The PM lauded Qualcomm’s two-decade partnership with Vietnam, spanning mobile connectivity, technology transfer, artificial intelligence (AI) research, STEM education, startup incubation, and innovation ecosystem development. He highlighted Qualcomm’s launch of an AI research and development center in Hanoi, now its third-largest globally after the U.S. and India.
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PM Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon |
He congratulated Qualcomm and the state-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) on signing an agreement during Amon’s visit to establish the VNPT–Qualcomm Center of Excellence. He outlined Vietnam’s economic targets, aiming for 8.3-8.5% GDP growth in 2025 and double-digit growth in the coming years, fueled by knowledge, sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation.
He also urged Qualcomm to partner with Vietnamese companies, research institutes, universities and the National Innovation Center to foster a startup ecosystem, integrate local firms deeper into Qualcomm’s global supply and production chains, and share expertise in governance, institutional reform and workforce training. He pointed to new incentives for foreign experts and scientists in hi-tech industries, including visa exemptions.
The Vietnamese Government is committed to a favorable business environment for profitable and efficient operations, based on a principle of working together, winning together, sharing joy and happiness, harmonizing benefits and sharing risks, he said.
Amon, in reply, expressed optimism about Vietnam’s growth prospects and cooperation opportunities, praising Vietnam’s policies on sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation, as well as the rapid progress of Qualcomm’s Vietnamese partners such as Viettel, VNPT and FPT.
He detailed plans to collaborate in AI, semiconductors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, electronics and smartphones, with the aim of making Vietnam a regional R&D hub, particularly for AI, saying that Qualcomm stays ready to nurture skilled Vietnamese talent.
Qualcomm, valued at about 160 billion USD, is a global leader in advanced wireless and 5G technology and is expanding into Edge AI. It has operated in Vietnam for over two decades, launching its first Southeast Asia R&D center in Hanoi and recently acquiring a generative AI company from VinAI/Vingroup to bolster its AI capabilities.
Over the past two decades, Qualcomm has run multiple programs to develop Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem, including the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, which has incubated 29 tech startups, raised over 32 million USD in funding, commercialized 25 products, registered 87 patents, and collaborated with Viettel and VNPT to advance 5G and WiFi technologies.
Source: VNA