CTD Learning and Sharing: "Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration"

14 May, 2025

On May 9, 2025, the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), in collaboration with the Innovation Services Center (ISC) and the UEH Institute of Innovation (UII), successfully organized a scientific seminar on the theme "Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration". The program attracted the participation of many prestigious speakers from the United States and Vietnam, along with the presence of founders, startups, technology experts, lecturers, students, and business representatives interested in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation.

The scientific seminar "Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration" is the next event in the CTD Learning & Sharing series - an academic initiative of CTD to promote knowledge sharing, connect experts, businesses, and the community, thereby enhancing research capacity for the community and creating practical values for sustainable development. The program aims to share multidisciplinary knowledge and spread the value of education associated with innovation and sustainable development. Through various activities such as seminars, talks, thematic sharing sessions, and professional development courses, CTD hopes to become a sustainable platform connecting academia - business - community in the journey to promote digital transformation, social innovation, and global knowledge transfer.

Overall view of the scientific seminar “Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration”

Attending the seminar, on behalf of the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh – Vice President of CTD and Dean of the School of Media Design (SMD); Ms. Dao Thi Minh Huyen – MA, Acting Chief of the CTD Office; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao – MA, Vice Director of the UEH Institute of Innovation. On the side of invited guests, the event welcomed Mr. Lam Nguyen Hai Long – Chairman of ISC and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association; along with distinguished speakers including Mr. Do Huy – Chairman of SAVVi, Strategic Advisor and Investor; Mr. Anthony Tuan Phan – Chairman and CEO of AIAIVN, former Senior Technology Lead at Meta; and Mr. Kenneth Katz – Managing Director for Asia at TAU Investment Management. In addition, the seminar was attended by representatives from enterprises, media reporters, UEH lecturers and staff members, as well as interested students.

In her opening remarks at the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh, representing UEH-CTD, emphasized: "This seminar takes place in the context of Vietnam implementing the Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW on developing science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, serving the goal of sustainable development of the country. Today's seminar is not only an opportunity to spread useful knowledge in the field of artificial intelligence, innovation, and education, but also brings the latest information on cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the United States, contributing to the development of a strong bilateral relationship."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh also stated that, with its mission to elevate knowledge, train high-quality human resources, and promote global integration and knowledge transfer, UEH clearly defines its pioneering role in promoting innovative values, serving the community, strengthening international cooperation, and developing digital human resources, directly contributing to the national strategic direction. UEH - through its affiliated units such as CTD, ISC, and UII - is gradually building an open academic and technological ecosystem, where academia intersects with practical application, technology goes hand in hand with social responsibility, and education is strongly connected to business and the community.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh - Vice Rector of CTD, Dean of the School of Media Design (SMD) sharing

Mr. Lam Nguyen Hai Long, representing ISC, also emphasized that: “In 2025, ISC and UEH-CTD have planned to jointly implement a series of 12 activities, with the expectation of further expanding the scope of collaboration in the future. These efforts not only serve the non-profit community but also contribute to promoting innovation, creating many practical values for social development.”

Mr. Lam Nguyen Hai Long, representing ISC, speaking at the Seminar

The seminar "Bridging Frontiers: AI, Innovation, Education and the Future of US-Vietnam Tech Collaboration" is a special occasion for technology experts, investors, and scholars from the United States and Vietnam to review the outstanding developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and discuss strategic cooperation orientations in the future.

During the seminar, the speakers took turns sharing insights drawn from their own practical experiences in applying AI to address major challenges faced by businesses.

Sharing and exchange space at the seminar

The seminar began with a keynote presentation by speaker Anthony Tuấn Phan, who drew upon his extensive experience managing multi-billion-dollar AI projects at Meta, Amazon, and other global corporations. He offered a comprehensive analysis of the foundational role of data platforms and the ethical considerations involved in AI development, while also underscoring the critical importance of cultivating a robust AI engineering workforce in Vietnam to meet the growing demands of digital transformation across the Asia–Pacific region.

He also highlighted the expansive potential of AI applications, extending beyond the healthcare sector into tourism, education, finance, automotive industries, manufacturing, energy, and even oil, gas, and mineral extraction. He illustrated these insights with practical examples, such as the use of AI-driven geological data analysis in the mining industry, and the deployment of AI technologies at Vietcombank to optimize operational efficiency.

Mr. Anthony Tuan Phan – Chairman & CEO of AIAIVN sharing at the seminar

Mr. Do Huy, with over 30 years of experience in investment and technology management, analyzed how tech startups in Vietnam can take advantage of capital and global networks from the United States to enhance competitiveness, highlighting the essential factors for building an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI ecosystem. He underscored Vietnam’s advantage in accessing the US market-the country’s largest export market-which opens up opportunities to connect with investors. The connection between Vietnam and the United States, goes beyond technology transfer to include the transfer of knowledge, management thinking, and innovative leadership capabilities. He also mentioned Vietnam’s supportive policies such as tax incentives, free workspace in tech parks, and proposed an open visa policy to strengthen international cooperation.

Mr. Do Huy – Chairman of SAVVi, Strategic Advisor & Investor, sharing at the seminar

Following was a presentation by Mr. Kenneth Katz – Managing Director & Head of Asia at TAU Investment Management – who offered the perspective of a international strategic investor. He analyzed how global investment firms are reshaping their portfolios through AI technology and the potential for collaboration with Vietnamese startups in fields such as green technology, smart supply chains, and automation in manufacturing. He shared that TAU Investment selects investments through companies in its portfolio rather than direct funding. He also encouraged universities to seek opportunities to access research funding to promote AI innovation.

Mr. Kenneth Katz – Managing Director & Head of Asia at TAU Investment Management sharing at the seminar

During the open discussion session, speakers exchanged views on three major themes:

+ AI and Education Collaboration: The role of education and ecosystem building; multidisciplinary AI applications; how universities and tech enterprises can jointly train high-quality AI talent to meet global demands.

+ Cross-border Investment and Entrepreneurship: Successful fundraising models and international market expansion strategies for Vietnamese tech startups; advantages of Vietnam-US tech cooperation; investment lessons and perspectives for startups.

+ Enhancing AI Innovation Capacity and Ethics: Applying AI in business operations; measures to ensure responsible AI development serving sustainable development goals.

Delegates engaging in in-depth exchanges with speakers during the open discussion session at the seminar

Beyond serving as a platform for academic exchange, the seminar also provided valuable opportunities for participants—particularly founders, startups, lecturers, and students—to expand their professional networks with leading industry experts, seek potential collaborations, explore internship opportunities, and engage in fundraising activities. The practical insights shared by the speakers enabled attendees to gain a clearer understanding of their prospective career paths, empowering them to proactively engage with global technological trends and harness the potential for Vietnam–U.S. collaboration in this new phase of development.