FPT is all set to incubate human resources and co-unlock the potential of the Vietnam – US semiconductor market
Mr. Tran Dang Hoa, Chairman of FPT IS and Chairman of FPT Semiconductor, recently attended the inauguration ceremony of the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund of the United States in Vietnam. Leaders from the Vietnamese and US Governments, and representatives from leading organizations and companies in the semiconductor industry, shared their perspectives on introducing initiatives and strengthening cooperation in human resource training and technology development for the potential semiconductor market in Vietnam and the United States.
The event was organized by the Vietnam National Innovation Center in collaboration with the US Department of State, the US Embassy in Vietnam, and Arizona State University (ASU). Speaking at the event, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung expressed that, the inauguration ceremony of the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund of the United States in Vietnam was a practical and meaningful event to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development between Vietnam and the US. Both nations have agreed to make innovation and high technology, especially the semiconductor industry, an important pillar in the bilateral cooperation relationship. The event also marked an important milestone in the implementation roadmap of the project “Human resources development for the semiconductor industry to 2030, with a vision to 2050″ researched and developed the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.
The inauguration ceremony of the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund of the United States in Vietnam
Appropriated under the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 of the United States, the ITSI Fund is aimed at boosting domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors, ensuring the security and diversification of semiconductor supply chain. The Fund will support eight selected strategic countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Indonesia, Philippines, Kenya, India, and Vietnam. The US Department of State has awarded Arizona State University $13.8 million to nurture talents and develop public policy recommendations across these countries.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper stated that the Fund would create conditions for Vietnamese experts to participate and demonstrate their capabilities in the semiconductor industry. “The United States is proud to invest in Vietnam’s future through workforce development programs, consequently creating a lasting partnership. We are building relationships between organizations that will shape the semiconductor industry for years to come.”
Leaders from top semiconductor technology companies at the workshop “Increasing investment and promoting Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem”
On the enterprise side, Mr. Tran Dang Hoa, Chairman of FPT IS, shared his insights at the workshop “Increasing investment and promoting Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem”, and discussed with leaders from top semiconductor technology companies about the goal of exploiting opportunities in the industry, especially in attracting and nurturing semiconductor human resources.
Mr. Tran Dang Hoa, Chairman of FPT IS, sharing his insights about opportunities in the semiconductor industry at the workshop
“We’ve seen the gap between training and qualifications required by enterprises. To address this problem, FPT has always striven to erase this gap by developing international learning and working standards. We founded FPT University to train human resources for the software industry, and we will adopt the same strategy for the semiconductor industry. Following US President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam, FPT University cooperated with FPT Semiconductor to establish the Faculty of Microchips and Semiconductors with the goal of training high-quality human resources and researching microchips and semiconductors. This effort aims to enhance Vietnam’s national competitiveness in this field”, said Mr. Hoa.
The history of semiconductor industry has seen its location move from the United States to countries like Japan, Taiwan, and China. The transition opportunity is now facing Vietnam. Investment opportunities from the ITSI Fund are expected to make Vietnam a potential hub for the semiconductor industry in the future since the country possesses a workforce with strong STEM foundation, and shares cultural similarities with other chopstick-using countries such as Japan, Korea, that have achieved success in the semiconductor industry.
Mr. Hoa expressed that the ITSI Fund, along with support from the US government, will open up new ways for Vietnam to develop a comprehensive semiconductor industry, extending beyond the traditional focus on software. On that journey, FPT is committed to investing and developing human resources and technology, expanding comprehensive cooperation with US and international companies to promote the semiconductor industry supply chain.
In the semiconductor field, FPT is the first Vietnamese company to design commercial chips, securing orders for 70 million chips from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc., and collaborates with numerous global organizations and companies. In terms of human resource development, FPT offers a range of training programs in the chip sector, from university and college courses to programs in collaboration with leading overseas Vietnamese experts. The tech company also partners with universities worldwide, providing opportunities for students to study both domestically and internationally, and gain practical experience with both Vietnamese and foreign enterprises. This approach aims to rapidly expand the talent pool, supporting the Vietnamese Government’s goal of developing 50,000 to 100,000 skilled workers in the semiconductor industry by 2030.
