“India, Vietnam and many other countries are facing a hi-tech talent shortage. That means we must start developing human resources early, even while students are still in school,” said Deepak N G, managing director of Dassault Systèmes India, at a business leadership forum hosted by the National Innovation Center (NIC) on August 20.

Deepak said today's workforce must keep pace with industry trends and emerging technologies, while being ready to adapt. For students, it's not enough to provide jobs or skills training, but they must also be guided to think creatively at every stage.

In any industry, the entire value chain, from ideation, design, production, simulation, and customer experience to services, demands innovation. That’s why it's essential to build labs where engineers can work with advanced technology.

However, Deepak pointed out that limited resources and fast-changing technologies make it impractical to build fully equipped physical labs for daily use.

To address this challenge, India has established seven 3D Experience centers of excellence using virtual twin technology. Each center specializes in a specific sector such as mining, automotive, electric vehicles, urban planning and construction, aerospace, defense, and logistics, with its own tailored training programs.

Klaus Krohne, senior sales director for Asia-Pacific at Dassault Systèmes, said virtual twin technology creates a digital replica of a product, process, or even an entire factory. For instance, in the semiconductor industry, virtual twins are built at all the equipment, process, and system levels. The technology allows engineers to simulate the full production process of 3D ICs or high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and instantly test responses and outcomes.

Over 100,000 students have been trained under this new approach, which connects them directly with real business projects. “This method helps reduce practical training time for new engineers by 25-30 percent, and also supports startups and SMEs in testing new technologies with no need for heavy investment in infrastructure.”

Which way for Vietnam?

Vietnam, with its young workforce, is well positioned to become a new semiconductor manufacturing hub. However, a gap still exists between university curricula and real-world business needs.

Nguyen Thanh Chuong from the University of Transport and Communications, said that universities play a central role in building an innovation ecosystem, especially in high-tech areas like semiconductors and AI.

He noted that many universities are being restructured to build stronger ties with businesses, applying advanced training models that integrate real-world projects into coursework, and inviting industry experts to teach for better practical alignment. Universities are expected to be the core of the tech transfer ecosystem, turning research into products and standards, and reducing the time from lab to market.

Under Vietnam’s national higher education network plan toward 2030, the University of Transport and Communications has been identified as one of the seven leading technology universities, with a mission to become a key center for engineering and science-technology. 

The school is expected to develop national laboratories for high-speed rail and semiconductors. It has launched various initiatives, including partnerships with firms such as Dassault Systèmes, enabling students to join real projects while still in school.

Amid fast technological change, the integration of academia, industry, and society to bring technology from research to production and the market is inevitable. To accelerate the process, universities must work hand-in-hand with businesses and researchers to foster mutual development and success, according to Chuong.

He believes that Vietnam can learn from India's experience and adopt a few key strategies. First, apply virtual twin technology. Rather than building expensive and complex physical labs, digital platforms can allow students to simulate entire production, design, testing, and problem-solving processes quickly and effectively.

Second, universities should enhance project-based learning. Close collaboration with businesses can bring real industry challenges into the classroom, helping students gain experience and understand the needs of the industry.

Workforce development in the digital era is not just about skill training. It’s about building a sustainable ecosystem where academia, businesses, and society work together.

Deepak believes that international collaboration can speed up Vietnam’s human resource development. 

“Developing the workforce is not only about teaching skills, but it’s about building an ecosystem of collaboration between government, industry, and academia. With such partnerships, Vietnam will not only be ready to adopt new technologies, but also capable of leading in strategic sectors,” he said.

Thai Khang