The UNESCO Executive Board on Wednesday authorised selections to increase the standing of two Vietnamese Category II centers below UNESCO’s auspices for an extra eight years throughout its 224th session in Paris.
These embody the International Centre of Research and Postgraduate Training in Mathematics (ICRTM) and the International Center for Physics (ICP), each working below the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).
Under the adopted selections, the Executive Board authorised the Director-General of UNESCO to signal bilateral agreements with the Government of Vietnam, together with memoranda of understanding with VAST.
This represents a key exercise for the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2026, because it coordinates with VAST and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to submit proposals to the Government for the signing of the agreements for the 2026-34 interval, in line with the 2026 Law on International Treaties.
Earlier unbiased evaluations performed by UNESCO in September 2025 for ICRTM and October 2025 for ICP yielded constructive outcomes. International specialists recognised the numerous progress made by each centres in fulfilling their missions, together with conducting high-level analysis, offering postgraduate coaching, strengthening partnerships at nationwide, regional and worldwide ranges, and establishing strong governance, monetary and operational frameworks.
The assessments confirmed that the authorized and operational frameworks of the two centres in Vietnam are aligned with UNESCO’s present requirements.
With the following eight-year extension cycle, Vietnam goals to develop cooperation with worldwide scientific centres, in addition to with ASEAN nations and African companions, positioning ICRTM and ICP as regional centres of excellence in basic sciences. These efforts are anticipated to contribute meaningfully to nationwide growth and to the implementation of the United Nations’ International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024-2033), led by UNESCO.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the extension demonstrates the nation’s governance capability and robust dedication to the event of basic sciences.
In line with the Politburo’s Resolution No 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, expertise, innovation and nationwide digital transformation, and Resolution No 59-NQ/TW on worldwide integration in the brand new state of affairs, the two centres are usually not solely serving nationwide pursuits however are additionally rising as information hubs, selling South–South cooperation inside ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific area, thereby positioning Vietnam as an lively node in the worldwide scientific community.
VAST President Professor Tran Hong Thai affirmed that the academy will proceed to prioritise arithmetic and physics, together with guaranteeing staffing for scientists, attracting younger expertise, increasing worldwide cooperation and alluring overseas specialists for long-term engagement in Vietnam.
The aim is to develop ICRTM and ICP into core establishments driving Vietnam’s scientific development, contributing not solely to basic analysis but additionally to sensible functions equivalent to knowledge modelling, climate forecasting and rising technological techniques.
Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, everlasting consultant of Vietnam to UNESCO, described the event as a big milestone, reaffirming the popularity, standing and substantive contributions of Vietnam’s basic sciences on the worldwide stage. It additionally kinds half of the commemorations marking 50 years of cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO (1976–2026).
The continued operation and enhancement of these centres replicate Vietnam’s coverage of positioning science, expertise and innovation as key drivers of growth, whereas intently linking scientific development with deeper and extra substantive worldwide integration in the present context, she stated.
VNA