As Vietnam strengthens its coverage framework, authorized basis, nationwide technique and science and know-how applications for the semiconductor business, one query stays: how can the nation transfer additional up the worldwide semiconductor worth chain?
From a sensible perspective, turning chip designs into absolutely manufactured built-in circuits nonetheless faces important obstacles.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem presently consists of round 60 chip design firms, 7,000 engineers and 166 universities and increased schooling establishments concerned in workforce coaching.
Despite this rising potential, the nation’s analysis and tape-out infrastructure stays restricted.
Research groups, universities and companies nonetheless rely largely on abroad foundries for prototype manufacturing.
Each tape-out sometimes prices between US$30,000 and US$200,000, whereas ready instances vary from 12 to 24 months.
These constraints make semiconductor analysis costly, lengthen product improvement cycles and restrict commercialization alternatives.
Experts due to this fact argue that Vietnam ought to clearly outline precedence merchandise whereas constructing shared infrastructure to keep away from spreading assets too skinny.
Three precedence product teams
Speaking on the launch of the National Semiconductor Chip Prototype Support Center (VNMPW/CC) on June 26, main semiconductor consultants agreed that Vietnam ought to keep away from investing broadly throughout too many instructions without delay.
According to Nguyen Thi Bich Yen, Chairwoman of VSAP Lab, the nation ought to initially give attention to three product teams that match current capabilities, reply to sensible demand and provide long-term progress potential.
“We do not necessarily have to compete immediately in the most advanced technology nodes. Vietnam can begin with simple functional chiplets, test vehicles, reusable intellectual property blocks, package design, substrates, interposers, die-to-die testing and post-packaging reliability evaluation,” she mentioned.
The first precedence is Edge AI chips or neural processing items (NPUs) optimized for the Vietnamese language and specialised home purposes.
Demand for these merchandise is predicted to develop throughout public administration, healthcare, schooling, transportation and good metropolis techniques.
Rather than creating large-scale AI processors, Vietnam might initially construct smaller AI accelerators for duties similar to Vietnamese speech recognition and optical character recognition (OCR).
The second precedence consists of microcontroller items (MCUs) and system-on-chip (SoC) merchandise for Internet of Things (IoT) purposes built-in with {hardware} safety.
These merchandise depend on mature, cost-effective technologies whereas assembly rising necessities for information safety and machine authentication inside digital infrastructure.
The third precedence focuses on chiplets mixed with superior packaging technologies.
Instead of producing one massive and extremely complicated chip, chiplet structure divides the system into a number of specialised parts – one chiplet for AI processing, one other for reminiscence administration, one other for safety, one other for information communication and one other for energy administration.
These chiplets don’t want to use the identical manufacturing node. They are assembled intently collectively and interconnected inside a single bundle by way of superior packaging know-how.
Nguyen Thi Bich Yen in contrast the idea to setting up a home: moderately than constructing one monumental construction from the start, builders first construct particular person useful blocks earlier than connecting them right into a unified complicated.
Components requiring increased efficiency can undertake extra superior manufacturing technologies, whereas management, safety, energy administration and communication capabilities can depend on mature and extra economical course of nodes.
Collaboration is important
Alongside product priorities, consultants emphasised that Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem additionally requires a distinct method to collaboration.
A strategic know-how mission can’t rely solely on a single analysis institute, college or firm.
Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan mentioned constructing a semiconductor business requires sturdy collaboration.
“We cannot move forward independently or in isolation. Clear cooperation is essential,” he mentioned.
Modern semiconductor laboratories, notably cleanrooms, require funding far past the capability of many small and medium-sized enterprises.
To tackle this problem, the ministry plans to set up shared laboratories and testing facilities throughout completely different financial areas.
Minister Vu Hai Quan additionally raised three key questions for Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem.
The first considerations enhancing workforce high quality, as universities proceed to face shortages of senior instructing consultants, laboratory gear and sensible coaching amenities.
Recalling a overseas semiconductor firm’s resolution to spend money on Vietnam due to the nation’s gifted engineers, he requested: “How can we nurture these talents? Only such people will be able to participate deeply in the industry and create real breakthroughs.”
His second query focuses on shifting additional up the worldwide worth chain.
Government companies want to higher perceive the wants of small and medium-sized enterprises in areas similar to manufacturing processes, supplies and gear in order that shared infrastructure could be deliberate successfully.
Finally, he confused the significance of clearly figuring out Vietnam’s flagship semiconductor merchandise for the approaching years so as to maximize collected technological capabilities whereas avoiding fragmented funding.
He referred to as for additional suggestions from main consultants, authorities companies, universities, analysis institutes and companies.
Du Lam