Many opportunities to develop the semiconductor industry in the Southeast region

Electronic chip research activities at Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park. Photo: T.D

Promote regional advantages

At a recent meeting with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. John Neuffer, Chairman of the American Semiconductor Industry Association, said that Vietnam is a particularly attractive market for cooperation and development of the semiconductor industry. Among them, US semiconductor industry enterprises are operating strongly in the southern region of Vietnam. The supply chain of the semiconductor industry is not only concentrated domestically but must be established and linked with other countries, including Vietnam. Having a good mechanism to attract and encourage investment along with a good response in human resources are important conditions and factors for US businesses to consider and choose to invest in their supply chain.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan said that Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for green growth criteria, applying digital technology and developing in-depth investment, semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence, and serving high technology. The city aims to attract investors in semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence, and chain-forming production. Ho Chi Minh City has made efforts with "4 readiness", including land readiness; policy mechanisms; human resources and building trust with investors, to welcome businesses to invest in the semiconductor industry.

In fact, in Vietnam, there is the participation of the world's leading names in the semiconductor industry. That is Intel, one of the three leading semiconductor manufacturers in the world, more than 10 years ago began developing a factory in Vietnam with a scale of 1 billion USD. Intel's largest assembly and testing factory is in Ho Chi Minh City Hi-Tech Park, currently accounting for more than 50% of Intel's total output globally.

Along with other localities in the region, Dong Nai currently also has many advantages in developing this industry, which is a favorable geographical location, good traffic connections, abundant human resources, and many high-tech enterprises. In October 2023, Coherent Group (USA) worked with the province on proposals to implement projects in the fields of optics and semiconductors; the ability to meet labor resources in the electronics and semiconductor fields for high-tech projects invested in Dong Nai.

Vice Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Son Hung said that the province has been focusing on developing infrastructure, attracting and transferring science and technology and training human resources for the field of science and technology. The province also built a policy mechanism to develop the semiconductor chip industry, with the goal of open mechanisms and policies, smooth infrastructure development, and smart management in parallel with attracting investment.

Focus on training resources

Vice Chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha said that semiconductor chips are one of the important foundation industries. Participating in the semiconductor chip industry value chain is an objective requirement, as well as a strategic choice and top priority for Vietnam in general and Binh Duong in particular, contributing to realizing the socio-economic development goals in the next stages.

Currently, Binh Duong has been focusing on developing infrastructure, attracting investment, and transferring science and technology. Regarding land planning for the high-tech industry, Binh Duong will reserve 1,500 hectares to develop the high-tech industry. Of which, there are 250 hectares for developing the semiconductor chip industry. This will be the core area of research and development of the semiconductor chip industry that will be associated with Binh Duong new city area. In addition, research and develop policy mechanisms to develop the semiconductor chip industry. The most important thing is to focus on training human resources for this industry.

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park has connected with businesses to deploy human resource training activities for this industry, not only for the city but also for other localities. Specifically, the High-Tech Park Training Center has cooperated with Sun Electronics Company to establish the Electronics and Semiconductor Circuit Center (ESC). This is an electronics startup co-founded by Vietnamese experts in Silicon Valley and domestic intellectuals, experts, and entrepreneurs.

In just a short time, with support from Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, Sun Edu Company (a member of Sun Electronics) has in turn cooperated with Lac Hong (Dong Nai), Thu Dau Mot (Binh Binh) universities. Duong)… to train human resources for the semiconductor chip industry. Typically, in the early days of 2024, Sun Edu Company and Thu Dau Mot University also cooperated and opened the first training course on semiconductor ICs. This is considered an important initial step to help train quality human resources, meeting the future development needs of the electronics and semiconductor chip industry of Binh Duong province in general and the Southeast region in particular.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University (VNUHCM), said that currently, VNUHCM trains about 6,000 students in majors directly and indirectly related to semiconductor technology. During the period 2023-2030, VNUHCM sets the goal of providing in-depth training in IC design, meeting the need for high-quality human resources for the development of the IC industry in Vietnam and the world. Accordingly, VNUHCM member universities train over 1,800 engineers and 500 masters in circuit design. VNUHCM will build a modern training program, granting industrial and international certificates in IC design to about 15,000 engineers.