On December 3, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, President of the University of Danang (UD) hosted a working session with Mr. Nguyen An Thao, an expert in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TORmem (USA).

The meeting was attended by representatives of UD’s functional departments; Institute of Advanced Science and Technology; representatives of the Board of Rectors of Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (UD-VKU), and the Departments of Science and International Cooperation of University of Science and Technology (UD - DUT) and UD - VKU.

Speaking at the meeting, President Nguyen Ngoc Vu warmly welcomed expert Nguyen An Thao to UD to explore opportunities for cooperation with UD’s member universities and units in training, research, and development in key areas such as semiconductor chips and AI.

President Nguyen Ngoc Vu provided an overview of UD as a major regional university of national importance, offering multi-disciplinary and multi-field training. Established in 1994 together with the two National Universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, UD currently comprises six member universities as well as affiliated institutes, faculties, and campuses. The university employs more than 2,500 faculty and staff and trains over 60,000 full-time students, placing it among the largest higher education institutions in Vietnam by scale.

President Nguyen Ngoc Vu noted that UD has been selected by the Central Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation as one of four universities to receive priority investment to become a model institution for Vietnam’s higher education system (under Conclusion Notice No. 45-TB/TGV). This, he stressed, is both a great honor and opportunity, as well as a significant responsibility and challenge, requiring UD to strive with determination to achieve its strategic goals of ranking among the top 150 universities in Asia, with at least one field ranked in the global top 100.

To realize these ambitions, UD places great emphasis on attracting leading scientists and experts from both Vietnam and abroad, including Vietnamese experts working overseas in high-tech sectors, to collaborate, share experience, and support the university in training, scientific research and innovation.

Through this initial meeting and exchange, President Vu expressed his hope that the two sides would have many more opportunities to share ideas and open up concrete avenues of cooperation in developing high-quality human resources for high-potential industries such as AI and semiconductors.

During the working session, Mr. Nguyen An Thao shared his personal journey and professional experience, having received training and accumulated hands-on experience in advanced R&D environments in fields such as server and semiconductor chip design at leading global technology corporations in Silicon Valley, including IBM, as well as working with Meta (Facebook), TSMC and others. These experiences, he said, have provided a solid foundation for his path from technology engineer to startup founder and innovator with TORmem in the United States.

Expressing his pleasure and gratitude for the warm reception from UD’s President, especially the opportunity to visit, learn about and explore cooperation with UD in line with his aspiration to contribute to his homeland in Central Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen An Thao affirmed that he is ready to devote his knowledge and experience, together with UD, to passing on expertise to students and helping them master advanced knowledge and modern technologies.

From his position as Founder and CEO of TORmem (USA), Mr. Nguyen An Thao emphasized that there is substantial room for future collaboration between the two sides in training, upskilling and developing high-quality human resources in semiconductors and AI, contributing to integration into global manufacturing networks and supply chains.

In an open and sincere atmosphere, President Vu cordially invited Mr. Nguyen An Thao to cooperate with UD by participating in specialized lectures, short-term training courses and seminars, as well as direct talks with students to inspire and motivate them on their paths of personal development and entrepreneurship.

President Nguyen Ngoc Vu assigned the Department of Science and International Cooperation - UD, in coordination with leaders of member universities offering AI and semiconductor programs, to continue connecting, assessing needs and capacities on both sides, and developing practical, effective cooperation initiatives in line with the orientations discussed and agreed upon with expert Nguyen An Thao.

UD Media

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