Cooperation boosts semiconductor industry development

An ‘ITSI Semiconductor ATP Workforce Accelerator Kick-Off Session’ was held by representatives from the US in Ho Chi Minh City from September 16-18, aiming to boost the semiconductor industry in Vietnam.

At the opening of the session on September 16, representatives from the US International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund and the US Department of State introduced the collaboration, marking the first anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment shared its vision for workforce development in the semiconductor sector through 2030 and into 2050.

Over the three days, five workshops were held. The first one, titled ‘Crafting Vietnam’s Semiconductor ATP Workforce Strategy,’ outlined a strategy for building a high-quality workforce aligned with the goals and needs of Vietnam’s semiconductor industry.

Subsequent workshops focused on issues surrounding the training of high-quality personnel for the sector.

Alongside partnerships with various Vietnamese ministries, the US has also engaged with top local universities.

A discussion between educational institutions was moderated by Jeffrey Goss, Associate Vice Provost and ITSI Principal Investigator.

Some of the schools selected for this project include Cao Thang Technical College in partnership with Intel (ATP), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), and Lac Hong University in collaboration with Onsemi (ATP).

The workshops ‘Advancing Semiconductor ATP Strategy for Vietnam - Addressing Workforce Challenges and Future Hiring Needs’ and ‘Discussing Current State Challenges and Future State Hiring Needs of Semiconductor ATP Workforce in Vietnam’ were also organized on the same day.

One notable workshop, ‘Adapting Global Semiconductor Talent Cultivation Practices to Vietnam,’ facilitated international cooperation on defining workforce skills and designing training programs tailored to Vietnam's needs.

It also covered areas like modernizing curricula and enhancing practical experience within companies.

Providing a clearer strategy for addressing Vietnam’s semiconductor workforce challenges, the sessions equipped participants with crucial knowledge about skills, needs, and strategies to tackle the country’s talent shortage.

As the global semiconductor industry rapidly evolves, Vietnam has made strategic moves to foster its workforce development in this field.

Leaders from various ministries, representatives from top educational institutions, and renowned global technology companies attended the kick-off event.

The ITSI Fund, launched last week in Hanoi, will begin its implementation in Vietnam starting this month.

It aims to train 120 instructors and 4,000 students from 20 leading universities by 2025.

The fund will also support universities in building training programs on chip packaging and testing according to US standards.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper emphasized the importance of the programs in connecting institutions from both nations.

“The US is proud to invest in Vietnam’s future through workforce development programs, fostering long-term partnerships,” Knapper stated.