Google Labs’ AI Futures Fund and Saigon AI Hub (SAIH) - an open research institution established by VNG Group and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, on May 4 announced a strategic partnership to establish Google Labs’ first Applied AI Lab in Vietnam.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment between Google, VNG and VNU-HCM to advance AI development in the country. With access to Google’s most advanced AI models, the collaboration is expected to support the growth of the local ecosystem and contribute to building a technology driven economy.
Under the partnership, Google Labs’ AI Futures Fund will work directly with SAIH research teams, providing Vietnamese researchers and innovators with early access to Google’s latest technologies, alongside technical support from experts across Google and Google DeepMind.
“By choosing Saigon AI Hub as the inaugural partner for this experimental collaboration model, we are not just providing tools; we are co creating an environment where Vietnamese researchers can bridge the gap between theoretical research and real world impact,” said Mr. Josh Woodward, Vice President of Gemini app, Google Labs, and AI Studio. “We believe the solutions developed here will not only benefit Vietnam but will offer valuable insights for the global AI community.”
Mr. Le Hong Minh, Founder and Chairman of VNG Group, added: “We recognise that the biggest barrier to AI research in Vietnam is not a shortage of talent, but a lack of resources and enabling conditions. Through global partnerships like this one with Google Labs, researchers at SAIH and across Vietnam will have the opportunity to work with the same technologies, at the same time, as the world’s leading AI institutions. This is only the first step, and we aim to scale this model to other AI research organisations in Vietnam and with additional global partners.”
SAIH has also launched its first ten research groups, which are already in operation, bringing together nearly 60 researchers from universities across Ho Chi Minh City. Selected based on practical applicability, research capability, and alignment with responsible AI development, these groups span key areas including computational linguistics, computer vision, human–robot interaction, healthcare, and cybersecurity.
All groups are committed to publishing their research at leading international venues, including A star or A conferences and Q1 or Q2 journals, and delivering at least one working prototype with real world applicability.
Beyond the initial cohort, SAIH aims to become a leading AI research hub in Vietnam, providing infrastructure, expertise, and global partnerships, including potential startup investment from the AI Futures Fund, to support the development of research into real world products. The programme is open to applications from future research teams.
As Vietnam advances its AI strategy toward 2030, the collaboration between Saigon AI Hub and Google Labs is expected to contribute to developing the country’s AI talent pool and strengthening its innovation ecosystem, supporting its ambition to become a leading AI hub in ASEAN.
Google translate