ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIA WORKING GROUP FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

In a strategic move to implement the major directives of the Party and State regarding the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation—as well as to enhance connections with overseas Vietnamese experts—the Vietnam Association for Research and Application of Biomedical Technology has officially issued a Decision establishing the Southeast Asia Working Group for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The newly established Working Group operates directly under the Subcommittee for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, within the Central Office of the Vietnam Association for Research and Application of Biomedical Technology. This decision is grounded in the Association's Charter, which was approved by the Minister of Home Affairs via Decision No. 394/QD-BNV on May 18, 2022. It also aligns with the Personnel Scheme of the Executive and Inspection Committees for the 2022-2027 term, adopted at the first General Assembly on August 14, 2022. Furthermore, the establishment addresses the functions of the Association's specialized agencies, the growing need for international collaboration and professional networking in Southeast Asia, and falls within the authorized duties of the Association's President.

The primary function of the Working Group is to advise, implement, and support the foreign affairs and international cooperation initiatives of the Association across the Southeast Asian region. The specific duties, powers, and operational principles of the Group will be detailed in its forthcoming Working Regulations.

The formation of this Working Group aims to connect, consolidate, and harness the intellectual resources of Vietnamese experts, scientists, doctors, engineers, managers, and entrepreneurs both domestically and internationally. A special emphasis is placed on the community of Vietnamese professionals currently working at research institutes, universities, hospitals, technology enterprises, and international organizations throughout Southeast Asia. The Group will serve as a crucial focal point to accelerate collaborative research, technology development, knowledge transfer, human resource training, and the creation of a robust innovation ecosystem in biomedical technology.

A commemorative photo of the Working Group.

The Working Group’s core activities will focus on highly specialized fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, digital health, smart medical devices, advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, OMICS technology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, cell technology, neurorehabilitation technology, miniature organ models (organ-on-a-chip), advanced pharmaceutical technology, and comprehensive R&D platforms for healthcare products.

This strategic establishment strongly aligns with Decision No. 23/2026/QD-TTg, issued on May 15, 2026, by the Prime Minister, which promulgates the List of high technologies prioritized for development investment and the List of high-tech products encouraged for development. Notably, numerous fields directly related to biomedical technology and healthcare—such as AI, big data, bioinformatics, OMICS technology, molecular biology, molecular diagnostics, cell technology, and smart systems for diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and healthcare—have been officially identified as priority high technologies.

Through this newly formed Working Group, the Vietnam Association for Research and Application of Biomedical Technology envisions the creation of a comprehensive "technology map" for the biomedical sector in Southeast Asia. This initiative will bridge international experts and organizations with domestic regulatory bodies, research institutes, universities, hospitals, and enterprises. Furthermore, the Working Group will facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary research teams, drive intensive training programs, develop international collaborative projects, and create favorable conditions for new technologies to be researched, tested, applied, and transferred within Vietnam.

Ultimately, the Southeast Asia Working Group for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is expected to become a vital bridge connecting Vietnam with the broader network of Vietnamese intellectuals in the region. It will significantly contribute to elevating the nation's capacity for research, development, and innovation in biomedical technology, while simultaneously supporting Vietnam's deeper integration into regional and global scientific, technological, and medical industry value chains.

The launch of the Working Group vividly demonstrates the Association’s proactive spirit in international integration. Concurrently, it underscores the indispensable role of the overseas Vietnamese expert community in contributing to national development—particularly as Vietnam aggressively advances its high-tech sectors, enhances its endogenous scientific and technological capabilities, and builds a comprehensive innovation ecosystem dedicated to public health.