Viet Nam proposes four priorities for science and technology cooperation with EU

On May 27, 2026, Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan held a working session with Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. At the meeting, Minister Vu Hai Quan proposed stronger Viet Nam–EU cooperation in core technologies, standardisation, innovation and joint research programmes.

At the working session, Minister Vu Hai Quan proposed four priority areas for Viet Nam–EU cooperation:

1. The EU supports Viet Nam in improving policies and laws on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, while facilitating access to European research results and core technologies.

2. The two sides strengthen cooperation in standardisation. In the immediate term, priority should be given to accessing and acquiring the rights to use European standards and technical regulations for study and application, particularly in the railway sector.

3. The two sides promote cooperation through networking and training activities, as well as the joint organisation of the EU–Viet Nam Research and Innovation Day and the EU–Viet Nam Digital Cooperation Forum in 2026.

4. The two sides advance medium and long-term cooperation arrangements to facilitate deeper participation by Vietnamese scientists in Horizon Europe, while exploring the possibility of establishing a Viet Nam–EU joint funding mechanism for research activities.

Ms. Zaharieva affirmed that the EU stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in technology transfer, commercialisation of research results, startup and scale-up development, and partner connection to form joint research consortia.