- Posted on 11 Aug 2026
- 5-minute read
The centre aims to accelerate collaboration on critical and emerging technologies, foster innovation, strengthen global cyber resilience.
The announcement follows a successful Vietnam Australia Tech-Connect Forum at UTS promoting increased partnerships and collaboration.
Key takeaways
- AVSTC Phase II has been announced, strengthening Australia–Vietnam collaboration in critical and emerging technologies.
- UTS is a key partner in Vietnam, spanning education, research, government and industry engagement.
- The partnerships deliver practical impact through research, training and applied projects on shared regional challenges.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and His Excellency To Lam General Secretary and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam announced Phase II of AVSTC in a joint statement on Tuesday 11 August.
UTS is a key partner in the AVSTC, leading governance and delivery. The UTS-led centre is jointly supported by the Australian government (the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and the government of Vietnam (Ministry of Science and Technology).
The joint statement welcomed “the commencement of Phase II of the AVSTC, a landmark partnership to advance collaboration in critical and emerging technologies, with an initial focus on the transformative applications of 5G and other enabling technologies”.
In partnership with Nokia and Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), AVSTC serves as a cutting-edge research hub for collaboration between the two countries with a global vision focusing on strategic technologies and cybersecurity, including 5G emerging 6G, AI, quantum technologies, robotics.
Located in Hanoi, the Centre seeks to foster innovation across key sectors, promote responsible technology use, strengthen international cooperation on cybercrime, and build robust cybersecurity capabilities.
Vietnam Australia Tech-Connect Forum 2026
Leaders from government, industry and higher education came together on Monday 10 August at UTS for the Vietnam Australia Tech-Connect Forum 2026. The event focused on strengthening strategic collaboration opportunities between the two countries across science and technology, innovation, education and training technologies, education and workforce development.
The forum welcomed General To Lam, the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP Assistant Minister for Immigration and representatives from the Vietnamese Government, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Vietnamese Embassy and Consulate General in Australia, the Vietnam Australia Scholars and Experts Association, and the Australia Vietnam Policy Institute.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Parfitt said, “Our engagement with Vietnam has transformed from academic ties into a deeply interconnected platform that encompasses education, research, government, and industry. This evolution not only highlights our role as a leading Australian higher education and research partner in Vietnam but also sets the stage for continued growth and engagement throughout the region.”
From joint research centres, joint coursework teaching, PhD training, research exchanges to projects in areas such as water management, sustainable infrastructure and information technology, our partnerships are addressing shared regional challenges through creative, sustainable solutions.
Key areas of partnership involve:
- strategic partnerships and collaborations with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and VinUniversity which are strengthening educational connections and providing students with the skills, knowledge and global perspectives needed to contribute to the future workforce.
- joint research centres with Vietnam National University - Hanoi and Hanoi University of Science and Technology helping to shape Vietnam’s Industry 4.0 and AI innovation agenda
- doctoral training agreements
- leadership of the Australia-Vietnam Strategic Technologies Centre, launched in 2025 with Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT) and Nokia.
This evolution not only highlights our role as a leading Australian higher education and research partner in Vietnam but also sets the stage for continued growth and engagement throughout the region.
Research collaboration is central to UTS’s engagement with Vietnam.
Through joint centres, PhD programs, transnational education and faculty links, UTS and its Vietnamese partners build capability, access complementary expertise and strengthen the university’s impact across Southeast Asia.
Researchers from the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures and UTS Rapido Vietnam are working alongside Vietnamese partners on challenges including urban sanitation, climate resilience and sustainable water systems.
Landmark research collaborations include:
- the development and deployment of UAV-based remote sensing and AI-enabled aerial surveillance technology for real-time search and rescue operations during disaster response on which UTS worked with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Le Quy Don Technical University, Ripper Corp and Vietnam’s National Committee for Search and Rescue
- the creation of a real-time seawater monitoring system in Xuan Dai Bay, using IoT, data analytics and mechatronics to help farmers and local authorities monitor water quality, manage environmental risks and strengthen climate resilience, supporting sustainable aquaculture. UTS partnered with Vietnam National University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology through UTS Rapido Vietnam.
UTS’s extensive engagements in Vietnam include formal agreements with 18 Vietnamese institutional partners and seven government and industry partners.