University of Sydney Signs MOUs with Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health and Institute of Development Studies

The University of Sydney has signed an MOU with the HCMC Department of Health to explore opportunities for cooperation in the areas of medical science, chronic and infectious diseases, and other areas of medicine and health.

The Net Zero Institute is signatory to an MOU with the HCMC Institute of Development Studies which will explore opportunities for collaboration in the areas of development, translating and enabling societal adoption of technologies and systems to deliver global decarbonisation.

The signings were attended by representatives from the University of Sydney and a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, led by Chairman Mr Phan Van Mai. The delegation, which included Vietnamese government officials, toured the University’s biomedical facilities in the Faculty of Engineering. University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott AO and Dr Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director General of the HCMC Department of Health signed the MOU between the University of Sydney and the HCMC Department of Health.

The MOU between the Net Zero Institute and the HCMC Institute of Development Studies was signed by Professor Scott, Director of the Net Zero Institute Professor Deanna D’Alessandro and Dr Truong Minh Huy Vu, Deputy Director of the HCMC Institute for Development Studies.

Professor Scott said: “Innovation in health and decarbonisation are among the most critical priorities shared by both our countries. We are delighted to further our commitment to advancing medical research in Vietnam and explore opportunities to collaborate on net zero solutions.”

The signing was attended by Consul-General of Vietnam to NSW, Queensland and South Australia, H.E Nguyen Dang Thang and Consul-General of Australia to Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Hooper.

The MOUs follow the University establishment of pan-University research and engagement hub, the Sydney Vietnam Institute in 2023.

The Institute is designed to facilitate and strengthen intellectual and creative exchange between Australian and Vietnamese researchers, academics and the broader community.

“The University of Sydney Vietnam Institute will realise our vision for sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation across all levels of higher education and research engagement,” said Professor Thu-Anh Nguyen, Executive Director of the Sydney Vietnam Institute.

The Institute will work with partners, including University of Sydney researchers, to deliver impactful, multidisciplinary research which improves the wellbeing of individuals and communities in Vietnam and beyond.

Leveraging the research capabilities of the University, the Institute will deliver research across a broad range of disciplines, with research areas including medicine and health, agriculture and food safety, net zero, business and economics, and arts and social sciences.

The Net Zero Institute was launched yesterday as one of the University’s flagship centres to accelerate solution-based research and assist the world in meeting its climate change goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

It brings together more than 150 researchers from across the University to develop solutions across various disciplines, from extracting critical minerals from waste and greenhouse gas removals to net zero health and green computing.