The US-based tech giant Qualcomm officially inaugurated a new artificial intelligence research and development (AI R&D) centre in Vietnam on June 10.

The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.

 It is set to play a key role in developing cutting-edge generative AI and agentic AI solutions, with applications spanning smartphones, personal computers, extended reality (XR), automotive technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

 Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as described at the inauguration ceremony that the launch of the AI R&D centre as a significant step forward in technology cooperation between Vietnam and the US in a field of mutual interest. He said the establishment reflected Qualcomm’s confidence in the potential and capabilities of the Vietnamese IT workforce, while serving as a testament to the deepening comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The deputy minister expressed his belief that the centre would enhance Vietnam’s AI research capabilities, contribute to the training and development of local and international AI experts and engineers, and promote the country’s sustainable socio-economic development.

According to Mr. Thieu Phuong Nam, Country Director of Qualcomm Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, Qualcomm’s activities in Vietnam align with the country’s national strategies on AI, semiconductors, and digital transformation, with a focus on technology transfer, ecosystem development, and capacity building.

By combining Vietnam’s talent with Qualcomm’s global scale and expertise, the company hopes to accelerate the development of advanced, energy-efficient AI solutions for diverse applications while reinforcing Vietnam’s role in the global innovation value chain, Mr. Nam said.

Qualcomm currently operates two representative offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, alongside its first R&D Centre in Southeast Asia, launched in Hanoi in 2020. The company is also known for the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, an annual initiative that supports and nurtures local tech startups through financial, technical, business and intellectual property assistance.