On June 6, 2026, the Research Briefing “Vietnam’s Economy and Policies in the New Context: Implications for VinUniversity” was attended by over 100 participants, including VinUni leaders, faculty, students, and staff. As part of VinUni’s 2026 Research Day and Bootcamp co-organized by the Research Management Office and the Student Research Club in collaboration with Colleges and RISE Centers, the event examined global economic and technological shifts and their implications for Vietnam’s development and the evolving role of research and innovation universities such as VinUni.
Opening the seminar, President Lê Mai Lan shared VinUni’s vision to advance research excellence through expanded infrastructure, increased research investment, and continued growth in research-intensive faculty. President Mai Lan emphasized that VinUni is building its research ecosystem from the ground up and encouraged the community to pursue impactful, high-integrity research that advances science for humanity.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Cấn Văn Lực, Director of the BIDV Training and Research Institute and Member of the National Financial and Monetary Policy Advisory Council, outlined eight major global trends shaping the future, including geopolitical risks, twin digital–green transformation, rapid policy shifts, advances in science and technology, supply chain reconfiguration, evolving globalization, rising protectionism, and challenges from population aging and climate change, emphasizing the close link between green and digital transformation and the importance of these trends for Vietnam’s development, education, and workforce readiness. Dr. Lực highlighted that while the 2026–2030 global outlook points to slower growth with moderating inflation and stabilizing interest rates which may support investment in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced technologies, significant risks remain from geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, debt pressures, and systemic vulnerabilities in energy, food, supply chains, cybersecurity, and climate systems.
In discussing the implications of these trends and outlooks for VinUni, Dr. Lực recommended that VinUni evolve into a mission-driven, socially impactful university including by strengthening competency-based and interdisciplinary education aligned with national priorities, accelerating research commercialization through innovation ecosystems, and deepening collaboration among universities, industry, government, and research institutions. He also emphasized expanding international partnerships and ensuring research is closely aligned with national, industry, and societal needs.
The seminar concluded with a Q&A session covering strategic technology priorities for VinUni, AI adoption in business, and solutions to encourage SME investment and scaleup. Dr. Lực highlighted opportunities in environmental early-warning systems, carbon measurement technologies, new materials, and waste treatment; noted the widespread application of AI across business functions with growing emphasis on productivity impact; and emphasized government efforts to strengthen SMEs through support in technology, capital, training, and leadership development, alongside stronger linkages with foreign-invested enterprises.
The seminar underscored a central message: Vietnam’s future competitiveness depends on its ability to navigate global uncertainty through innovation, stronger institutions, and deeper integration between education, industry, and policy.
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