Indonesia and Vietnam Agree to Strengthen Science and Technology Cooperation

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Indonesia, through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), has signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam in the field of science and technology.

The agreement was formalized through a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed by Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, and Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology, Nguyen Manh Hung, on Sunday (3/9).

"This collaboration will support key government priorities, including food security, energy independence, and innovation downstreaming," said Brian, as quoted on Antara, in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Currently, 47 Vietnamese students are studying in Indonesia at various levels, from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Building on this, both nations agreed to establish joint research funding, aiming to boost private sector participation with a targeted 4:1 ratio between industry and government spending.

The proposed joint research projects will receive between $10,000 and $50,000 in pilot funding, with potential future investments reaching $50 million for student exchanges and research collaborations. Both sides expressed enthusiasm for swift implementation, aiming to launch their first collaborative projects soon.

"With Southeast Asian solidarity, we can deepen our understanding through knowledge exchange and shared experiences," Brian added as quoted on Antara.

Indonesia and Vietnam agreed on six areas of collaboration, including policy exchange, joint R&D in key technologies, expert and student exchanges, conferences and training, innovation coordination, and other mutually agreed initiatives.

This partnership marks a significant step in strengthening scientific and technological ties between the two nations.

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas