According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong, Vietnam may change its target for training semiconductor engineers from 50,000 to 100,000 people.
"If we continue to improve the quality and skills of our human resources, Vietnam will certainly be a destination and a supplier of semiconductor personnel not only for Vietnam but also globally. The government has issued a plan to develop 50,000 semiconductor engineers, but is reviewing it with the aim of doubling that number to 100,000," Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong said at the workshop on "Building Policies and Solutions to Promote the Development of Vietnam's Semiconductor Industry," held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 17th.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong speaking at the workshop on December 17th. Photo: Bao Lam.
According to him, semiconductor technology is identified as a national strategic technology, playing a fundamental role in the development of digital technology, the digital economy, and the digital society. The development strategy for this field operates according to the formula C = SET + 1, aiming to make Vietnam a new destination in the global supply chain.
He argued that the advantages are currently only potential, while also pointing out weaknesses that need to be addressed. Vietnam has a strong workforce in science and technology (STEM), participating in design, packaging, and testing. However, the majority of the packaging and testing market share belongs to foreign companies. Suppliers of materials and auxiliary equipment mainly serve foreign companies. In the design sector, besides the presence of many corporations from the US, Japan, and South Korea, Vietnam has about 10 domestic companies participating, but their workforce size is limited.
Furthermore, semiconductor workforce training has not been truly effective. Specifically, the percentage of engineering graduates working in the semiconductor industry is only 0.4%, much lower than in developed countries.
The domestic semiconductor industry also faces many other challenges, such as the lack of large-scale industrial chip manufacturing plants (fabs). The supply chain still depends on imported raw materials and machinery. The design engineering team mainly focuses on manufacturing individual components (modules), and has not yet mastered overall system design. Citing figures, Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong pointed out that Vietnam currently has a chip design team of approximately 7,000 domestic engineers and the participation of more than 50 foreign companies.
Furthermore, ordering pilot production (MPW) from overseas is costly and time-consuming, creating a barrier to the output of design activities. He cited the example of Viettel sending a chip design to a Taiwanese company for trial production, but the deadline was 18 months. Even after intervention from Viettel's partners with that company, the process was only shortened to 6 months.
"That's still a very long time. If the old timeline remains, the chip will be outdated by the time it's produced," he emphasized.
To address this, the Ministry of Science and Technology has completed the legal framework through the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Law on High Technology. Preferential policies on corporate income tax, land tax, and visas for high-quality personnel have been implemented.
Regarding technical infrastructure, Vietnam has established a Center for Supporting Pilot Production of Chips (Multi-Project Wafer model), expected to be operational from the beginning of next year. These centers function to support businesses and researchers in accessing manufacturing, packaging, and testing technologies, thereby shortening design and trial production times for businesses, optimizing costs, and increasing technological self-reliance.
Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department. Photo: Bao Lam
According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department , the strategy for developing Vietnam's semiconductor industry until 2030, with a vision to 2050, requires a very systematic, long-term approach, avoiding a trend-driven or hasty mindset. To achieve substantive results, the private sector needs to be identified as a crucial partner, gradually playing a leading and influential role in the industry's development. He believes that human resources are the decisive factor and the "biggest bottleneck" in the semiconductor industry. This sector cannot develop without a strong education system to produce engineers, experts, and researchers who meet international standards. Capital and infrastructure can be invested in over a certain period, but human capacity, especially the capacity for critical thinking, design, and mastery of core technologies, can only be developed through systematic, continuous training closely linked to practical experience. Sharing this view, Mr. Luu Hue Tien, General Director of SUN Edu, also pointed out the bottleneck of the "mismatch" between training and actual needs. Graduates have degrees, but businesses still spend months, even years, retraining them. In addition, he raised a number of issues regarding human resources, such as the lack of specific national vocational skills standards for the semiconductor industry to serve as a benchmark for international degree recognition; and the limited linkage between schools and businesses. Furthermore, even after being "ordered" by businesses, students may still be "canceled" upon graduation due to the company's business losses or bankruptcy.
Therefore, a representative from SUN Edu suggested that schools and businesses need to jointly develop training content that closely matches real-world needs, synchronize training by updating appropriate technologies and processes, link recruitment and ensure job placement to motivate learners, and that lecturers need to regularly update their technology from businesses to teach the latest knowledge. Furthermore, a mechanism for encouragement and financial support is needed to motivate businesses to participate in training.
He also proposed building a system of vocational skills standards for mutual recognition between schools and internationally; clearly defining the annual semiconductor workforce training targets, as well as promoting the "State-ordered" mechanism to boost the development of domestic semiconductor human resources.
Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bao Lam
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, stated that the city always considers science, technology, and innovation, including the semiconductor chip sector, as a "new engine" to boost the country's economy. Following the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces, the city has created a semiconductor ecosystem that brings together key elements, including an R&D hub, human resources, manufacturing centers, and logistics. He affirmed that the city will create favorable conditions for investors, ensuring a stable energy supply, digital connectivity infrastructure, and improved quality of life to attract global experts. At the same time, the city will be the "biggest customer" in purchasing semiconductor chips and products in this field.
Bao Lam
According to VnExpress