NAFOSTED Promotes Vietnam–Russian Federation Research Cooperation within the Framework of the State Visit of General Secretary and President To Lam

Connecting Strategic Technologies between Vietnam and the Russian Federation

On the morning of 9/9/2026 (local time), in Moscow, General Secretary and President To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation attended the Vietnam–Russian Federation Science and Technology Forum themed “Connecting Strategic Technologies.” Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko; Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov; Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Vu Hai Quan; and nearly 500 delegates representing policy-making agencies, research institutes, universities, the scientific community, enterprises and investors from both countries.

The Forum was one of the prominent science and technology activities within the framework of the State visit by General Secretary and President To Lam, while also taking place during the Vietnam–Russian Federation Year of Educational, Scientific and Technological Exchanges 2026. At the Forum, the two sides discussed new cooperation orientations, focusing on strategic technology fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, space technology, new energy and nuclear energy.

General Secretary and President To Lam delivers remarks at the Forum

Speaking at the Forum, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that science, technology, innovation and digital transformation are the primary drivers for Vietnam to renew its growth model, improve productivity, competitiveness and the economic self-reliance capacity. Building on the traditional friendship between the two countries, Vietnam and the Russian Federation aim to make scientific and technological cooperation, particularly in strategic technologies, a new driving force in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

NAFOSTED and RSF Present the Announcement of the 2026 Joint Call for Co-Funded Research

Within the framework of the Forum, scientific and technological agencies and organizations of Vietnam and the Russian Federation exchanged memoranda of understanding, agreements and cooperation documents, opening up new opportunities for cooperation in scientific research, technology development and innovation between the two countries.

Organizations exchange cooperation memoranda within the framework of the Forum

Among these activities, the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) presented the announcement of the 2026 Vietnam–Russian Federation Joint Call for Co-Funded Scientific and Technological Research. Representing NAFOSTED, Mr. Ngo Sy Quoc, Deputy Director of the Foundation, together with a representative of RSF, carried out the presentation ceremony in the presence of General Secretary and President To Lam; Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry N. Chernyshenko; Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Vu Hai Quan; Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov; and leaders and representatives of scientific and technological agencies and organizations of the two countries.

The Program is implemented on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between NAFOSTED and RSF signed on 10/12/2025, with the aim of supporting research groups from Vietnam and the Russian Federation in jointly proposing and implementing joint research tasks. In the 2026 call, NAFOSTED will consider funding tasks in two fields, Physics and Marine Sciences, covering basic research and applied research. A maximum of 10 tasks is expected to be funded, with each task having an implementation period of no more than 36 months.

Mr. Ngo Sy Quoc, Deputy Director of the NAFOSTED Foundation, and a representative of Russia’s RSF present the announcement of the 2026 Vietnam–Russian Federation Joint Call for Co-Funded Scientific and Technological Research

In the field of Physics, priority areas include atomic, molecular and chemical physics; condensed matter physics; nuclear physics; and optics. For Marine Sciences, the Program focuses on marine biochemistry and biotechnology; marine biology and biodiversity; marine geology, geophysics and seabed resources; and marine environment and ecology.

The presentation of the joint call announcement at the Forum contributes to translating high-level cooperation orientations into specific research programs, creating conditions for scientists from the two countries to strengthen academic exchanges, share their respective strengths, infrastructure and research resources, while also forming long-term scientific cooperation groups and networks.

Through the co-funding mechanism with RSF, NAFOSTED continues to promote its role in connecting domestic research resources with international partners, expanding opportunities for Vietnamese scientists to access the research strengths of the Russian Federation; thereby contributing to promoting Vietnam–Russian Federation scientific and technological cooperation in a substantive, sustainable and in-depth manner.

Exploring Nuclear Research Capacity at JINR, Dubna

Continuing the working program in the Russian Federation, on 10/9/2026, a delegation from the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) visited and worked with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in the city of Dubna.

At JINR, the delegation learned about the Institute’s organizational model and research activities, specialized research directions in the nuclear field, and its infrastructure, laboratories and equipment serving research activities; while also visiting several research facilities and exchanging views with representatives of JINR and scientists on research, training and human resource development activities.

The delegation visits the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna on 10/9/2026.

The visit provided an opportunity for the delegation to gain first-hand knowledge of the operational model, research capacity and conditions for implementing specialized research programs at an international nuclear research organization; while also strengthening exchanges and connections with scientists working at JINR, including Vietnamese scientists.

The delegation takes a commemorative photo with leaders of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) and scientists working at the Institute.

In the context of Vietnam’s efforts to promote the development of strategic technologies and enhance its self-reliance in science and technology, strengthening connections with international research organizations such as JINR contributes to expanding opportunities for research cooperation, expert exchanges and the development of high-quality human resources; while also providing an additional basis for establishing specialized cooperation directions and capable research groups in fields that Vietnam prioritizes for development.

Source: Technology Development Task Management Division