The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Ho Chi Minh City authorities will establish a Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Vietnam (C4IR Vietnam) in June 2024.
In a Tuesday release, the WEF said the facility would focus on green growth, smart cities and artificial intelligence. It will be located in Saigon Hi-Tech Park, one of two national high-tech parks in Vietnam and one of five focal economic projects in HCMC, serving as the driving force for the city's development.
“The establishment of a Fourth Industrial Revolution Center is a significant milestone in the partnership between the WEF and Vietnam, geared to help advance Vietnam’s ambitious innovation and growth agenda through international, multi-stakeholder collaboration,” said Jeremy Jurgens, managing director of the WEF.
HCMC Chairman Phan Van Mai said: “The establishment of the C4IR in HCMC holds great significance not only for the city's major development goals, but also for national priorities too. In addition, Ho Chi Minh City can participate in global initiatives of the World Economic Forum, thereby establishing a comprehensive ecosystem to promote new growth drivers, attract investment, and enhance economic competitiveness.”
“The center will be a reliable and effective platform to boost cooperation between Vietnamese experts, researchers and businesses with international partners,” Mai added.
The facility is the second to be established in Southeast Asia, following the launch of C4IR Malaysia in 2023. It aims to become a hub of expertise to co-design and pilot future-focused policy frameworks that enable the development and deployment of technology regionally and globally.
The WEF launched the first C4IR in San Francisco in 2017, shortly followed by units in Japan and India. The network now includes centers in Austin (the U.S.), Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Detroit (the U.S.), Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Telangana (India), and the United Arab Emirates.