A Strategic Leap in the Semiconductor Race - Vietnam’s New National Center to Boost Chip Prototyping Capacity

Vietnam’s semiconductor ambitions took a major stride forward in January 2026 with the establishment of the National Center for Supporting Semiconductor Chip Trial Production by the Ministry of Science and Technology. This initiative is designed to fill critical gaps in the country’s semiconductor ecosystem — particularly in chip design and prototyping — and to bolster innovation, workforce development and global integration.

Why the New Center Matters

Vietnam’s semiconductor industry has grown rapidly with over 170 foreign-invested semiconductor projects and nearly USD 11.6 billion in registered capital. However, local design firms have faced challenges in advancing prototypes due to a lack of infrastructure and comprehensive support services.

The new center addresses this challenge by providing:

• Trial chip production support
• Licensing of electronic design automation (EDA) software
• Shared intellectual property (IP) design libraries
• Technical verification, training, and testing services
• Ecosystem building and international collaboration hubs

These services are essential to helping Vietnamese designers move from concept to real-world prototype, a critical stage in semiconductor development.

A Strategic Industry Recognized

During the announcement, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong underscored the strategic importance of semiconductors to national competitiveness and economic growth. The semiconductor sector is viewed not only as a high-tech industry but also as a foundational pillar for Vietnam’s innovation-driven future.

Support from the finance sector was also evident. Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam highlighted the continued expansion of longstanding partners such as Samsung, Intel, Amkor, Foxconn, and Hana Micron, multinational companies that see Vietnam as a competitive base in terms of cost, productivity, quality. He additionally noted that global tech leaders like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Coherent, and Marvell are identifying Vietnam as a hub for R&D, manufacturing and supply chain expansion

Building Skills and Innovation

Beyond infrastructure, the center is expected to foster a vibrant ecosystem that supports talent development and innovation. This aligns with broader national efforts to build a workforce capable of sustaining advanced technology industries.

Vietnam has also pursued complementary initiatives such as workforce training programs to nurture local engineers and specialists, a key priority as it aims to train tens of thousands of the industry professionals by 2030.

Linking to Broader Strategy

This new center is one piece of a larger strategy. Vietnam is pushing forward on multiple fronts, including:

• Planning to build its first domestic plant to further industrial capabilities.
• Developing a national semiconductor roadmap emphasizing research, talent, production and investment attraction through 2050 goals.

These concerted efforts aim to transition Vietnam from primarily assembly-level activities toward more advanced semiconductor design, prototyping and manufacturing — and to integrate deeply into the global supply chain.

For Investors and Industry

For technology investors and multinational corporations, Vietnam’s approach presents several opportunities:

• Enhanced infrastructure for prototype development
• Access to skilled talent and training programs
• Collaborative ecosystems bridging local and foreign expertise
• Potential acceleration of product development cycles

For local startups and design firms, the center could be transformational — reducing barriers to entering the semiconductor market and scaling innovations domestically and internationally.

Outlook

Vietnam’s launch of the National Center for Supporting Semiconductor Chip Trial Production marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s semiconductor journey. By addressing prototyping challenges, fostering talent, and building strategic international linkages, Vietnam is laying the groundwork for a competitive and resilient semiconductor ecosystem. This aligns with broader national ambitions to become a key player in the global tech landscape.

For investors seeking to capture opportunities, Core5 Vietnam provides more than facilities , we are your strategic partner in long-term success.

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