The Vietnam – Australia partnership programme on innovation was announced during a ceremony in the central city of Da Nang on November 8, within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week. 

The 10 million AUD programme will help Vietnam develop a national innovation system and pilot projects in fields of Australia’s strength such as innovation, technological transfer, and commercialisation of studies on agriculture and training, and ensuring job opportunities for Vietnamese workforce amid the industrial revolution 4.0. 

Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh said the two governments signed a science-technology cooperation agreement which took effect in July 2014 with four priority fields of agriculture, health care, environment and marine studies. 

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Julie Bishop said initially, Australia will send experts from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)’s Data 61 research network to Vietnam to design a roadmap for digitalisation future. 

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said Australia wishes to help Vietnam achieve progresses in poverty reduction.-VNA