Vietnam opens AI, digital twin hubs to boost strategic tech
Vietnam has strengthened its high-tech innovation drive through a new partnership that brings global expertise into research and talent development, accelerating digital transformation and supporting deeper participation in advanced technology value chains.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam on January 8 unveiled a new hub for digital twin research and development with the launch of an R&D Center and a Center of Excellence for AI and Digital Twin in Hanoi.
The launch ceremony of the R&D Center and the Center of Excellence for AI and Digital Twin on January 8 in Hanoi. Photo: National Innovation Center
The two centers, inaugurated on January 8 in Hanoi, are a joint initiative between Dassault Systèmes, a global leader in 3D design, engineering software and advanced simulation and the National Innovation Center under the Ministry of Finance.
The facilities aim to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies while developing a pipeline of high-quality technical talent in Vietnam.
In the initial phase, the centers will focus on aerospace applications, before expanding into semiconductors, transportation, mobility solutions and localized AI-powered digital twin technologies tailored to domestic needs.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said the launch reflects growing confidence among French and European partners in Vietnam’s investment climate and its long-term vision for strategic technology development.
He described the initiative as a model partnership between the public and private sectors and between Vietnam and leading global technology firms.
According to Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam, the centers will serve as both research hubs and training platforms, enabling Vietnamese enterprises master, apply and innovate strategic technologies.
Samson Khaou, Executive Vice President for Asia-Pacific at Dassault Systèmes, said that the centers will help build a highly skilled engineering workforce, drive industry-specific innovation and support Vietnam’s high-tech development priorities.
He noted that digital twin technology, when integrated with artificial intelligence, has become a core platform that allows governments and businesses to design, simulate, optimize and operate complex systems more sustainably.
AI and digital twin technologies rank among Vietnam’s 11 strategic technologies and 35 strategic technology products under a decision issued by the Prime Minister in June 2025.
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system. The physical entity and its digital counterpart exchange data continuously, allowing real-world systems to be monitored, analyzed, optimized and used to forecast future scenarios.
According to the National Innovation Center, AI and digital twin technologies are seeing expanded adoption across strategic sectors, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductors, energy, biomedicine, smart factories and smart cities.
Their application helps shorten research and development cycles, boosting operational efficiency and reducing deployment risks.
Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, said that the launch of the two centers will support the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation, contributing to Vietnam’s broader goals of sustainable socio-economic development.
