According to the data from the American Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), sales of the global semiconductor ICs sector currently reach about 600 billion USD and are forecast to increase to 1,000 billion USD by 2030. At the moment, exports present new opportunities for the development of the semiconductor ICs industry in Viet Nam, from the advantage of population size and the Government’s digital transformation orientation, which are favourable conditions for the semiconductor ICs industry market. The need for engineers is massive, and career opportunities in Semiconductor ICs are predicted to thrive soon.

 

 

On the morning of September 22^nd, 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Semiconductor Industry Association (HSIA) coordinated with the VNUHCM-University of Science and successfully organized the Conference about “Current footings and remedies in human resource training and research and implementation in the Semiconductor ICs in Viet Nam with a vision to 2045”. The purpose is to assess the situation of research, training and labour force needs for the semiconductor ICs in Viet Nam and to discuss the short-term training programs for the ICs businesses.

On the guest side, there was the attendance of:

• Assoc.Prof. Nguyễn Văn Hiếu – Deputy Director of the VNUHCM-Department of Science and Technology;
• MSc. Nguyễn Anh Tuấn – Chairman of the HSIA;
• Assoc.Prof. Đoàn Lê Hoàng Tân – Deputy Director of Inomar Center;
• Mr Trịnh Xuân Thắng – Deputy Director of Sai Gon High-Tech Park, Research Laboratories;
• Mr Lý Minh Tuân – Head of the IT Department, HoChiMinh City Department of Information and Communications;
• Mr Trần Long – Head of the Southern Representative Office, Vietnam – Asean Association for Economic Cooperation Development;
• Assoc.Prof. Dương Hoài Nghĩa – Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Eastern International University;
• Mr Đoàn Đức Chánh Tín – Director of the VNUHCM-Institute of Nanotechnology;
• Mr Nguyễn Phúc Vinh – Technical Director of Synopsys Vietnam Co., Ltd.;
• Mr Lê Huỳnh Lân – Deputy Head of the Alumni Representative Board of the Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics and Director of Vietnam Mantis Group JSC.

On the side of the University, there was the presence of :

• Assoc.Prof. Trần Cao Vinh – Chairman of the University Council;
• Assoc.Prof. Trần Lê Quan – President;
• Assoc.Prof. Huỳnh Văn Tuấn – Dean of the Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics;
• Representatives of leaders of functional departments, leaders of faculties, lecturers and students.

In his welcoming speech, the President of the University, Assoc.Prof. Trần Lê Quan disclosed that the VNUHCM-University of Sciences and other universities in the VNUHCM system are in the process of structuring new majors in Microchips Design (Faculty of Electronics – Telecommunications) and Semiconductor Technology (Faculty of Physics – Technical Physics). “Even though they are two new majors, they actually have been taught as two of the main subjects and also the research directions in the University for a very long time”. He further explained.

At the Conference, the Chairman of the Viet Nam Semiconductor Association, Mr. Nguyễn Anh Tuấn raised opportunities and challenges in developing the semiconductor industry in Viet Nam. He said that the Microchip industry is a high-tech industry that brings a lot of added value and is a foundation to support and promote the development of other industries, contributing to promoting economic development in depth. Although it is considered a ‘Billion dollar’ industry, the semiconductor ICs industry in Viet Nam is still facing a serious shortage of human resources, Mr Tuấn affirmed.

 

 

This conference is specialized for experts, businesses, and universities to discuss ideas and solutions for human resources training in semiconductor ICs, as well as implementing the cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the National University Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, it is to propose to the Government some strategies for developing Vietnam’s semiconductor ICs industry with a vision to 2045. According to the opinion of Professor Đặng Lương Mô, an advisor of the National University Ho Chi Minh City, expanding the semiconductor ICs industry requires synchronized efforts from the government, investors, universities and manufacturers.

 

 

The presentations involved the following topics:

• Current remedy of human resources and forecast of the demand for semiconductor ICs. Rapporteur: Mr. Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, Chairman of Viet Nam Semiconductor Association.
• Introduction to training and research activities in semiconductor technology at the VNUHCM-University of Sciences. Implementer: Assoc.Prof. Vũ Thị Hạnh Thu, Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics.
• Challenges in semiconductor ICs engineers training at universities/institutes and retraining at enterprises. Implementer: Mr Nguyễn Phúc Vinh, representative of Synopsys Company.

The VNUHCM-University of Science signed the MoU with attended units and sponsors in the conference: