Vietnam’s first Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Innovation Day was launched today [July 2 at the National Innovation Center (NIC)’s campus in Hanoi.

Delegates attend the event. Photos: Dassault Systèmes

The event brings together industry experts, influencers, and decision makers to discuss the nation's strides in digitalization and technological innovation, and revolutionizing its entire supply chain in the vital sectors of aviation, aerospace and defense. This sector has seen an influx of interest from investors from around the world, including Dassault Systèmes’ home-base of France, with Airbus notably renewing its commitment to the country late in 2023.

Within the event, France’s Dassault Systèmes, which opened its Hanoi office two years ago, announced a new partnership with Vietnam’s KMTC, which will see the local systems integrator spearhead digital transformation in Vietnam’s aerospace manufacturing sector.

Ding Ming Chee, Asia Pacific South Senior Sales Director for Dassault Systèmes, said this event invites the workforce of the future to learn the path forward through the adoption of these technologies in the industry to nurture a skilled workforce equipped with the expertise to harness these innovations and drive the nation's aerospace and defense sectors to new heights.

Speaking at the event, the NIC’s Deputy Director Vo Xuan Hoai said: “We are honored to contribute to advancing high-tech initiatives in the aerospace and defense sectors. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, driven by digitalization and cutting-edge technologies, recognizing the critical role of innovation in enhancing design and manufacturing capabilities is essential."

Vo Xuan Hoai, the NIC’s Deputy Director, speaks at the event.

He added that the NIC is dedicated to furthering investment in research and development (R&D), collaborating closely with businesses, researchers, and international partners to foster sustainable innovation in this sector.

In an interview with The Hanoi Times at the event, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet said that France and Vietnam have enjoyed 10 years of a strategic cooperative partnership, which has promoted cooperation in various economic sectors, particularly in the field of innovation. The Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Innovation Day taking place today is a prime example of this cooperation.

Vietnam is a rapidly developing country with an impressive annual economic growth rate of around 7%. France is an important partner for Vietnam in many aspects and always respects Vietnam's sovereignty.

He added that last October, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held highly-level phone talks with and the French President to exchange cooperative issues, in which innovation was identified as one of the three key pillars for Vietnam's future development.

“French companies are bringing technological solutions to Vietnam to support economic development and innovation. Today's conference features the presence of Dassault Systèmes, which will share its expertise - something France can contribute to drive future cooperative development between the two countries,” he said.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet.

In the aerospace sector, French technology and products are highly renowned, and Vietnam has been utilizing many Airbus aircraft as well as components manufactured in France. The opportunities for cooperation in this field between the two sides are vast, the diplomat underlined.

The ambassador also mentioned that a defense technology forum will be held on July 11-12, which will feature the participation of many French companies sharing their knowledge and new technologies suitable for Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Hoai from the NIC shared that Vietnam is enhancing cooperation with various parties on innovation, as well as strengthening the connection between enterprises and organizations to support the overall ecosystem development, including for foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam.

“The NIC plays a role in facilitating these activities, and he expressed the hope that French companies like Dassault Systèmes will engage in this process,” he stressed.

Hoai suggested that they hope foreign-invested enterprises will support Vietnamese companies to further integrate into supply chains, and that high-tech companies from France and Europe will participate in Vietnam, establishing R&D centers at the NIC's Hoa Lac campus in Hanoi.