Ho Chi Minh City to host Asia’s first center of excellence for applied artificial intelligence
The first Center of Excellence for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Asia is set to be established in Ho Chi Minh City, creating opportunities for technological initiatives to reach the global market directly and gain access to capital from Silicon Valley.
Startups in Ho Chi Minh City will have the opportunity to expand directly into the global market and access capital from Silicon Valley - Photo: DUC THIEN
This announcement was made in Silicon Valley (California, USA) during the "Plug and Play Silicon Valley November Summit 2026," an event that brought together over 3,000 AI experts, tech entrepreneurs, investment funds, and international scholars.
Accordingly, the global innovation platform Plug and Play, the Saigon Innovation Hub (Sihub), and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) are actively working to establish the first "Applied AI Center of Excellence" (AI COE) in Asia, to be based in Ho Chi Minh City.
Bringing AI from the laboratory to the market
Unlike traditional institutes or centers focused solely on theoretical research, the AI COE model is designed with a core objective: to solve practical business challenges and integrate AI solutions into production processes, business operations, and urban management.
The model will operate through a tripartite partnership: Sihub will serve as the coordinating hub, connecting the local innovation ecosystem; UEH will provide an interdisciplinary educational foundation, in-depth research, and a supply of high-quality human resources; and Plug and Play will contribute its network of investment funds and global corporate partners, alongside internationally standardized startup acceleration programs.
This combination aims to minimize the gap between defining a problem, conducting research, and testing solutions, all the way through to commercialization, fundraising, and scaling.
Observing the announcement, Saeed Amidi—founder and CEO of Plug and Play—spoke highly of Ho Chi Minh City’s standing, citing its dynamic economy, abundant young talent, and spirit of innovation.
He emphasized the opportunity to support Vietnamese tech startups in accessing international markets and capital, enabling them to break through and become high-growth enterprises in the future.
Drawing lessons from Silicon Valley
To build a viable model, the involved parties are looking to the experience of Plug and Play’s AI-focused centers in the U.S., which are integrated with university ecosystems. A notable example is the AI center at San Jose State University, which has successfully connected urban challenges with startups, supporting approximately 30 new ventures in its first year alone. Another case is the startup Atomic Canyon, which successfully secured a commercial contract worth $3.4 million per year with the energy corporation PG&E.
Regarding this collaboration, Associate Professor Bui Quang Hung, President of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), affirmed the university’s commitment to leveraging its strengths in multidisciplinary education and research—spanning economics and technology to digital design.
"UEH will work closely with Sihub and Plug and Play to effectively operate the AI Center of Excellence (AI COE), creating the most favorable conditions to attract venture capital funds and international corporations to launch projects in Vietnam," he stated.
A representative from the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco noted that, with Ho Chi Minh City contributing approximately 20% of the national GDP and benefiting from a network of 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), the city is well-positioned to evolve—moving beyond mere network expansion toward the direct commercialization of technology and the creation of tangible economic value.
In March 2027, leadership from Plug and Play, alongside venture capital firms and international tech corporations, is expected to visit Ho Chi Minh City to advance specific action plans, transforming commitments made in Silicon Valley into concrete investment projects in Vietnam.
Duc Thien
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