On the afternoon of April 15, 2026, VNU University of Engineering and Technology (VNU-UET), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Nuffic Southeast Asia, organized the international conference “Empowering the Next Generation: Netherlands-Vietnam Semiconductor Collaboration”.
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Speaking at the conference, VNU UET Rector Chu Duc Trinh emphasized the increasingly important role of the semiconductor industry as the world enters a period of profound transformation in global supply chains.
According to him, Vietnam is gradually becoming an important link in the high-tech ecosystem, particularly as major global corporations are increasingly diversifying their locations for production and research.
However, to fully seize this opportunity, investing in technological infrastructure alone is not sufficient. The decisive factor lies in the quality of human resources.
Rector Chu Duc Trinh emphasized: “We are at a point where the semiconductor industry plays a central role in technological development. Yet the key factor remains people-engineers with practical thinking, solid foundations, and the ability to integrate internationally”.
He also noted that the integrated circuit design and semiconductor industry is highly globalized, as no single country can independently master the entire value chain from design to manufacturing and testing. Therefore, deep participation in the global ecosystem is an inevitable trend.
Accordingly, the process of internationalization should begin at the undergraduate level, through enhanced academic cooperation, student exchanges, joint research, and stronger connections with international enterprises.
Reaffirming the strong cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam, as well as the positive signals from Vietnam’s semiconductor sector, Kees van Baar, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam, emphasized that the key factor in attracting high-tech enterprises lies not only in infrastructure but, more importantly, in the quality of human resources. Therefore, preparing a workforce of engineers capable of taking on technical roles, while narrowing the gap between university training and the practical needs of industry, is an urgent requirement at present.
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The Ambassador also noted that close collaboration between universities and businesses plays a crucial role in equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills, thereby expanding their access to international environments and better meeting the demands of the semiconductor industry in the future.
At the conference, participants listened to a range of presentations, including “The Dutch Semiconductor Ecosystem: Trends, Advances, and Inspirations,” delivered by UET alumnus Luong Duc Anh and PhD candidate Le Thanh Tai (University of Bordeaux, France); and “Studying High Technology in the Netherlands,” presented by Amber Ayande Karbay from the University of Twente.
The conference also featured practical insights into the semiconductor industry from business representatives, including Tran Duc Long of NXP Semiconductors, Trinh Khac Hue of Qorvo, and Phung Viet Thang of Intel.
