Recently, the University of Danang - University of Science and Technology (UD-DUT) held the 2025 annual review meeting of the Advanced and Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering Research Group (I-STAR). The event highlighted UD-DUT’s efforts to develop strong and high-potential research groups. On this occasion, I-STAR Group officially inaugurated AMAST Lab – the Advanced Materials and Structures Testing Laboratory.

According to the I-STAR Group, driven by strong commitment and passion for scientific research, members achieved notable outcomes in 2025, including:

- Implementation of one national-level science and technology project (KC Program);

- Approval of two NAFOSTED projects, one ministry-level project, two Da Nang City-level projects, and one UD-level project, alongside various institutional-level projects.

A key highlight was the Group’s strong international publication record: 37 papers in reputable WoS/Scopus-indexed journals. This result contributed approximately 14% to UD-DUT’s total international publications and reflected high quality, with over 60% of the publications ranked in Q1/Q2 journals.

In addition, two members were recognized with the title of Associate Professor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Phuong Nam and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Quy Duy. The Group also welcomed two new members: Dr. Phan Viet Nhut and Dr. Le Dinh Viet.

Notably, four students from the I-STAR Future Club were awarded full scholarships to pursue studies in Japan, South Korea, and Italy, reaffirming the Group’s priority of developing young, globally integrated human resources, thereby expanding both capacity and quality, enhancing interdisciplinary research strength, and cultivating the next generation of researchers.

At the program, two individuals of the I-STAR Group: Dr. Ho Manh Hung and MSc. Nguyen Duc Tuan received the I-STAR Award 2025, in recognition of their contributions to establishing and putting AMAST Lab into operation.

AMAST Lab is a modern research space aimed at addressing scientifically and practically significant problems through the integration of research, experimentation, technology transfer, and standardization, with the collaboration of businesses such as PEDI Solutions, SIKA Vietnam, Hoa Sen chemical companies, ECC Consulting & Construction Investment, Tura Interiors, An Long Tech, and others.

With a strong team of more than 27 scientists and highly qualified lecturers, most of whom were trained or conducted research in advanced countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, and South Korea, the I-STAR Group plans in 2026 to further advance scientific and technological projects at various levels, along with enterprise-cooperative initiatives, focusing on products that are applicable and transferable. The Group also aims to increase international publications associated with intellectual property, strive to reach the level of a strong research group, and expand international connections and cooperation to meet the requirements of the new development phase.

UD Media