 |
The agreement focuses on such key strategic areas as large language models (LLMs), AI agents, and, in particular, the development of sovereign AI capabilities aligned with Vietnam’s digital transformation agenda and national sustainable development goals.
The core of the collaboration is the establishment of VNU-Z.AI Joint AI Innovation Lab. The laboratory will serve as a hub for joint research and development activities, where the two parties will co-develop localized AI models, tools, and applications for Vietnam; conduct academic research, experimentation, and international publications in the fields of AI, data science, and language technologies. Data and document sharing will strictly comply with applicable legal regulations, ensuring data security and data sovereignty.
In parallel with research, the agreement places strong emphasis on capacity building and AI talent development. The two parties will jointly organize workshops, advanced lectures, and training programs for students, faculty members, and researchers, while facilitating technical mentorship, internships, and academic exchanges between Zhipu AI experts and VNU-Hanoi’s scientific community. This is regarded as a crucial foundation for cultivating a high-quality AI workforce for Vietnam in the long term.
The cooperation also aims to foster an AI ecosystem and promote innovation-driven projects by supporting VNU-led initiatives such as innovation challenges, student hackathons, and national-level AI forums. Notably, the two sides will jointly explore and deploy pilot applications of AI agents in high–social-impact sectors, including education, healthcare, smart cities, and public services.
 |
Speaking at the event, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son emphasized that this cooperation agreement was grounded not only in technological potential but also in a strong and enduring academic relationship between VNU and its Chinese partners, particularly Tsinghua University, with the active support of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam.
Since early 2024, academic exchanges on AI in education have been vigorously promoted, with the direct involvement of leading experts such as Prof. Tang Jie, who introduced the GLM model and its applications in higher education, and who has also agreed to serve as Honorary Director of the Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development under VNU Technology and Innovation Park.
The cooperation agreement with Zhipu AI is also identified by VNU as a concrete step in implementing Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology and digital transformation. In its AI development strategy, VNU focuses on three major directions: AI for higher education, AI for healthcare, and AI for K–12 education.
Another important highlight shared by VNU’s leadership is the vision for the development of the VNU Town in Hoa Lac, covering an area of 1,000 hectares and expected to accommodate approximately 20,000 full-time students from next year. This area is envisioned as a science and technology hub featuring “living labs” to address real-world challenges such as smart cities and smart campuses. In this context, the goal of building a sovereign AI system in Vietnam, in line with the new provisions of Vietnam AI Law, is regarded as a strategic pillar of the cooperation between VNU-Hanoi and Zhipu AI.
CEO Carol Lin affirmed that the event was not only a signing ceremony, but also an opportunity for all parties to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of AI. Originating from the academic environment of Tsinghua University, Zhipu AI pursues the mission of developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with the goal of “teaching machines to think like humans” and deploying advanced AI for the common good of humanity. According to her, AI is not a replacement for humans, but a powerful tool to enhance creativity, imagination, and productivity.
 |
She noted that Zhipu AI had engaged in nearly a year of discussions focusing on AI applications in education, healthcare, and telecommunications with VNU prior to the official signing. Zhipu AI selected VNU as a long-term strategic partner based on its academic reputation, technological capabilities, deep understanding of local needs, and global outlook as Vietnam’s leading university. Zhipu AI emphasized its commitment to human resource development and the establishment of sustainable AI infrastructure for VNU, through the sharing of comprehensive AI curricula and the provision of internship opportunities for students to participate in the joint laboratory. Ms. Carol Lin also expressed her appreciation for VNU’s orientation toward building sovereign AI, viewing this as an inevitable trend in the context of nations promoting technological self-reliance. Both sides agreed that the next step would be more in-depth discussions on specific milestones to translate the cooperation objectives into concrete outcomes.
With a shared strategic vision, strong academic foundations, and firm commitments from both parties, the cooperation agreement between VNU and Zhipu AI is expected to generate new momentum for AI research, education, and application in Vietnam, thereby contributing to the enhancement of national competitiveness in the era of artificial intelligence.
 |
 |
