Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Quan – President of VNUHCM-University of Science (on the right) and MSc Lê Thành Thọ – Acting Director of CASE (on the left), alongside representatives from both institutions at the signing ceremony.

On 18 July, at the Nguyen Van Cu Campus, VNUHCM-University of Science (HCMUS) and the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Analytical Services and Experimentation (CASE) formalised a comprehensive cooperation agreement.

Delegation from HCMUS were Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Quan – President; Assoc. Prof. Ngô Đại Nghiệp – Head of the Office of External Relations; Dr Nguyễn Công Tránh – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry; MSc Nguyễn Thảo Nguyên – Vice Dean of the Faculty of Environment; alongside with Assoc. Prof. Nguyễn Văn Đông – Head of the Department of Chemical Analysis and Dr Trương Lâm Sơn Hải – Lecturer, both from the Faculty of Chemistry.

The CASE delegation included MSc Lê Thành Thọ – Acting Director; MSc Nguyễn Hoàng Nhiên – Deputy Director; MSc Nguyễn Hoàng Ngọc Hân – Head of the Environmental Analysis Department; and MSc Phạm Thanh Thủy – Deputy Head of the Administration and General Affairs Department.

The signing ceremony marked a significant milestone in the evolving partnership between the two institutions, aimed at leveraging respective strengths in Chemistry, Environmental Science, and related disciplines. This collaboration is expected to promote research, facilitate technology transfer, and nurture high-quality human resources to advance sustainable development.

During the ceremony, MSc Lê Thành Thọ highlighted the long-standing and close-knit relationship between CASE and HCMUS, with many of the Centre’s leaders and personnel being alumni of the University. This enduring bond has served as a foundation for deepened collaboration, exemplified by students proactively pursuing internships and employment opportunities at CASE during their academic tenure. The Centre also conveyed a desire to broaden cooperation with other units within the University, beyond the current scope of Chemistry and Environmental Science.

The agreement outlines four strategic areas of collaboration: CASE will provide opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as doctoral candidates from HCMUS, to undertake internships, participate in research projects, or apply for specialist roles at the Centre. Both parties will jointly develop training programmes, exchange expertise in scientific and technological management, organise thematic seminars, and disseminate emerging technologies. Based on proposals from HCMUS and CASE’s available resources, an annual scholarship programme will also be introduced to support students with outstanding academic achievements. Additionally, the institutions will jointly conduct research in fields such as Chemical Technology, Analytical Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Food Technology, Cosmetics, and Metrology – Calibration, among others. The research outcomes will be co-published and directed towards practical applications through technology transfer initiatives.

This agreement not only enhances opportunities for learning, research, and career development among students and academics, but also contributes to long-term sustainability by reinforcing effective university-industry linkages in science and technology.

PMN