VNPT and Qualcomm launch excellence center to boost Vietnam’s tech innovation

THE HANOI TIMES — The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and US-based Qualcomm Technologies have launched the VNPT-Qualcomm Excellence Center (VQEC), envisioned as a regional hub for research, development and innovation that connects enterprises, research institutes, universities and startups.

The center was inaugurated on October 14 in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology. The event marked the next step in the strategic cooperation agreement signed between VNPT and Qualcomm in August.

VQEC focuses on developing core digital technologies and strengthening Vietnam’s role in the global technology value chain. The center specializes in smart electronic devices, networking equipment and AI computing, aiming to help Vietnam master foundational technologies and expand its participation in international innovation networks.

According to VNPT General Director Huynh Quang Liem, the launch of VQEC opens a new space for developing digital infrastructure, including 5G and 6G connectivity, cloud computing and data centers.

Beyond technology, the center connects businesses, universities and startups to accelerate innovation and support Vietnam’s national digital transformation goals.

Akash Palkhiwala, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Qualcomm, said the partnership focuses on developing and commercializing advanced technological solutions that position Vietnam as a regional technology hub.

With the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Qualcomm and VNPT plan to promote AI adoption across various device types in Vietnam and gradually expand into global markets.

“Personal AI devices are becoming an inevitable trend,” Palkhiwala said, emphasizing Qualcomm’s AI Box, a “data center in a box” solution that Qualcomm and VNPT are co-developing for deployment in Vietnam.

At the National Innovation Day earlier in October, Thieu Phuong Nam, General Director of Qualcomm for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, reaffirmed Qualcomm’s long-term commitment to Vietnam, where the company has operated for over 20 years.

In June, Qualcomm opened an R&D center in Hanoi, one of its largest globally, staffed entirely by Vietnamese engineers working on advanced international projects.

At the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s Post and Telecommunications sector, VNPT General Director Huynh Quang Liem outlined the group’s three key goals: developing a national GPU system, advancing a Vietnamese large language model and building an AI platform to support public servants.

Through the VQEC, VNPT and Qualcomm aim to help Vietnam move from being a technology adopter to a technology innovator, unlocking new opportunities for digital transformation, talent development and sustainable growth.