Opportunity to participate in the global microchip supply chain

SGGP 05/25/2023 05:58

Microchip design corporations around the world are shifting their operations, increasing investment and seeking potential human resources in Vietnam. Taking advantage of this shift, localities and domestic enterprises are having solutions to attract and stimulate microchip design human resources, finding development directions to participate deeply in the global microchip supply chain.

Destination of the microchip industry

Marvell Technology, Inc. (USA) specializes in designing, developing and manufacturing semiconductor chips with more than 7,000 employees, more than 10,000 patents... has just announced the establishment of the Semiconductor Design Center in Ho Chi Minh City. With this move, Dr. Nguyen Loi, Senior Vice President of Marvell Global, said that Marvell chose Vietnam to establish the semiconductor design center because Vietnam is dynamic, politically and socially stable, and has talented human resources. The center is oriented to develop into a leading center of Marvell, where the most advanced technologies are developed to serve Marvell's new strategy.

Marvell has been present in Ho Chi Minh City since 2013 with a team of more than 10 engineers researching and participating in microchip development projects. Marvell Vietnam has been growing continuously, especially in recent years with strong growth in human resources with 2 offices in Ho Chi Minh City with 300 employees, of which 97% are hardware and software engineers. “US businesses like Marvell have always been pioneers in the growth and development of this important industry in Vietnam, with products used as core components in many types of products and goods from phones, cars, to digital infrastructure that is the foundation of the modern economy,” said Ms. Susan Burns, US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Opportunity to participate in the global microchip supply chain photo 1

Chip designed by Viettel Group was introduced at Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park in an event related to the microchip industry.

Previously, on May 10, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung chaired the seminar "Strengthening investment cooperation between the Belgian Inter-University Microelectronics Center (IMEC) and Vietnam". IMEC is a research and development (R&D) and innovation center in semiconductor chip technology with more than 5,500 researchers and experts from more than 90 countries working. With IMEC - not only a key laboratory in Europe but also globally, the largest chip suppliers today such as Intel, Qualcomm, MediaTek all cooperate with IMEC to have new directions and solutions in technology. Strengthening cooperation with IMEC will support the training of human resources for microchip design in Vietnam.

According to Professor Dang Luong Mo, Ho Chi Minh City is attracting microchip businesses. At Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP), there is currently the International Electronics Training Center (IETC) and the Microchip Design Center of SHTP, built by foreign microchip corporations in cooperation with SHTP, which have just come into operation. Ho Chi Minh City also has about 50 microchip design companies, mainly foreign, participating in the global microchip production and supply chain.

Find the right direction for development

The microchip industry in Ho Chi Minh City was most active in the period 2013-2020 with some results in training and research on chip design. Products applying Vietnamese chips have been successfully commercialized such as SG-8V1 chip, KIT DE-8V1, container lock, journey monitoring device, electronic meter. In the orientation to 2030, Ho Chi Minh City will promote the development of the microchip industry through human resource training; develop the electronic microchip market; effectively operate and exploit the achievements of designers; continue to attract projects of foreign microchip corporations to invest in the city.

Marvell's establishment of the Microchip Design Center in Vietnam and a series of other activities related to the microchip industry recently show that the microchip industry is being focused on development. "With recent changes and concerns from all levels, the microchip industry is making a comeback. In particular, the Vietnamese and Japanese governments have signed agreements to develop this industry, so if we are determined to do it, we will mention this to the Japanese government and I think they are willing to support," said Prof. Dr. Dang Luong Mo.

At the seminar “Strengthening investment cooperation between IMEC and Vietnam”, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nghia, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Information and Communications Industry (Ministry of Information and Communications), assessed that IMEC’s visit to Vietnam and working with the Ministry of Information and Communications marked a step of cooperation, helping Vietnam have the opportunity to improve its technological level in the field of microchip research and production. According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Thi, Head of the SHTP Management Board, Vietnam has been assessed by the American Semiconductor Association as having potential in design and packaging. These are the areas that Vietnam needs to focus on.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung shared that Vietnam wants to become a part of the global supply chain, not only in terms of programming and packaging but also in many other aspects such as design, development, and integration of integrated circuits into hardware products, especially in the current world of the Internet of Things.

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