Vietnam has a major opportunity to develop its robotics industry and gradually master core technologies rather than relying heavily on imported equipment. Robots and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important in global industrial competition.
Dr Nguyen Dinh Vinh Thanh, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), made the statement in an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris.
France and the European Union's experience
According to Thanh, France and the European Union are increasing investment in robotics to strengthen industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Robotics and intelligent machines are among the priority areas in France's 2030 investment plan and the EU's industrial development strategy.
Europe's strengths include its research base, automation expertise and close links between research institutes, universities and businesses. The SPARC public-private partnership received 700 million EUR, or 782 million USD, from the European Commission during 2014–2020. Businesses committed an additional amount three times that figure. France's 2030 investment plan also allocated 34 million EUR to robotics research over eight years and supported 20 robotics and intelligent-machine projects in 2024.
Europe accounted for around 20% of global robotics research publications during 2019–2024. The region is home to major manufacturers such as Germany's KUKA, Switzerland's ABB and Denmark's Universal Robots. Commercialising research results remains a challenge, however.
Thanh said France and the EU could be suitable partners for Vietnam in robotics research, integration, testing and training. Equipment and technology supplies could be complemented by cooperation with other countries. The US has advantages in AI models and investment capital, China in large-scale hardware manufacturing, while Europe offers strong research capabilities, automation expertise and rigorous safety and testing standards.
Vietnam's foundation for the sector
Vietnam has established initial foundations for developing the sector, Thanh said. He cited Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, which identifies science, technology and innovation as a breakthrough of leading importance; Prime Minister's Decision No. 21/2026/QD-TTg, which lists robotics and automation as strategic technologies; and the Law on AI, which took effect on March 1 this year.
Thanh proposed three priorities for cooperation with France and the EU: identifying Vietnam's domestic needs and capabilities and selecting pilot projects that can support both research and industry; establishing research partnerships modelled after CNRS and implementing them step by step; and promoting industrial cooperation so Vietnamese businesses can participate more deeply in robotics value chains and keep pace with humanoid robotics and AI.
He also highlighted CNRS international research projects, which typically last around five years, and international research laboratories that bring together joint programmes, personnel and infrastructure as possible cooperation models.
CNRS has applied similar models in Asia. In Tsukuba, Japan, it established a joint robotics laboratory with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. It also collaborates with Vietnam in mathematics, hydrogen production and plant genome research, but a robotics partnership has not yet been established.
A roadmap and industrial cooperation
Rather than immediately building a large research centre, Thanh recommended a four-stage roadmap. The first step would be to assess domestic needs and select one or two practical applications. This would be followed by an international research project based on the CNRS partnership model, combining French expertise in robot control and motion planning with open-source AI models adapted to Vietnamese data, along with joint doctoral training.
The third stage would establish shared testing facilities for researchers and businesses to validate robots under real-world conditions. Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park could be a suitable location because it is home to the National Innovation Centre and ongoing autonomous-technology testing activities. A joint international research laboratory could then be established once research results, qualified personnel and financial commitments are in place.
Beyond research, Thanh suggested three areas of industrial cooperation with France and the EU: robot integration and technical services, components and supply chains, and humanoid robotics and AI.
Vietnamese universities and businesses could work with European manufacturers to train engineers, develop professional certification systems and establish local maintenance networks.
Domestic companies could also supply precision components, including structural frames, drive modules, control boards and power electronics. The cooperation agreement between VinRobotics and German semiconductor group Infineon to establish a joint competence centre is an example of progress in this direction.
Humanoid robots remain largely at the pilot stage. Vietnam could use its manufacturing base and prototypes developed by companies such as VinRobotics and VinMotion to become a testing and operational data collection hub for joint projects with European partners. Open-source AI models could also help domestic firms develop applications without depending on a single supplier.
Thanh stressed that cooperation agreements should clearly define responsibilities, intellectual property rights, data usage, commercialisation of research results and maintenance obligations. This would allow Vietnamese partners to retain ownership of their data and outcomes.
The France–Vietnam Agreement on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation, signed on May 26, 2025, provides an institutional framework for such partnerships. Funding could come from domestic science and technology funds, bilateral programmes, EU initiatives including Horizon Europe, and business contributions, he added.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
