FPT consortium kicks off urban area-AI center project in central Vietnam

A consortium of tech giant FPT Corporation's subsidiaries on Sunday commenced construction on a VND4.36 trillion ($174 million) project to build an artificial intelligence (AI) center and its supporting urban area in Vietnam’s central province of Binh Dinh.

The FPT Quy Nhon consortium includes FPT City Danang JSC, FPT Investment Co., Ltd, and FPT Software Co., Ltd.

The project spans an area of 94 hectares across Tran Quang Dieu and Bui Thi Xuan wards in Quy Nhon town. It comprises three main functional subdivisions: an AI center, an education and training zone, and a supporting urban area.

The AI center will focus on research, training, software development, digital transformation support, cybersecurity solutions, social security, and AI applications aimed at enhancing human productivity, quality, and service value.

The education and training zone will feature an integrated school system from elementary to high school levels.

Meanwhile, the supporting urban area will provide essential amenities meeting the needs of an AI-driven urban environment, aiming to attract high-quality human resources to Binh Dinh, particularly in the fields of advanced technology, new technology, and AI.

At the event, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan hailed the project as a new step in the application of high technology, especially AI, to promote local innovations and economic development.

It is also a testament to the province's determination to proactively engage in the fourth Industrial Revolution, contributing to rapidly advancing Binh Dinh's scientific and technological potential, especially in the fields of AI, Internet of Things, and Big Data, he said.

It will help promote the development of the digital economy and improving Binh Dinh's competitiveness in the digital technology age, he added.

According to FPT chairman Truong Gia Binh, the project aims to attract investment in AI research, creativity and development in the times of 4.0 technology, towards the 5.0 technology era.

The local leader informed that the province has developed the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), the Center for Scientific Discovery and Innovation (ExploraScience Quy Nhon), and TMA Innovation Park with the active participation and contributions of major business groups.

Notably, FPT has built and put into operation an FPT University branch in Quy Nhon, providing in-depth training in AI; and an FPT Software branch in the Quang Trung Software Park.

It has also deployed an expert training, production and research complex project in the Quy Hoa Science and Education Urban Area; and supported the implementation of solutions at the Binh Dinh Smart City Operation Center.

The FPT University branch in Quy Nhon came into operation in 2021, training about 2,000 students in the province.