Public forum on “Education and Innovation for Smart Manufacturing, Environment, and Health” 

VinUniversity hosted the “Education and Innovation for Smart Manufacturing, Environment, and Health” public forum on July 7, 2023. The forum drew together top leaders from VinUni, UIUC, and industry partners including Intel, Foxconn, Boeing, Vinmec… 

The purpose of the forum was to discuss how Vietnam can advance education and innovation, specifically in the field of data science, to improve the health and productivity of humans and natural resources. In the context of Vietnam’s emergence as a global manufacturing hub, renowned experts and thought leaders participated in group discussions and engaging dialogues about smart manufacturing, intelligent environment, and healthcare.  

Through the exchange of ideas and perspectives, the forum aims to identify strategies to optimize the manufacturing sector while assuring the well-being of individuals and the sustainability of resources. 

According to Dr. Le Mai Lan, the president of VinUniversity, Vietnam is known for its future, potential, and opportunities. However, opportunities are always accompanied by obstacles. Vietnam faces challenges including brain drain, social innovation (gender equality, wealth divide, educational inequality…), and, in particular, the difficulty of environmental innovation. Air pollution, flooding, climate change, global warming, and refuse pollution are threatening Vietnam’s rapid economic growth. 

Dr. Le Mai Lan is confident that both sides will work together to address Vietnam’s challenges with the help of strategic partners from leading universities around the globe, including UIUC. One of these is the establishment of multiple research centers at VinUni, as well as the conduct of research and the training of students pursuing outstanding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. She also believes this is the beginning of a prosperous partnership in the future. 

Overview of the Public Forum on “Education and Innovation for Smart Manufacturing, Environment, and Health”

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the top universities in the University of Illinois system and one of the 65 members of the Association of American Universities, which comprises the nation’s top research universities. It is among the top six engineering schools in the United States, invests billions of dollars annually in research initiatives, and has received multiple Nobel Prizes. Microchips and LEDs, which are found in the majority of electronic devices today, are two of the most well-known inventions created by UIUC professors and alumni. 

During the forum, UIUC Chancellor Professor Robert J. Hones emphasized that the distance of 8,000 miles poses no difficulty. UIUC’s primary mission is to leverage the power of knowledge and education to bring prosperity to the economy and society, thereby enhancing the quality of life as a whole. 

In area such as intelligent manufacturing, healthcare, energy, workforce and talent development, without recognizing Vietnam is at the forefront of discovery and innovation in all of these aspects. The presence of global private research institutions here attests to Vietnam’s innovation efforts. Robert, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, believes that both sides will soon establish new partnerships to address upcoming challenges such as climate change, limited resources, access to high-quality healthcare, and providing a platform for the global workforce. 

“Our top priority is to develop a strategic partnership between UIUC and institutions in Vietnam that is robust, extensive, and enduring”. Professor Robert emphasized, “I am delighted to see that the conversations and discussions have begun and will continue today, bringing us closer together.” 

Dr. Le Mai Lan – President of VinUniversity and UIUC Chancellor Professor Robert J. Hones at the Public Forum 

The forum featured two primary panels: The Industry Panel – Search for Talent and Innovation for Operations in Vietnam and the Education & Innovation Panel. According to a representative of Foxconn Vietnam, Vietnam is a potential labor market for young talent due to its extensive local network, which includes 12 telecommunications-related manufacturing facilities and industries such as electric vehicles, digital healthcare, and robotics. Foxconn is currently organizing workshops and training courses to provide promising students with employment opportunities in order to recruit exceptional personnel from universities. 

Mr. Kim Huat Ooi, Intel Vietnam’s representative, discussed the company’s vision of shaping the future through technologically advanced products. The current development strategy of Intel Vietnam focuses on innovation in smart manufacturing and is moving toward automation in the future. Utilizing its resources and capabilities in database development, fundamental strategies, and an ecosystem of specialists and extensive networks, the company is advancing its business. 

In the Education and Innovation panel, speakers also addressed Vietnam’s environmental and technological issues, the training of future leaders to drive innovation and confront complex, open-ended sustainability challenges, and the advancement of future global research.