The project marks a new milestone in the strategy of building a “Smart University Town,” contributing to realizing VNU’s vision of becoming a center for innovation and a
 |
| Leaders of VNU and project implementation units performing the groundbreaking button-pressing ritual |
Speaking at the ceremony, VNU permanent Vice President Nguyen Hieu emphasized that the Smart Urban Technology Infrastructure Project of VNU in Hoa Lac is one of the four key projects assigned by the Government for additional public investment during the 2021-2025 medium-term period, with a total investment of 150 billion VND. This project represents a concrete step toward realizing the goal of developing VNU town in Hoa Lac into a green – smart – sustainable city, following the “5-in-1 model” comprising: a center for nurturing talents; a hub for modern technology research and transfer; a national and international-level innovation center; a smart and modern university city; and a pilot center for public–private partnership cooperation and research training.
He stated that the project consists of five key components: Construction of an Intelligent Operations Center (IOC); Development of a network, connectivity, and centralized database system; Smart traffic, parking, and charging station management; Security and environmental monitoring; and Energy, water, and waste management systems. Once completed, the project will provide a synchronized technological foundation for university governance, research, and training activities, while also enhancing the quality of life for VNU staff, faculty, and students.
 |
VNU Vice President Nguyen Hieu affirmed that this system will enable transparent and integrated management of facilities, infrastructure, security, and the environment. It will also allow data sharing with local authorities for urban planning, landscape management, and security assurance. Moreover, it will serve as a testing ground for technology enterprises to pilot and commercialize products, fostering an effective State–University–Business partnership model.
By 2026–2027, the VNU town is expected to host around 30,000 staff, faculty members, and students; and to expand to 60,000 people by 2030. He called on the Project Management Board and construction units to work decisively to ensure trial operations begin in the first quarter of 2026.
The implementation of the Smart Urban Technology Infrastructure Project is a crucial step in realizing VNU’s Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision toward 2045, aimed to build a world-class research and innovation-oriented university, ranked among the top 100 universities in Asia.
The project, covering an area of over 160 hectares within VNU town in Hoa Lac, and implemented during the 2023–2025 period, is owned by the VNU Project Management Board.
The project comprises three main components: (1) Modern ICT Infrastructure – including the Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), high-speed network infrastructure, centralized data storage, security systems, and an integrated IoT–AI–Big Data platform; (2) Smart Security and Surveillance – featuring AI-powered camera systems, access control, public Wi-Fi; electronic boards and smart loudspeakers in service of the community; and (3) Smart Transportation, Energy, and Environment – including lighting, traffic signals, electric vehicles, solar-powered parking areas, and automatic monitoring devices.
The highlight of the project is the Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) – the centralized data coordination system for VNU Town in Hoa Lac. The system enables real-time data collection, analysis, and processing to support management in urban planning, security, energy, transportation, landscape, and public services – all aimed toward the goal of placing people at the center in leveraging technology for the comprehensive and sustainable development of VNU’s learning and research community.
At the ceremony, representatives from the Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development under the VNU Technology and Innovation Park, and AI20X Vietnam Investment Joint Stock Company exchanged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation.
 |
