Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Promotes Cooperation with Fraunhofer ENAS (Federal Republic of Germany) in the Semiconductor Sector

07/07/2026

On the morning of June 1, 2026, Prof. Dr Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), chaired a reception and working session with the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (Fraunhofer ENAS), led by Prof. Dr Harald Kuhn, Director of the Institute. The meeting opened up opportunities for cooperation and development in the semiconductor sector for both sides.

At the meeting, Vice President Chu Hoang Ha stated that VAST is the country’s leading public scientific research and technology development institution, comprising 25 affiliated units, including specialised research institutes and three educational institutions, among which is the University of Science and Technology of Ha Noi (USTH), also known as the Vietnam–France University. VAST is currently concentrating resources on developing strategic technology sectors, particularly microelectronics and semiconductors. In the context of VAST’s need to strengthen research in application-oriented fields, cooperation with Fraunhofer ENAS-Europe’s leading applied research organisation, holds significant strategic importance.

Director Harald Kuhn highly appreciated Vietnam’s potential and introduced Saxony State as one of Europe’s major microelectronics hubs. The Director of Fraunhofer ENAS proposed several directions for in-depth cooperation with VAST, including materials science research, optimisation of laboratory and cleanroom processes, equipment development, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in data analysis.

In addition, Dr Thomas Schmidt, former Minister of Saxony State, Member of the Saxony State Parliament, and Head of the German Delegation to the European Committee of the Regions, affirmed his strong political support in promoting semiconductor industry links between the European Union (EU), Saxony State, and VAST, building upon the long-standing friendship between the parties.

Vice President Chu Hoang Ha together with Director Harald Kuhn (centre) and Dr Thomas Schmidt (far left)

Immediately following the meeting, the Fraunhofer ENAS delegation visited and held working sessions at the Institute of Materials Science and USTH. During these visits, the two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on laboratory infrastructure capabilities, cleanroom systems, and practical training programmes. These exchanges will serve as the basis for developing a detailed cooperation framework and moving towards the signing of official agreements in the near future.