The University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) was honored to welcome the delegation from the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) for a working session focused on advancing digital technologies and exploring opportunities for future cooperation.
The working session followed an earlier meeting between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and H.E. Philipp Agathonos, Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam.
The meeting brought together distinguished representatives from both sides. The Austrian delegation included H.E. Philipp Agathonos, Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Helmut Leopold, Head of the Center for Digital Safety and Security at AIT; and Mr. Martin Bloeschl, AI and IT Specialist at AIT. On the Vietnamese side were Prof. Tran Tuan Anh, Vice President of VAST and President of the Vietnam–Austria Friendship Association (VAFA); Mr. Nguyen Do Tung Cuong – Vice President of VAFA; Dr. Le Quynh Lien – Director of VAST’s International Cooperation Department; Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest- Principal Rector of USTH; and Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Truong Thang – Director of the Institute of Information Technology (IOIT), VAST.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Tran Tuan Anh emphasized the longstanding friendship and expanding scientific partnership between Vietnam and Austria. He highlighted the critical role of digital technologies, not only as the driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution but also as indispensable tools for enhancing climate resilience, improving disaster forecasting, and managing smart cities. He noted that VAST views digital innovation as a strategic priority and that USTH, its flagship international higher education institution, is at the forefront of delivering high-quality programs in data science and AI. He hoped that the expertise of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) would broaden perspectives and serve as a source of inspiration for Vietnamese scientists. Prof. Tran Tuan Anh also expressed sincere appreciation for the presence and support of H.E. Philipp Agathonos, and voiced his optimism for continued and fruitful collaboration between the two countries.
H.E. Philipp Agathonos, the Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam, reflected on the growing partnership between Austria and Vietnam, particularly in research, innovation, and digital security. He emphasized Austria’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s long-term development goals and expressed optimism about deepening bilateral collaboration through institutions like AIT.
Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest – Principal Rector of USTH shared USTH’s vision as a young but ambitious university established under a Vietnam–France intergovernmental agreement. With over 3,500 students and all programs taught in English, USTH delivers international standard training in science and technology. He acknowledged the financial barriers limiting Vietnamese students’ access to postgraduate study—an issue USTH aims to address through international partnerships. Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest expressed keen interest in collaborating with Austrian institutions to co-construct training and research projects, as well as to enhance student mobility.
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Truong Thang – Director of IOIT emphasized IOIT’s role in ensuring Vietnam’s cybersecurity and national resilience. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding critical infrastructure and expressed IOIT’s readiness to collaborate with AIT on AI applications, infrastructure protection, and digital resilience.
Mr. Nguyen Do Tung Cuong – Vice President of VAFA underscored ongoing cybersecurity collaboration between Austria and Vietnam, noting AIT’s important role. He encouraged AIT to expand engagement with academic institutions like USTH and reaffirmed VAFA’s commitment to fostering enduring partnerships.
To deepen mutual understanding and explore opportunities for cooperation, the meeting featured a series of key presentations introducing the activities of AIT, IOIT, and USTH’s Department of ICT.
- Mr. Helmut Leopold highlighted AIT’s flagship projects in digital technologies and outlined opportunities for future collaboration.
- Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Truong Thang offered insights into IOIT’s research in cybersecurity.
- Assoc. Prof. Tran Giang Son, Director of USTH’s ICT program, introduced the department’s academic programs and ongoing research projects.
Following the introductions, the parties engaged in positive and productive discussions. The meeting concluded successfully, opening up promising opportunities for cooperation between VAST in general and USTH in particular, with AIT, contributing to strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Austria.
