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Semiconductor industry rapidly evolving due to AI

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Technology experts at the international conference on AI and Semiconductors (AISC) 2025, held in Hanoi, have discussed the relationship between AI development and AI-driven semiconductors, suggesting a symbiotic relationship.

The three-day conference, which began on March 12, is organised by US-based Aitomatic and the National Innovation Centre. It highlighted that AI and semiconductors are now pillars of the digital economy’s future.

Notably, the two elements, “AI” and “Semiconductors” are advancing in tandem, with AI automating semiconductor manufacturing, predicting and detecting product defects, and improving production quality and efficiency.

Semiconductor industry rapidly evolving due to AI
Experts exchanging ideas on the matter

Christopher Nguyen, CEO of Aitomatic, stated that by 2030, some manufacturing plants, especially advanced production facilities, will require stricter standards, necessitating high-precision tools.

“In plasma processing, parameters such as fuel diameter, pressure, temperature, and dozens of other factors demand near-perfect accuracy. AI will help ensure these requirements are met,” he said. “AI cannot develop without semiconductors, and conversely, the semiconductor industry is evolving rapidly thanks to AI advancements. This is a symbiotic relationship where both drive each other forward.”

Anna Goldie, a senior staff research scientist at Google, sought to draw attention to the gap between software and hardware, pointing out that chip manufacturing has yet to reach its highest potential.

“While AI’s computing demands are growing exponentially, hardware capabilities are not keeping pace, creating an ever-widening gap,” she said. “To unlock AI’s full potential, we must shorten the chip design cycle, refine algorithms, and fully leverage data. In the future, AI will not only enhance hardware but also drive breakthroughs in various fields, from healthcare and finance to industrial production.”

Goldie introduced AlphaChip, an AI-driven method that optimises chip component layouts to reduce latency, save energy, and maximise production area. AlphaChip has already been integrated into recent generations of Google TPUs, delivering significant efficiency gains over traditional design methods.

As the world continues striving to enhance AI and semiconductor technologies, Prof. Tran Thanh Long of Warwick University in England discussed the use of memory storage and Bayesian theory, a statistical inference method where new evidence updates probability estimates, to improve AI performance and scalability.

“Bayesian theory supports AI in adjusting predictive probabilities based on new data, allowing systems to learn faster and more efficiently. This combination reduces computing resource requirements while maintaining high accuracy,” Long said.

Meanwhile, Ngan Vu of Google DeepMind introduced a research direction that proposes using circuit neural networks to create efficient logic circuit designs. By applying simulated annealing and other optimisation techniques, she and her team aim to shorten the circuit design cycle from concept to final product.

“One of the biggest challenges is balancing circuit accuracy and performance, ensuring that designs are not only precise but also resource-efficient. However, bridging the gap between AI software and hardware will unlock many new opportunities in the semiconductor industry,” Ngan said. “Applying AI to circuit design promises to revolutionise the semiconductor industry, accelerating development cycles and enabling more optimal designs.”

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Vietnam and EIB strengthen financial cooperation

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Efforts are underway to deepen financial ties between Vietnam and the European Investment Bank.

On March 13, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi met with Nicola Beer, vice president of European Investment Bank (EIB), along with senior leaders from EIB at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Hanoi.

Vietnam and EIB strengthen financial cooperation
The meeting overview. Photo: thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

The two sides discussed matters related to an MoU on financial support for achieving the goals of the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Vietnam. This MoU will provide the bedrock for both sides to commence negotiations for a framework agreement.

To date, the negotiations have not yet progressed because the EIB has not yet sent the necessary draft framework agreement.

The MoF has therefore suggested the EIB reconsider not specifying particular projects eligible for the €500 million funding. Instead, the framework agreement should only outline priority areas for the potential funding in the framework agreement, allowing EIB to complete the draft framework agreement earlier, paving the way for negotiation.

The deputy minister also requested that the EIB clarify the EU’s form of aid for projects to be funded by the EIB and provide specific lending terms.

Additionally, the deputy minister proposed that the EIB and Vietnam sign a new-generation official development assistance agreement with larger financial scale, more favourable interest rates, simplified procedures, and less stringent conditions.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Chi declared Vietnam’s strong commitment to green transformation and energy transition.

EIB vice president Nicola Beer stated that as a leading global bank, EIB has forged financial cooperative relations with Vietnam since 1997, supporting infrastructure construction, environmental protection, and energy development in the country.

She stressed that with its ability to raise funds from EU countries and financial institutions, the EIB was willing to assist Vietnam through specific projects.

The EIB executive also proposed that Vietnam stimulate private businesses to participate in projects benefitting from the €500 million fund to achieve the goals set in the JETP Declaration.

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France’s Mayoly opens new representative office in Vietnam

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French pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare group Mayoly announced on March 12 the inauguration of a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City.

France's Mayoli inaugates a new representative office in Vietnam

Having already established a presence in Vietnam through its Ipsen consumer healthcare brand, Mayoly‘s new office in Ho Chi Minh City marks its official entry into the market. This office will play a key role as a strategic liaison point, capable of conducting in-depth market research and developing key partnerships in the country.

In Vietnam, healthcare needs are rapidly growing. Mayoly aims to strengthen its presence even further in the country with its broad portfolio of recognised solutions in digestive health, with flagship brands such as Smecta, Forlax, Fortrans, MeteoSpasmyl and Chophytol, as well as mental performance with Tanakan.

Additionally, Mayoly announced a partnership with the distributor Hoang Duc. This strategic partnership offers excellent opportunities for Mayoly to enrich its offerings with innovative and high-quality solutions for Vietnamese patients and consumers.

Emmanuel Paint, executive vice president of global sales said, “The extent of Mayoly’s international commercial network in Southeast Asia is a key asset for our development. In this region, we benefit from long-lasting experience, a newly incorporated representative office in Vietnam, and a commercial hub in Singapore.”

“Our strong and structured presence enables us to grow sustainably, and meet the needs of patients and consumers to contribute to the improvement of public health,” he said.

With sales of €560 million ($15.5 million) and growth of 5 per cent in 2024, Mayoly is present in 21 countries and its products are distributed in more than 100 countries around the world.

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MoF Deputy Minister receives Special Advisor of Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance

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Deputy Minister of Finance Do Thanh Trung held a meeting with Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance on March 12, to discuss and boost the building of the Vietnam-Japan University project.

MoF Deputy Minister receives Special Advisor of Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance
MoF Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung receives a Special Advisor of Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance award

At the meeting, both Trung and Tsutomu said they were delighted at the increasingly substantive and effective development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship.

After more than a year of upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the ties between the two countries have continued to grow in both quantity and quality across all fields.

Political trust has been strengthened, cooperation in investment, trade, labour, and tourism has been enhanced, and exchanges at high levels and all levels have become closer.

Deputy Minister Trung thanked Tsutomu for his contributions to the good relationship between the two countries over the past, especially in encouraging bilateral cooperation in cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange, local cooperation, education and human resource training.

Special Advisor Tsutomu thanked all leaders of the units of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for recent support and praised Vietnam’s remarkable development.

He discussed and proposed several specific measures to utilise friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Japan, including the development of Vietnam-Japan University. He said he hoped that the MoF would continue to pay attention to the development of the university venture.

Specifically, Tsutomu asked the MoF to support the approval of the pre-feasibility study for the Vietnam-Japan University construction initiative, as well as procedures related to using loans from the Japanese government.

Deputy Minister Trung said that the MoF had been implementing procedures and processes for timely capital allocation. The dossier will be submitted to the prime minister to approve the scheme’s investment policy as soon as possible.

Recently, the Vietnamese government agreed to announce the mid-term public investment capital plan for 2026-2030 for several important and urgent programmes and projects, including the Vietnam-Japan University initiative.

Japan is Vietnam’s number one partner in official development aid and labour, third in investment, and fourth in trade and tourism. The bilateral trade turnover in 2024 reached $46.2 billion. Notably, the success of the recent 10th Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival is a testament to the good relationship between the two countries.

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