Swedish companies promote innovation, sustainability in central Vietnam

The Swedish embassy, in collaboration with leading Swedish companies, has held university tours under the theme “Pioneer the Possible” in Danang to engage students in discussions regarding innovation and sustainability.

Following its successful launch in Hanoi in 2022, and subsequent visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and An Giang earlier this year, the Pioneer the Possible University Tour made stops on Wednesday at Duy Tan University and FPT University in Danang.

Recognizing the great potential of university students in driving sustainable solutions, the Pioneer the Possible roadshow aims to share Swedish experiences related to the quadruple helix model, which consists of government, academia, industry, and citizens.

It also seeks to facilitate discussions between Swedish businesses and Vietnamese universities, particularly in areas such as sustainable transportation, green energy transformation, greening the heavy industry, bioeconomy and digitalization.

The events in Danang featured a series of engaging activities and presentations aimed at fostering interactive discussions and knowledge exchange.

At the program, Swedish ambassador Ann Måwe highlighted Sweden's policies and strategies in its innovative and sustainable journey and how they relate to the ambition of the Vietnamese government.

She said that about 70 Swedish companies are operating in Vietnam in sectors as diverse as IT and telecom, energy and electrification, manufacturing and services, packaging, industrial equipment, healthcare, and consumer goods.

“Several of them have been here over two decades, day-to-day transferring Swedish expertise and experience to their local partners, not only creating jobs and sharing technology, but also contributing to accelerate the green transition in Vietnam,” added the ambassador.

Representatives from Duy Tan University and FPT University delivered speeches emphasizing their institutions' strong commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“This event presents a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from Swedish experts in innovation, sustainability and technology. It will equip our students with the skills and inspiration to address global challenges and drive positive change in society,” said Vo Dinh Nam, academic director of FPT University in Danang, said.

Participating Swedish companies, including ABB, Ericsson, and Tetra Pak, delivered presentations and engaged in discussions on various topics such as digitalization, sustainable transportation, green energy transformation, and circularity.

The same day, Swedish ambassador Ann Måwe had a courtesy call to Chairman of the Danang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh to discuss the importance of collaboration between Sweden and Vietnam in driving innovation and sustainability.