Dr. Phan Dao Attends Ho Chi Minh City’s Conference Honoring 50 Outstanding Overseas Vietnamese in Spring 2026

On February 5–6, 2026, Dr. Phan Dao, Director of the European Cooperation Center (ECC) at Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU) and a member of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, participated in the program honoring 50 outstanding overseas Vietnamese organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.

The event serves as a key external engagement initiative aimed at strengthening connections with overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and leveraging their contributions to green transition, digital transformation, and innovation-driven development.

Exploring Ho Chi Minh City’s Innovation Ecosystem

On February 5, delegates joined field visits to several key institutions and innovation models, including:

• The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)
• Galaxy Innovation Hub
• Vietjet Aviation Academy
• Becamex Corporation and Eastern International University

These visits provided practical insights into the city’s development strategies and innovation ecosystem, laying the groundwork for future collaboration proposals.

Policy Contributions from the Central & Eastern European Perspective

At the thematic conference on February 6, Dr. Phan Dao, representing the Vietnamese intellectual community in Central and Eastern Europe, delivered a keynote presentation highlighting:

• Ho Chi Minh City’s strategic role as a regional hub for finance, knowledge, and innovation
• Solutions to better mobilize overseas Vietnamese resources in education, science and technology, and digital transformation
• Integrated training–research models aligned with international standards
• Potential collaboration programs in AI, digital healthcare, fintech, and innovation

Advancing International Cooperation in Education and Research

Drawing on over 12 years of collaboration between TDTU and Czech partners, ECC has achieved significant milestones:

• 60 PhD candidates have successfully graduated under joint doctoral training programs, with more than 60 currently enrolled in Czech universities
• Many alumni now hold key academic and leadership positions
• International-standard undergraduate and graduate programs have been effectively implemented

Notably, TDTU has partnered with the INDRC Research Institute and joined the EU-funded CLARA Project ecosystem in medical AI.

Dr. Phan Dao proposed:

• Establishing joint research groups in AI for healthcare and urban health
• Developing AI applications for early diagnosis and medical data analytics
• Expanding collaboration into fintech, risk management, robotics, and UAV technologies

Strengthening Sustainable Engagement with Overseas Vietnamese

To enhance long-term collaboration, several initiatives were proposed:

• Establishing sector-based networks of overseas Vietnamese experts
• Creating mechanisms for remote policy advisory and project evaluation
• Organizing annual forums on science, technology, and digital transformation

Reaffirming ECC’s Role in International Collaboration

Participation in the conference further highlights ECC’s role in:

• Connecting academic and research networks across Europe
• Promoting international education and research collaboration
• Contributing global expertise to Ho Chi Minh City’s socio-economic development

Dr. Phan Dao emphasized that the Vietnamese intellectual community in Central and Eastern Europe represents a strategic resource, capable of supporting the city’s sustainable development and global integration.

Some photos: