FPT Collaborates with the National Innovation Center and the US Tech Expert Organization to Establish A Semiconductor Hub for Education

On October 28, 2023, at the National Innovation Center (NIC) Hòa Lạc branch, within the framework of the inauguration ceremony of the NIC Hòa Lạc and the opening of the 2023 Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition (VIIE 2023), the NIC, FPT Corporation, and TreSemi signed the cooperation agreement to establish the Vietnam Semiconductor Hub for Education (VSHE). The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, central leaders, and all delegates.

Mr. Truong Gia Binh - Chairman of FPT - exchanged the signed agreement with representatives of NIC and TreSemi.

The collaboration to establish the VSHE is significant to developing the semiconductor industry in Vietnam, especially considering the trend of semiconductor value chains shifting to Southeast Asian countries. Vietnam possesses the necessary factors for semiconductor industry development, including a stable political system, favorable geographical location, abundant human resources in technology, and increasingly developed infrastructure.

VSHE will contribute to training the local workforce and supporting the production of semiconductor projects. Besides, it creates opportunities for microchip design projects to move from ideas to reality, gradually realizing the direction of developing the semiconductor industry in Vietnam. Furthermore, it aims to position Vietnam as a reliable partner in the semiconductor ecosystem in the region and globally, enhancing Vietnam's reputation in the global value chain and modernizing the national economy.

In particular, the collaborating parties will contribute resources to form 50,000 semiconductor engineers, as outlined in the High-Quality Technical Workforce Development Project for the semiconductor technology sector in Vietnam from 2024 to 2030, with a vision until 2045. This initiative is implemented by the NIC and the Ministry of Planning and Investment under the direction of the Prime Minister. Additionally, the parties have agreed to sponsor 300 scholarships for international-standard upskill training programs for excellent semiconductor students at 20 leading universities in Vietnam and support the production (tape-out) of 13 top microchip design projects in 2024.

The VSHE has drawn the attention of leading IC design software companies worldwide, such as Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens, and Silvaco. At the event, Mr. Truong Gia Binh - FPT Chairman - stated: "According to global HR experts' predictions, the semiconductor industry will face a shortage of one million personnel by 2030. Vietnam may seize this global opportunity to rise in education and the supply of high-quality personnel for the industry. The establishment of the VSHE under the cooperation of the NIC, FPT, and TreSemi will be a stepping stone for our country to achieve the goal of training 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030 and open up opportunities for potential microchip designs to be put into practice."

FPT commits to sponsoring potential microchip projects and providing support for infrastructure, servers, online training frameworks, and consultants and experts in fields related to semiconductors, which the Hub focuses on. Recently, NIC has actively researched and expanded opportunities for developing the semiconductor industry, covering design, manufacturing, product testing, and formulating strategies to promote a high-quality labor force.

NIC pledges to accompany businesses and startups in the electronics industry in general and semiconductors in particular in Vietnam, gathering them with leading global corporate communities and investment funds. Collaborating with FPT, a leading IT corporation pioneering semiconductor development in Vietnam, and TreSemi, a US tech expert organization with a network of experienced experts, demonstrates NIC's determination to realize the development direction of the semiconductor industry in Vietnam. This initiative aims to make Vietnam a promising destination and a crucial link in the global semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.

FPT is one of the tech giants leading in the semiconductor field in Vietnam. In 2022, FPT Semiconductor Joint Stock Company (FPT Semiconductor) was established, focusing on microchip design. FPT Semiconductor has won deals to produce 70 million chips over the next two years (2024-2025) for customers in Taiwan (China), South Korea, and Japan, particularly in medical equipment and other electronic applications. In terms of education, FPT University has collaborated with FPT Semiconductor to establish a semiconductor department in September 2023, training a high-quality semiconductor workforce. FPT has also partnered with a US partner (Silvaco) to collaborate with FPT Semiconductor and FPT University to meet the labor force demand of US semiconductor companies.

With its role in supporting and developing Vietnam's startup and innovation ecosystem, contributing to innovating the growth model based on science and technology, NIC will assist other parties in terms of resources, infrastructure, and classrooms to build an efficient and innovative training environment at VSHE. Moreover, NIC and the involved parties aim to turn the project into a national program, attracting excellent students to participate in the training program and numerous project teams to register for the microchip design sponsorship program.

TreSemi is a US-based non-profit organization composed of experts with over 30 years of experience working for major semiconductor corporations and chip design companies worldwide. With a mission to focus on training and connecting job opportunities, developing the semiconductor workforce, and bringing various educational and scientific initiatives, TreSemi provides instructors and experts for online courses and develops international standard programs at the VSHE, thereby enhancing the competence and quality of the Vietnamese semiconductor workforce.