Korea-Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Forum Held: "Strengthening Cooperation in AI, Semiconductors, and Biotechnology"

by Seo Sojeong

Published 24 Apr.2026 19:53(KST)

Ten MOUs Signed for Core Technologies Including AI, Space, and Quantum

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Hooneun Bae is meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Trung at the Vietnamese Government Office in Hanoi on the 22nd. Provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT. Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that on the 24th, during President Lee Jaemyung's state visit to Vietnam, the Korea-Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) hosted the "Korea-Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Forum" together with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, where the two countries shared a vision for future scientific and technological cooperation.

The two countries plan to strengthen cooperation in key technology sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotechnology, energy, and resources.

On the Korean side, the forum was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Baek Kyunhoon, Ha Jungwoo, Chief of AI Future Planning, Jang Wonsam, President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency, Oh Sangrok, President of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and Park Yunkyu, President of the National IT Industry Promotion Agency.

On the Vietnamese side, participants included Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quyen, Bui The Duy, President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and To Trung Xuan, Chairman of Holdings, along with about 150 representatives from the government, industry, academia, and research sectors.

During the forum, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, shared the "Korea-Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Master Plan" with stakeholders from both countries’ industry, academia, and research institutions, and discussed development strategies.

This master plan is a follow-up measure to the agreement reached in August of last year between the two countries' leaders to expand cooperation in advanced science and technology. To this end, the Ministry of Science and ICT and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology discussed the direction of the plan during the 10th Korea-Vietnam Joint Committee on Science and Technology on the 2nd of this month, and on the 16th, discussed implementation methods at the 7th Meeting of Ministers for Science and Technology Relations.

Reflecting the results of these discussions, the two countries signed the "Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Master Plan Framework," which outlines the vision and implementation direction of the master plan, during the summit on the 22nd.

The master plan aims to promote follow-up support projects for VKIST to achieve strategic goals in the grant aid field of development cooperation. It also seeks to establish an integrated cooperation system in which joint research, human resource training, dissemination of achievements, and infrastructure support are organically linked based on inter-ministerial collaboration, reflecting the needs of industry and research sectors.

To this end, the two countries will select key areas of cooperation that reflect Vietnam’s national development strategy and the needs of both countries’ industry and research sectors, and foster next-generation science and technology talent, ranging from PhD-level researchers to practical professionals. In addition, using demonstration centers and regulatory sandboxes, they will accelerate technology validation and transfer. VKIST will be developed as Vietnam’s cooperation hub for science and technology, and the cooperation network will be expanded nationwide by linking with key innovation centers such as universities, research institutes, and industrial complexes.

Following the announcement of the master plan, a panel discussion was held with key stakeholders from both countries, during which practical implementation plans were discussed and successful cases of technological cooperation between private companies from both countries were introduced.

On the occasion of this forum, a total of 10 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed to promote cooperation in core technologies such as AI, space, and quantum technology among companies, research institutes, and public institutions from both countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Baek Kyunhoon of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "Based on the solid diplomatic and economic trust built between Korea and Vietnam, it is now necessary to establish a scientific and technological strategic partnership for mutual growth. By combining Korea’s advanced technological capabilities with Vietnam’s growth potential in a complementary manner, we will strive to create global innovations that lead the future together."