Intel, WB to help Danang with semiconductor, AI training

U.S.-based Intel Corporation and the World Bank have pledged to support the central city of Danang train residents in semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI).

Intel and WB representatives made their commitments during working sessions held Monday (Washington time) with a delegation from Danang led by permanent Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh.

Working with the WB representatives, Minh introduced the city’s investment environment and strengths, especially in hi-tech development, investment attraction, and human resource training in AI and semiconductor chip production.

He proposed the WB supports the central city in training its workforce in these fields.

Alex Twinomugisha, the WB’s senior education technology specialist, said that the bank has been actively contributing to Vietnam's development, especially in education.

It has spent $400 million supporting universities in Vietnam in improving facilities, research centers and financial and management capacity. Of this, $100 million has been provided to the University of Danang, he said.

In the near future, the WB will continue to support Vietnam through by advising the Ministry of Education and Training on education development towards enhancing Vietnam's global value chain until 2045 and assisting the Ministry of Planning and Investment in developing semiconductor and AI resources, he added.

The two sides agreed to meet in mid-March to discuss deeper cooperation.

Twinomugisha affirmed that the WB will cooperate closely with Danang’s semiconductor and artificial intelligence center and support AI research at local universities.

Thanking the WB for its support, Minh proposed that it expands the project to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) training for high school students in the city.

"STEM and semiconductor human resource training are very important for Danang and the city will continue to concretize and develop this area in the coming time," he said.

Meanwhile, Intel and Danang agreed on specific cooperation content related to AI training.

Minh said Danang was a locality with suitable infrastructure to develop this field, citing the 1,100-hectare Danang Hi-Tech Park - one of three national facilities in Vietnam.

The city has software and information technology parks ready to serve businesses coming to the city to research and develop AI, he added.

Minh said the city was developing policies to attract foreign experts and overseas Vietnamese to work in the field of semiconductor and AI development. These policies are expected to be approved by June 2024.

Sarah Kemp, vice president of international government affairs for Intel, said cooperation between Danang and Intel was not only an important step in building qualified professional human resources to meet requirements of the technology market, but also one that would open up many new development opportunities.

In turn, this would create job opportunities for locals and create conditions for local researchers and businesses to access modern technology, she added.