On August 25, 2023, in Hanoi, Vietnam, the University of Transport Technology held a conference to implement Decision No. 844/QD-TTg, which was approved by the Prime Minister on May 18, 2016. The project involves “supporting the national innovation startup ecosystem by 2025,” focusing on innovation in transportation and launching the digital technology infrastructure platform for Transport Technology University.
Following the trends of digital transformation
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, rector of the University of Transport Technology, said the University of Transport Technology is a public university directly under the Ministry of Transport. The university is on a mission to train high-quality human resources for scientific research and technology to serve the development strategy of the transport sector and other socioeconomic sectors for Vietnam.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long emphasized that the continuous development of science and technology associated with innovation and digital transformation is a trend in society—particularly in education. The innovation and application of technology in education play a huge role, creating many turning points in development and opening up more effective educational methods for learners and teachers.
Officials implementing the National Digital Transformation Program and Project 844 on innovation in the field of transportation were assigned by the Ministry of Science and Technology for the School to preside over implementation. The University of Transport Technology also held a conference to introduce several digital technology application studies that can be applied in the field of transportation.
At the same time, new digital technology infrastructure was launched to serve as the foundation for supporting teaching and learning remotely; thoroughly applying digital technology in management; teaching and learning in general; digitizing documents and textbooks; and building a platform to share teaching and learning resources—in both face-to-face and online forms with the desire to gradually approach advanced digital university governance towards a smart university by 2045.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Rector of the University of Transport Technology, delivered the opening speech of the Conference.
Cooperation to build the digital technology infrastructure platform
According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, the digital technology infrastructure platform introduced by the university is a product of collaboration between the university and Ai20X Group (USA) in research and development. The digital technology solution uses WENet application platform equipment and Relay2 as a Wi-Fi Edge Computing technology partner. The Relay2 ServiceEdge Platform has outstanding advantages compared to conventional Wi-Fi networks.
Typical features of the Relay2 ServiceEdge Platform serve a large number of users with stable bandwidth, fast processing speed due to edge computing capacity, and the ability to provide services even when not connected to the network. It also includes internet, optimal operating costs, minimized service interruption time, and fast deployment time at the location while avoiding affecting other activities.
Dr. Dao Phuc Lam of the Institute of Innovation and Digital Economy (University of Transport Technology) shared the applications of applied technology platforms in the field of transportation and socio-economics.
Highlighting the features that have been applied in practice at the University of Transport Technology, Dr. Dao Phuc Lam from the Institute of Innovation and Digital Economy (University of Transport Technology) said that in the process of developing and implementing the Smart Campus project at the University, the digital technology platform has been applied specifically and practically. This involves showing the same information on several screens. All updates about the teaching schedule are visible on the lecturer’s computer screen. Different notification content is also shown based on the device and location. People can interact with these notifications in the same area or even between different regions. These announcements are not only one-way—viewers can also actively engage with the content for monitoring and interactive activities.
Dr. Dao Phuc Lam shared the applications of applied technology platforms in the field of transport and socio-economics.
Dr. Tri Hoang, Chairman and CEO of Ai20X Group, shared about the cooperation between the Group and its partners in Vietnam.
Sharing about the cooperation between the University of Transport Technology and Ai20X Group, Dr. Tri Hoang, chairman and CEO of Ai20X Group, said that every year, Ai20X Group has received and supported the connection with international partners. The startup incubation program in Silicon Valley for 5–10 Vietnamese startups was introduced by the Ministry of Science and Technology. However, to develop Vietnamese startups well, there must be a research and development center in the U.S. and a company in the U.S. So, Ai20X Group wants to start by calling and encouraging startups to be developed in the US in Silicon Valley.
According to Dr. Pham Hong Quat, director of the department of market development and science and technology enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), connecting resources to attract individuals and organizations is important to participate in supporting innovative startups in the field of technology.
Transportation is part of the National Key Program to implement the chain of activities of Project 844, approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 844/QD-TTg dated May 18, 2016, to create a favorable environment for transportation. The project will promote and support the formation and development of fast-growing businesses based on innovative intellectual property, technology, and new business models; urgently improve the legal system to support innovative start-ups; and establish the National Innovation Startup Portal.
Dr. Pham Hong Quat emphasized that with the development and boom of technology, especially the internet, the trend of “openness” in innovation brings economic efficiency. By linking corporations and businesses with start-ups, schools can solve problems for many businesses at the same time, which saves operating costs and human resources. There have been Vietnamese startups established in the U.S. and successfully developing in Vietnam. Hopefully, with the cooperation between Ai20X Group and the University of Transport Technology, there will be more Vietnamese successful startups in Silicon Valley soon.