May 17, 2025 — The Vietnam–Austria High-Tech and Innovation Forum, jointly organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in Austria and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), successfully took place on May 16, 2025, in both in-person and online formats.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung and Mr. Florian Frauscher, Director General for Economic Affairs, Innovation, and International Policy of the Austrian Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, delivered opening remarks celebrating the event.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasized that science, technology, and innovation are key breakthroughsdriving Vietnam’s productivity, sustainable growth, and rapid development in the new era. He highlighted the strong potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Austria in artificial intelligence (AI), electronics, semiconductors, quantum technology, and biotechnology.
He also proposed expanding collaboration through technology transfer, joint R&D centers, and capacity-building programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), focusing on green energy, hydrogen value chains, and digital transformation. Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister encouraged Austria to offer scholarships for Vietnamese students and support Vietnamese startups through innovation networks.
Representing the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Mr. Michael Otter, Managing Director of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, affirmed that Austria and Vietnam maintain a strong and growing economic partnership.
Vietnam is now Austria’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with bilateral trade reaching nearly EUR 2 billion in 2024, a 25% increase year-on-year.
Austrian companies, including AVL and Magna, have already established a significant presence in Vietnam, contributing to the technological development of VinFast, Vietnam’s first automobile manufacturer.
Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Phillip Agathonos, noted that both countries have finalized the Preferential Credit Agreement, expected to be signed soon, paving the way for expanded business and investment collaboration.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria, Mr. Vu Le Thai Hoang, affirmed that this is a favorable time for the two dynamic economies to deepen cooperation in high technology and innovation, in line with Vietnam’s Resolution 57/NQ-TW on national innovation.
The forum gathered representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, UNIDO, IIASA, Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Infineon, Silicon Austria Labs, VNPT, FPT Group, and Genetica, among others.
A highlight of the event was the signing of an MoU between VNPT (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group)and IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), aimed at strengthening AI research, innovation, and responsible applications for mutual benefit.
The Vietnam Trade Office in Austria will continue to cooperate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Tradeand the Embassy of Vietnam in Austria to support high-tech enterprises from both countries in research, technology transfer, and international partnership development.
The Vietnam–Austria Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, established in December 2010, held its 10th meeting in 2022, with the 11th session scheduled to take place in Vietnam.