On March 26, at the University of Danang (UD), Mr. Ho Quang Buu, Member of the Da Nang Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, Member of the Da Nang Party Committee and President of UD, co-chaired a working session on implementing tasks related to science and technology (S&T), innovation, and digital transformation. 

According to Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu, the meeting provided an opportunity for the city to gain deeper insights into UD’s current situation and achievements in S&T, innovation, and DX; exchange views; receive proposals and recommendations from UD’s member universities and affiliated units; and identify solutions to jointly accomplish shared missions. These efforts contribute to key goals such as placing Da Nang among the world’s Top 50 smart cities and advancing UD into the Top 150 universities in Asia.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu expressed his pleasure in welcoming city leaders and representatives from departments and agencies to UD for discussions on urgent and critical priorities for breakthrough development in S&T, innovation, and DX, with the full participation of presidents of member universities and heads of affiliated units.

President Nguyen Ngoc Vu presented an overview of UD as a multi-disciplinary and multi-field university system comprising six member universities and four affiliated training units.

Over more than 50 years of development across its member institutions, UD has educated tens of thousands of officials, experts, teachers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Many UD alumni have become successful leaders holding key positions in central agencies, localities, enterprises, and educational institutions, making significant contributions to the development of Da Nang, the Central Highlands–Central Coast region, and Vietnam as a whole.

The President also reported UD’s notable achievements in admissions, training, scientific research, international cooperation, and university–industry collaboration. UD currently has a strong intellectual workforce of more than 2,600 staff members and lecturers, with over 52% holding PhD degrees or higher, particularly at the University of Danang – University of Science and Technology (UD-DUT), where the figure exceeds 70%.

UD’s S&T capacity has delivered positive outcomes, including nearly 3,000 international publications (WoS/Scopus-indexed) during 2021–2025, with an average annual growth rate of 10%; the implementation of nearly 1,000 research projects at national, ministerial, provincial, and city levels; and notable progress in technology application and transfer, reflected in domestic and international patents and intellectual property. UD’s lecturers and students have also achieved strong results in scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Innovation-driven entrepreneurship activities have gained momentum through the implementation of the “National Project to Support the Innovation Startup Ecosystem,” the establishment of research and innovation spaces, and the development of student entrepreneurship networks, helping to identify, mentor, and incubate hundreds of student ideas and projects.

UD has also actively implemented its IT application across three pillars, including building data systems, digitizing documents, and advancing digital governance, while expanding online (e-learning) and blended learning models.

Regarding UD’s strategic direction in the new development phase, the President emphasized that UD has been selected by the Central Steering Committee as one of four key universities to receive prioritized investment and serve as a model within Vietnam’s higher education system.

UD has established a steering committee and developed programs, plans, and a proposal to bring UD into the Top 150 universities in Asia, with at least one discipline ranked among the world’s Top 100, supported by specific tasks and KPI-based evaluation. UD is forming research groups with enterprise participation, identifying 15 strategic technology product groups for research collaboration, production, and commercialization, and further promoting student innovation and startup activities.

On the outcomes of cooperation with Da Nang City, the President of UD noted that, under the 2020–2025 Agreement, the University has actively contributed to major city initiatives, including the Free Trade Zone, the International Financial Center, the development of the chip and semiconductor microelectronics industry, and the Digital Transformation program.

UD has implemented over 30 city-level research projects across multiple fields. Annually, UD coordinates with the Department of Science and Technology to organize impactful student activities such as the Student Scientific Research Award, the Youth Innovation Festival, and the Student Technology Startup Competition, and works with the Department of Education and Training to promote STEM education in high schools.

Expressing appreciation for the city’s leadership and highlighting the importance of the strong partnership between UD and Da Nang’s departments and agencies, the President proposed several key solutions:

1- Review and renew the cooperation agreement between UD and the Da Nang People’s Committee for the 2026–2030 period to jointly implement strategic tasks aligned with the city’s new development requirements;

2- Prioritize commissioning major tasks, including large-scale “grand challenges” and key S&T programs for UD, enabling research groups to contribute solutions and inviting international scientists with clear roadmaps and deliverables;

3- Develop a system of shared laboratories and R&D centers by mobilizing investment from the state, enterprises, and public–private partnerships to ensure effective operation and utilization;

4- Strengthen substantive “triple-helix” cooperation (government–university–industry), with the city acting as an enabler, connector, and driver of university–industry collaboration;

5- Provide support and facilitation (visa procedures, funding, accommodation, and travel) for UD to invite experts and scientists, and attract international students for research and study aligned with the city’s urgent needs; encourage city leaders to attend scientific events; coordinate and support the organization of national and international conferences; and promote UD while sharing information to introduce Da Nang to partners;

6- Issue special mechanisms and policies to promote scientific research, innovation, and startups; support UD in developing a satellite facility at the High-Tech Park as a bridge for real-world R&D and innovation; create mechanisms for commissioned training, research, and DX tasks; and pilot the accelerated commercialization of university research products.

In a constructive and open atmosphere, participants highly appreciated UD’s role and emphasized the need to strengthen “triple-helix” cooperation in education, S&T, innovation, entrepreneurship. Leaders of UD’s member universities and affiliated units raised practical needs, proposed solutions and models, and expressed the desire for special mechanisms and policies to enable breakthroughs.

After hearing remarks from city departments, the Office of the People’s Committee, and centers under the Department of Science and Technology, Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu concluded the session, expressing his satisfaction with the working session.

The city leadership highly valued UD’s strong progress and the achievements of its member universities and affiliated units, recognizing outstanding achievements by UD’s faculty and students with national and international recognition, and acknowledging UD’s contributions, especially in providing high-quality human resources and advancing S&T, innovation, entrepreneurship, and DX for Da Nang in recent years.

Entering a new phase, Vice Chairman Ho Quang Buu emphasized that the city and UD share major goals and missions assigned by the central government. The overarching approach is to strengthen close and effective collaboration, which serves as a basis for advising on cooperation priorities, including breakthrough development in S&T, innovation, and DX. He stressed that high-quality, advanced-level human resources are decisive.

He agreed with the proposal to continue the cooperation agreement for 2026–2030, assigning the Department of Science and Technology as the focal point to review and evaluate cooperation results over the past five years, serving as a basis for advising on cooperation priorities aligned with major programs, objectives, and tasks, with clear roadmaps, resources, and expected outcomes.

Regarding mechanisms for commissioning S&T tasks, the city requested the Department of Science and Technology to coordinate with relevant departments and UD to propose appropriate solutions in line with regulations, with a focus on public–private cooperation. The city is implementing major initiatives such as the Innovation City Development Program, the Smart City Program, and the project to establish a National Center for Medicinal Materials Technology, which offer opportunities for UD’s scientists, experts, lecturers, and students to participate.

On developing shared laboratories, the leader's city noted that it has issued an official document requesting UD to propose two key laboratories and expressed its expectation that UD will coordinate with ministries and central agencies to mobilize resources for implementation.

Regarding “triple-helix” collaboration, an important and urgent task under Conclusion No. 45, the city emphasized the development of university spin-offs and startups. Cooperation should be expanded with corporations and enterprises in the High-Tech Park, centralized IT parks, Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, THACO, and other partners. These offer significant opportunities to develop co-op (study–work) programs, facilitate expert exchange, and engage lecturers and scientists in major enterprise projects.

Regarding the UD Urban Area project, city leaders acknowledged UD’s inputs and stated that they will continue working with UD to accelerate implementation.

UD Media