Forging Viet Nam’s Semiconductor Future : Talent and Innovation Leading the Way

Overview & Synopsis

Vietnam has prioritized semiconductors as one of ten critical technologies and set explicit goals of becoming a global semiconductor talent hub by 2030, moving up the value chain toward higher value-added segments, and developing a complete semiconductor value chain by 2045. Delivering on that pledge hinges on strategic and urgent investment in top talent, science, and innovation. This report concentrates on the most urgent gap – cultivating a cadre of scientists and engineers (S&E). and, to the extent possible, tech entrepreneurs, to support Vietnam’s semiconductor and high-tech ambitions. The analysis and interventions focus on the highly skilled workforce and frontier talent development, and cover research, innovation, and university-industry linkages in relation to the talent challenges. The report recognizes that to unlock its semiconductor potential, Viet Nam must address other binding constraints, notably: weak linkages between FDI and domestic firms, emerging infrastructure gaps (e.g., energy and logistics), and intellectual property rights regulations, amid evolving geoeconomics conditions.