI software and platforms.
The Vietnam Research and Development Centre will be situated within Viettel’s advanced AI-ready data centre located in Hanoi, which was launched earlier this year. Viettel, a leading telecommunications and tech conglomerate in Vietnam, has been part of Nvidia’s Partner Network since 2022. The collaboration aims to provide researchers and startups with the necessary infrastructure to create AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare, education, transportation, and finance.
Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of Nvidia, indicated the company's strategic intent during his announcement. He stated, “With our expertise in AI development, we will partner with a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, startups and enterprise organizations to build incredible AI right here in Vietnam.” This sentiment reflects Nvidia’s commitment to integrating itself into the local innovation landscape, engaging with local industry leaders, startups, government entities, universities, and students to accelerate AI adoption across the region.
The establishment of this R&D centre follows Nvidia’s increasing investment in Vietnam over the past several years. Earlier this year, Nvidia collaborated with Vietnamese technology giant FPT to develop AI factories aimed at research and development in the area. Furthermore, Nvidia is currently collaborating with over 100 Vietnamese AI startups through its Inception startup accelerator programme and has partnered with 65 universities nationwide.
Vietnamese authorities have been advocating for the nation as a potential hub for AI development since 2021. The approval of the national data strategy in February 2024 is perceived as a foundational step for enhancing domestic AI development initiatives. In a further commitment to this vision, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has proposed the establishment of a national strategy focused on AI research, development, and application by 2030.
At the launch event for Nvidia’s new R&D centre, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh articulated the government's emphasis on innovation as a cornerstone of its development strategy. He noted, “With this strategic partnership, the Vietnamese government and Nvidia are committed to jointly promoting the strong development of AI technology in Vietnam and creating a bright future for the innovation ecosystem and high-tech industry in Southeast Asia.”
This move by Nvidia is poised to not only enhance its own capabilities and innovations but also to potentially transform Vietnam's status within the global AI landscape, fostering a collaborative environment conducive to technological advancements. As the centre begins operations, it may pave the way for significant developments in AI across numerous sectors in the country, thus aligning with broader regional and global trends in AI automation and application.
Source: Noah Wire Services