The new Qualcomm facility, staffed by scientists and AI experts in both Hanoi and Ho Chí Minh City, is part of company’s global AI research division
In sum – what to know:
AI R&D hub – The U.S. chipmaker opened a new AI research center in Vietnam focused on generative and agentic AI for mobile, XR, automotive and IoT use cases.
Supports Vietnam’s tech ambitions – The center aligns with national goals in AI, semiconductors and digital transformation, helping build local talent and advance the country’s position in regional innovation.
Strengthens U.S.–Vietnam ties – The move deepens strategic tech cooperation between the two countries.
U.S.-based tech giant Qualcomm officially opened a new artificial intelligence research and development (AI R&D) center in Vietnam, according to local press reports.
The new Qualcomm facility, staffed by scientists and AI experts in both Hanoi and Ho Chí Minh City, is part of company’s global AI research division. The center will focus on advanced generative and agentic AI, with applications in smartphones, PCs, XR, automotive and IoT, according to the report.
At the launch event in Hanoi, Vietnam’s deputy minister of Science and Technology, Le Xuan Dỉnh, noted the new AI facility would boost nation’s AI research capabilities, help train up skillsets of local AI experts and contribute to Vietnam’s economic development.
Meanwhile, Thieu Phuong Nam, country director of Qualcomm Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, said that Qualcomm’s activities in the Asian nation are in line with Vietnam’s national strategies on AI, semiconductors and digital transformation.
Qualcomm currently operates two offices in Hanoi and Ho Chí Minh City and launched its first Southeast Asian R&D center in Hanoi in 2020. It also runs the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, a program supporting local startups through funding, technical guidance and IP assistance.
The report also noted that Vietnam has set an ambitious goal to become one of Southeast Asia’s top three nations for AI research and development by 2030.
In April, Qualcomm had announced the acquisition of Hanoi-based generative AI research specialist MovianAI, a former division of VinAI, and a part of Vietnamese industrial tech conglomerate Vingroup.
The deal for MovianAI will see the division’s founder, Dr Hung Bui — formerly of Google DeepMind — join Qualcomm, and continue to lead the team in Hanoi, which has been described by the California chipmaker in a press statement as a “powerhouse” generative AI team pushing “boundaries” with “customized AI models and engineering.” Beyond generative AI, its research focuses on machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing. Qualcomm said the combination will “expand its ability to drive extraordinary inventions.”
“We are ready to contribute to Qualcomm’s mission of making breakthroughs in fundamental AI research and scale them across industries,” said Bui.
Qualcomm has worked closely with the Vietnamese technology ecosystem for 20 years, it said. The company continued: “Qualcomm’s innovations in the areas of 5G, AI, IoT and automotive have helped to fuel the extraordinary growth and success of Vietnam’s information and communication technology industry and assisted the entry of Vietnamese companies into the global marketplace.”
Qualcomm Technologies and Emirati-based telco e& UAE have recently announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the development and commercialization of next-generation connectivity, 5G and edge AI technologies.
Under the partnership, the chipmaker and e& will work together on:
-5G edge AI gateways for industrial and enterprise use, helping major sectors implement AI and other technologies closer to the data source to boost efficiency, performance and connectivity.
-Edge AI devices, including PCs and extended reality (XR) gadgets powered by Snapdragon platforms. These will feature integrated large language models (LLMs) and support on-device generative AI and secure AI processing from edge to cloud — targeted at enterprise and government needs.
Additionally, Qualcomm Technologies said it plans to leverage its new Qualcomm Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi to support this initiative. The center will help explore and test new applications to expand the use of 5G and edge AI in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, logistics, retail and transportation.
