Research institutes under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) have been researching and commercialising cutting-edge technologies, including applications based on the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data, blockchain, 3D printing and robotics.
MoIT’s institutes plan to strengthen their science and technology research activities to develop key industries as well as promoting smart production and digital transformation, as per the trends of the 4.0 industrial revolution.
A MoIT press release quoted the Director of the Vietnam Research Institute of Electronics, Informatics and Automation (VIELINA) as saying that the institute had researched and mastered several background technologies of industry 4.0 before the concept was introduced in Vietnam. Now, it hosts quite a few advanced products such as an integrated control system for underground coal mines, product quality external inspection systems using AI and machine vision that is being applied in some foreign-invested enterprises and an automatic feed control and ventilation system for dairy farms using IoT technology.
Most recently, VIELINA manufactured a synchronous automatic control monitoring system for tea production and processing, which is currently in operation at a private facility in the Lai Chau province. This is the most modern large-capacity (producing 50 tonnes of fresh tea per day) tea production line operating in Vietnam. It is worth mentioning that the system was designed, manufactured, and installed by Vietnamese experts, in which the most important stages were 100% automated thanks to applications of AI and IoT, the Director explained.
For an industrial machinery and instruments company, the institute manufactured a smart goods loading and unloading system in its warehouses based on the application of industrial robots. This system has been commercialised for many fertilizer and animal feed production units with costs 40%-60% lower than those of imported products. Additionally, the institute proposed and put into practice a number of technological solutions for the logistics activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam.
MoIT manages a network of 13 research institutes, two of which have been equitised (excluding research institutes under economic groups and corporations, and science and technology organisations at universities and colleges under the ministry). In general, the institutes’ sci-tech activities have made positive contributions to the innovation level of enterprises in the industry and trade sectors. Many research products of these projects have been effectively applied to production and business in enterprises, contributing to improving their production capacity, quality, and competitiveness.
In May, MoIT, the People’s Committee of Vinh Phuc province, and a private electronics company launched a smart factory development project in the northern province of Vinh Phuc that aims to train 100 Vietnamese experts and provide consultation to help 50 businesses set up smart factories in 2022 and 2023.
As OpenGov Asia reported, consultants would be trained for 12 weeks to improve their knowledge and skills in setting up smart factories. The smart factory cooperation project is part of a series of innovative consulting activities for Vietnamese businesses and training experts to strengthen industry development activities.
Through the application of emerging technologies in production and manufacturing, businesses can improve their productivity and product quality, and reduce production costs. The project is expected to help SMEs improve the provision of supporting products and meet the production requirements of large corporations, gradually joining regional and global supply chains.