Ho Chi Minh City university breaks ground on $27.5mn innovation center
Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 13:06 GMT+7
The Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) on Monday started construction on the Advanced Research and Innovation Center, with a price tag of VND700 billion (US$27.5 million).
Situated in neighboring Binh Duong Province’s Di An City, the facility will mark a significant milestone as the first new construction in the VNU-HCM urban area after years of delays due to legal hurdles.
Spanning 4.65 hectares with two scenic lake-facing sides, the facility will feature six above-ground floors and one basement, with a total floor area of 42,000 square meters.
The center, financed by a VND700-billion loan provided by the World Bank, will host modern laboratories and facilities, including a national-level semiconductor shared-use laboratory with an investment of approximately VND2 trillion ($78.8 million); a biotechnology application lab for production and daily life, costing some VND320 billion ($11.8 million); and a VNU-HCM data center with an estimated investment of around VND100 billion ($3.9 million).
The facility will house experimental production workshops and R&D centers for collaborations between the VNU-HCM and businesses.
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| Delegates attend a ground-breaking ceremony of the Advanced Research and Innovation Center project at the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, December 6, 2024. Photo: Khanh Lam |
It will also feature shared amenities such as conference halls, offices, meeting rooms, and other utilities to support scientists’ work and living needs.
Associate Professor Vu Hai Quan, director of VNU-HCM, elaborated that the center is more than a scientific facility.
It is a hub connecting research, businesses, and the community, accelerating the application of science and technology to socio-economic development, Quan said.
The center is expected to form a key part of the National Innovation Center for the southeast region.
Associate Professor Nguyen Minh Tam, deputy director of VNU-HCM, said the center will represent a pivotal step toward revitalizing construction at the VNU-HCM urban area.
In 2025, the VNU-HCM plans to start building the YB1, YB2, and YB3 blocks of its University of Health Sciences, with a total investment of VND500 billion ($19.6 million).
Covering 643.7 hectares, the VNU-HCM urban area is on the border of Thu Duc City – an administrative district of Ho Chi Minh City – and Di An City in Binh Duong Province.
This university complex includes administrative offices, public service centers, member universities, research institutes, a national defense education center, sports facilities, dormitories, staff housing, and a science park.
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