Dr Sreenivas Tirumala, a senior lecturer of Information Technology at RMIT University Vietnam, previews some notable impacts that the second Trump administration might have on the digital and technological development of Vietnam.
The cooperation of the US is necessary for most developing countries, including Vietnam, to advance in science and technology, due to the huge capabilities and influence the US boasts in these domains. However, recent reports indicate that President-elect Donald Trump is coming up with stringent technology export policies that might impact Vietnam’s technological advances, particularly with artificial intelligence and cyber security.
Though the likelihood of continuing the technological cooperation agreements signed by businesses from both countries in September 2024 is high, the new policies around ‘America First’ – emphasising design, development and manufacturing in America – may impact technology transfer through offshore technological and services industries that are planning to invest in Vietnam.
Cyber security cooperation: What is expected?
Vietnam is an important partner for the US due to its strategic location. This implies that Vietnam will not have to be “self-reliant” when it comes to cyber security, which is one of the biggest problems that the country is facing.
The US can provide the necessary technologies to help Vietnam tackle this threat, which could help the US monitor various common threat actors. As decentralised cyber resilience networks are emerging, the US may consider investing in cooperation with Vietnam.
Cooperation for digital transformation: This is the right time.
Digital transformation is progressing at a good pace in Vietnam, including in e-government development. However, several areas still need automation, particularly in service industries, which US tech giants like Microsoft would be interested in pursuing.
While key fields like agriculture, manufacturing, and oil and gas could be improved through digital transformation, cooperation in these areas seems unlikely due to the in-country manufacturing and ‘Drill, baby, drill’ policies of Donald Trump, which encourage American companies to move back to the US or start new manufacturing domestically. Therefore, minimal, if any, support is expected in these areas in terms of technology transfers.
Artificial intelligence for social causes: An emerging area of partnership
The US has been a world leader in technological advancements, particularly artificial Intelligence (AI). As Vietnam is an emerging nation in AI, technological cooperation and transfer are very important. There is no specific mention of AI-based implementations or support in Donald Trump’s policies. However, recent developments in other technological cooperation suggest that the US may be interested in investing (and testing) their AI-based technologies for disaster management and natural calamities in Vietnam.
Seeking support in areas like air pollution and weather forecasting will be a win-win for both the US and Vietnam. The US would have the opportunity to test their new equipment and AI-based models in Vietnam before implementing them on a large scale back home.
However, given Donald Trump’s stance on climate change, the implications for cooperation in this arena remain uncertain.
In conclusion, considering past experiences along with the current stance of President-elect Donald Trump, a positive trend towards technology and knowledge sharing is expected, despite some potential limitations.
Story: Dr Sreenivas Tirumala, Senior Lecturer of Information Technology, RMIT University Vietnam
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Source: Vietnam Insider