In Resolution No. 169/NQ-CP of the national government promulgating the action programme to implement Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (term XII) on building and developing Da Nang by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, Da Nang needs to effectively exploit infrastructure, prioritize investment resources to promote the development of the information technology (IT) and semiconductor microchip sectors. 

Da Nang has organised a conference to promote investment in semiconductor field. Photo: MAI QUE

Completing infrastructure, developing human resources

Given the opportunities and goals set, Da Nang has been implementing three groups of solutions and tasks to create a favourable environment for the development of the semiconductor industrial ecosystem.

The city has been preparing land funds, concentrated IT, software and hi-tech parks for businesses to implement projects on semiconductor chips and artificial intelligence (AI). The international fiber optic cable network infrastructure, electricity, traffic, and logistics infrastructure fully meet the requirements of investors.

For the time being, the city houses the Da Nang Hi-tech Park and three concentrated IT parks recognized by the Prime Minister. Most recently, on October 22, the Vietnamese government issued Decision No. 1238/QD-TTg on expanding the Da Nang Software Park.

Accordingly, the Da Nang Software Park No. 2 with a total land area of 28,573m² in Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District is an extension of the Da Nang Software Park; functions, tasks and preferential policies for investment enterprises according to Decree No. 154/2013/ND-CP dated November 8, 2013 of the national government regulating concentrated IT parks and other preferential policies according to the provisions of law.

The organizational structure and operating regulations of the management organisation of the Da Nang Software Park No. 2 are decided by the Da Nang People's Committee. Da Nang Software Park No. 2 with a floor area of over 90,000m², serving more than 6,000 employees is expected to be operational by the end of 2024; at the same time, the city is preparing suitable land funds to invest in three new IT parks.

Determining sustainable human resource development based on the ‘3-house’ linkage: state - school - enterprise, the city coordinated with the Institute of Information Technology, the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, the Viet Nam - Korea University of Information Technology and Communications - the University Da Nang (UD) and Synopsys Company to implement three courses to convert engineers from related fields to the field of microchip design with 39 students, and at the same time training 43 lecturers.

According to the representative of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications (MIC), 17 lecturers working at training facilities across Da Nang have participated in training courses on testing, microchip packaging, semiconductors at the Arizona State University in the United States.

In 2025, the city will select the best lecturers to attend the lecturer training course at Sicada Academy - a cooperation unit of Synopsys Company in Taiwan (China). The city is also cooperating with large corporations such as Nvidia and Qualcomm to implement innovation programmes, develop human resources in the fields of semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), and connect with universities in the city to improve the quality of training and development.

Da Nang has 37 training facilities for human resources related to the IT industry and fields closely related to the semiconductor field such as telecommunications, mechatronics, and automation with about 5,700 students in total. Currently, there are four universities in the city announcing new enrollment targets for engineers in the field of microchip design with nearly 320 students/year.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, the Rector of the University of Science Technology under the  UD said that the new major in microelectronics - microchip design is trained for 4.5 years, with 151 academic credits. The 2024 - 2025 school year sets a target of enrolling 60 students. In addition, the programme also teaches some related knowledge such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI.

To date, the school has signed agreements with about 30 universities and enterprises at home and abroad on training cooperation, curriculum exchange, and support for facilities such as practice rooms and laboratories.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Gia Nhu, the Principal of the School of Computer Science, the Duy Tan University (DTU), said that DTU will enroll the first course of Semiconductor Circuit Design in 2024 with nearly 100 students registered.

In parallel with implementing university-level training, the school is interested in short-term training, upgrading skills in microcircuit design for students and teaching staff in the fields of computers and IT and electricity - electronics.

Developing policies and resolutions

Conclusion No. 79-KL/TW of the Politburo identifies the semiconductor and AI industry as one of the five important, breakthrough industries, creating a driving force for rapid and sustainable development for Da Nang in the coming time.

Following that, Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on the organisation of urban government and piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Da Nang through outstanding preferential policies for strategic investors and strategic partners in the field of semiconductors and AI.

The city is focusing on concretizing Resolution No. 136/2024/QH15 through the development of resolutions regulating policies to support the development of the semiconductor and AI sectors for timely promulgation in December 2024 and taking effect from January 1, 2025, thereby quickly creating a favorable environment, strongly attracting investment and cooperation from domestic and foreign enterprises to the city, as well as rapidly developing high-quality human resources.

In addition, the city has built two policies. The first one involves human resource development, focusing on regulating recruitment criteria and standards and supporting policies on income and accommodation costs for experts and scientists working in the field of semiconductor microchips and AI in the city; programmes and projects supported by the city budget for training and financially supporting students majoring in semiconductor microchips and AI; supporting part of the cost of hiring highly qualified human resources to work at enterprises that are strategic partners in the field of semiconductor microchips and AI.

The second policy is to manage, exploit, operate, and support information infrastructure assets, focusing on regulating the procedures for supporting strategic investors and strategic partners in the field of semiconductor chips and AI; regulating the procedures for strategic partners to directly information infrastructure assets without auction; lease supporting the cost of leasing information infrastructure assets; the free use of premises at the Da Nang Software Park No. 2.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, in addition to developing a resolution, the city is developing a project for developing the field of semiconductor chips and AI based on the needs of enterprises that are planning to invest in the city; at the same time, aiming to cooperate in training according to international standards to provide human resources for domestic and foreign semiconductor chip enterprises with which the city has established cooperation and investment relationships.

The city’s expected goal by 2030 is to train and develop at least 5,000 engineers in the field of microchips and semiconductors, with 2,000 engineers in the field of design and 3,000 engineers and technicians in the field of packaging and testing.

Reporting by MAI QUE - Translating by A.THU