The Vietnamese Innovation Network in Europe (VINEU) was launched in Paris, France, at a ceremony, which was jointly held by the National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Vietnamese Embassy in France on November 4. 

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung (M) and other delegates, the Vietnamese youth at the ceremony in Paris. Photo: NIC

Addressing at the ceremony, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the launch of VinEU and the initial results of the Vietnam Young Initiatives-InnoCity Global Program (InnoCity) mark a milestone in the development of the Vietnamese young intellectual community in Europe and around the world, contributing to innovation activities in Vietnam. 

He emphasized: “Young people will be a great resource of the country so that Vietnam can catch up, advance with and surpass other nations in many aspects in the future. They will become the creators and realize the aspirations of the country." 

VINEU network’s main activities will focus on consulting training, investment-business connection, and the development of the community of scientific and technological intellectuals. Together with the NIC, the network will deploy innovation activities domestically and internationally. 

Minister Dung asked VINEU members to actively participate in building the Vietnamese intellectual community abroad on the basis of coordination with embassies, youth associations, and Vietnamese students to gather excellent individuals and contribute to the VINEU network. 

The network also needs to promote cooperation with major European research institutes and universities to find scholarships and research programs for Vietnamese students. 

For innovation tasks, the network is tasked with submitting annual roll-out plans to the NIC for coordination and support, keeping close contacts with businesses, technology groups, and large investment funds in Europe to seek opportunities for investment, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer for institutes, universities and enterprises in Vietnam. 

Vu Quoc Huy, NIC Director hoped these would be solid first steps so that Vietnamese researchers and students abroad can contribute together and bring concrete results to promote innovation activities.

“The NIC will continue to be the sponsor, coordinator, and supporter for the activities of the VINEU and other network members, so as to gather and promote the great knowledge resources of Vietnamese people worldwide in the coming time.”

The VIN network has more than 1,000 members in 20 countries and four-component networks in Germany, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.