Overview of the First Session of the Vietnam - Sweden Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation
On 20 May, 2026, the First Session of the Vietnam - Sweden Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) took place at the headquarters of the Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology (MST) in Hanoi.
The session was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Vietnam Science and Technology Hoang Minh and Ms. Camilla Mellander, Director-General for Trade Policy at Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Also in attendance was Mr. Johan Ndisi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Vietnam.
Delivering the opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the traditional friendship with Sweden - a nation renowned for its spirit of innovation and sustainable development mindset.
Deputy Minister Hoang Minh emphasized that against the backdrop of a world shifting powerfully under the impact of technology, cooperation between Vietnam and Sweden is not just about sharing knowledge, but also about jointly shaping the future.
Ms. Camilla Mellander, Director-General for Trade Policy at Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, highlighted three focus areas of the session, including: secure and reliable digital connectivity; nuclear energy; and research, development, and innovation.
Atomic energy and nuclear technology for peaceful purposes
At the session on atomic energy and nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khai, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) under MST, proposed 4 key areas of cooperation with Swedish partners, including:
Firstly, safety assessment of next-generation nuclear power technologies (Generation 3+, Generation 4) and small modular reactors (SMRs).
Secondly, sharing modern simulation tools and safety analysis calculation methods.
Thirdly, cooperative research and comprehensive evaluation of technical and fuel challenges concerning SMR technology.
Fourthly, upgrading and operating the national environmental radiation monitoring network and training high-quality human resources.
Also at this session, Mr. Tobias Persson, CEO of Scienta Envinet, shared experiences regarding radiation monitoring systems, while emphasizing the importance of regional data sharing among countries to build an effective early warning system.
6G network development and efficient management of data center energy
At the session on telecommunications, Mr. Nguyen Phong Nha, Deputy Director of Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) under MST, shared impressive figures regarding national digital infrastructure development: Vietnam currently has 120 million mobile subscribers, the fiber-optic internet coverage rate among households reaches 85%, and approximately 40,000 5G base stations have been deployed.
In the coming time, Vietnam aims to expand 5G coverage to 100% of the population and begin exploring and researching the establishment of standards for 6G network, Open RAN, as well as the application of AI into the networks.
In parallel with connectivity infrastructure, Mr. Quyen Do, Vice President, Electrification Smart Power and Smart Buildings, ABB Vietnam, brought a holistic approach to energy efficiency for data centers based on three pillars: visibility (measurement and monitoring systems), intelligence (applying connected and automated digital solutions for real-time optimization), and safe power distribution system design.
Promoting Research and Development cooperation and Successful Models
At the session on research and development (R&D) cooperation, Mr. Nguyen Phu Binh, Deputy Director of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED), expressed the desire to establish an official cooperative relationship with the Swedish Research Council to implement co-funding programs and simplify administrative procedures.
At the same time, this aims to create a flexible corridor for scientists from both countries to jointly research strategic technological fields such as AI, big data, green technology, and biomedicine.
Regarding the healthcare sector, the milestone of an over-50-year journey of cooperation and friendship in public health between the two nations was profoundly portrayed through the presentations by Prof. Tobias Alfvén from the Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Dr. Hien Vu from the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.
At the end of the discussion panel, Mr. Nguyen Tien Tam, Technical Manager and Strategic Account Manager at ABB Robotics Vietnam, introduced the "business - university" connectivity model. This model has integrated more than 400 robots and RobotStudio software into teaching curriculums at 12 universities in Vietnam, helping students early access and solve real-world industrial problems right from their university benches.
Opening a future of closer cooperation
Delivering the concluding remarks, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department under Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology Do Quynh Hoa highly appreciated the spirit of cooperation, goodwill, and deep, highly practical exchange content from the regulatory agencies, research institutes, universities, and enterprises of both sides.
The two sides agreed to continue exchanges through diplomatic channels and designated coordinating focal points to prepare for the Second Session, which is scheduled to be held in Sweden in 2027 or 2028./.