Singapore and Vietnam Partner on AI, Robotics and Green Manufacturing Research Hub
Source: TNGlobal
Singapore and Vietnam are establishing a joint advanced manufacturing research centre focused on AI, robotics, automation, and green manufacturing, bringing together A*STAR and Vietnamese developer Becamex under the VAMRC initiative.
Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to establish a joint advanced manufacturing research centre focused on automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, green manufacturing and supply chain resilience, marking the latest bilateral cooperation between the two economies in emerging technology. The Vietnam Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (VAMRC) brings together Singapore's A*STAR research agency with Vietnamese industrial park developer Becamex.
The cooperation was discussed Wednesday between Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Singaporean Embassy in Hanoi, formalising an agreement signed in May between Becamex and A*STAR. Becamex is a long-time partner in the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model, which has developed multiple industrial zones across Vietnam in tandem with Singapore's Sembcorp. VAMRC would connect businesses, universities, research institutes and technology providers under one roof.
Under the proposed model, the centre would take on real-world problems from companies — developing, testing and validating technologies before deploying them on production lines. Shared laboratory and research facilities would be made available to foreign firms, small and medium-sized enterprises, and universities for prototyping, technology testing and new product development. For existing factories, VAMRC can support technology upgrades and process optimization without requiring full production line replacements.
Why it matters for Singapore: The partnership deepens Singapore's role as a technology bridge into Southeast Asia's manufacturing heartland. A*STAR's involvement positions Singapore's research ecosystem as a source of applied industrial AI and automation expertise for Vietnam's rapidly industrialising economy. It also continues the successful VSIP model of bilateral cooperation, extending it into advanced manufacturing and AI rather than traditional industrial parks. Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan said his ministry would support Becamex and A*STAR in building the centre, possibly with state resources, signalling strong government backing.