Hanoi, Vietnam – July 11, 2024 – Google, in collaboration with the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), launched "Build for the AI future", a comprehensive initiative designed to accelerate Vietnam's advancement in AI. 

Google, in collaboration with the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), launched "Build for the AI future"

This initiative focuses on two key pillars: Build for Talent and Build for Startups. Each pillar addresses critical areas to empower Vietnam's human capital, nurture its burgeoning startup ecosystem, and strengthen the foundation for maximizing AI adoption. "Build for the AI future” marks a significant new chapter in Google's longstanding commitment to supporting Vietnam's digital transformation. This strategic initiative directly aligns with Vietnam's National AI Strategy to 2030, underscoring Google's commitment to supporting Vietnam's digital transformation.

The Southeast Asian digital economy has undergone a meteoric rise, surging eightfold in just eight years to reach US$100 billion. This rapid digital transformation, combined with the region's AI readiness, positions Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, to reach up to USD 835 billion of economic benefits from AI by 2030. With a vibrant startup community; a young tech savvy population accounting for 20% of total population; and supportive Government's policies through the national AI strategy, Vietnam is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunity of AI. Despite the promising landscape of Vietnam's economic growth driven by AI, a critical challenge persists: shortage of AI specialists. Estimates indicate a limited pool of only 300 AI experts within the Vietnamese workforce. This scarcity, coupled with insufficient access to high-quality AI training programs, widens the current gap between the market's demand and the available talent.

Beyond the talent shortage, Vietnamese AI startups face additional challenges such as limited access to leading AI experts and mentors to review and validate AI products for strong market-fit; lack of access to enterprise-ready infrastructure, platforms, and tools that are needed for rapidly developing, commercializing and scaling their own AI products.

Under the shared vision, and supported by the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, NIC and Google aim to tackle these challenges to propel comprehensive Vietnam’s AI advancement. 

Build for Talent offers 40,000 scholarships to 10 courses of Google Career Certificates program, including the newest AI Essentials course to Vietnamese including officials, lecturers and students across 80 universities and colleges, equipping them with the latest AI skills.

This program is upgraded from the existing initiative of Google Career Certificates program which was launched in July, 2022 by Google and NIC. Up to now, the program has equipped 60,000 local workforce with a critical digital skill set. 

Build for Startups: Recognizing the pivotal role local startups play in driving innovation and developing solutions, Google has been committed to fostering a robust startup ecosystem in Vietnam since the early stages. This commitment is evidenced by a series of continuous initiatives such as Google Launchpad Accelerator (2017 to 2019) and Google for Startups Accelerator (2022 till now). This year, with Google for Startups Accelerator, we aim to further empower Vietnamese startups in the AI era with three key programs:

  • Google AI Startups Masterclass: An eight-week online program equips the broader startup ecosystem with invaluable entrepreneurial knowledge.
  • Google for Startups Accelerator Southeast Asia, Vietnam, AI-focused: An AI-focused program supported by the NIC, to help high-potential Vietnamese AI startups develop, commercialize, and scale their AI products into new markets, by connecting them with Google's leading AI experts and best-in-class technology. Accepted startups will receive up to US$350K in Google Cloud credits and gain access to the Google Startup AI Space, a new sandbox offering by Google that will provide startups with access to Google Cloud’s full AI stack, including its AI-optimized infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, Gemini models, and low-code developer tools, for up to three months at no cost.
  • Google Startup AI Space is a first-of-its-kind initiative globally that supports AI startups by facilitating their rapid prototyping and commercialization of AI applications.

Mr. Tran Duy Dong - Vice Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment addressed “The ‘Build for the AI future’ initiative is a collaborative effort between Google and the National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). This initiative underscores the unwavering commitment of MPI and Google to fostering Vietnam's AI ecosystem. It aims to equip the local workforce with essential skills to seize the opportunities of the AI era, while simultaneously supporting the development of AI-powered innovations among Vietnamese startups.”

Mr. Tran Duy Dong - Vice Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Investment

Mr. Vu Quoc Huy - Managing Director of NIC shared “The National Innovation Center (NIC) has established a strong collaboration with Google to spearhead several initiatives supporting and accelerating the growth of Vietnamese startups. Additionally, the partnership provides tens of thousands of scholarships to enhance digital skills, with a particular emphasis on AI-related fields. Furthermore, the collaboration aims to bolster the development of Vietnam's startup ecosystem, cultivate a skilled IT workforce, and promote the widespread adoption of AI technologies within the country.”

Mr. Marc Woo - Managing Director, Vietnam, Google Asia Pacific said “Vietnam's digital economy is forecast to grow by an astonishing elevenfold by 2030, reaching a staggering $220 billion – nearly half of Vietnam's current GDP. And AI is one of the key drivers to materialize that forecast. Together with NIC, we believe ‘Build for the AI Future’ will be a strong launchpad for Vietnam local talents, startups and businesses that is well-leveraged on the best of Google AI's products and solutions”.

Mr. Marc Woo - Managing Director, Vietnam, Google Asia Pacific