Google, VNG, Vietnam National University launch Vietnam’s first applied AI laboratory

The initiative seeks to strengthen Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem by giving local researchers early access to Google’s most advanced AI models and tools, enabling the development of solutions with significant economic and social impact.

Under the partnership, Google Labs’ AI Futures Fund will collaborate directly with research teams based at Saigon AI Hub, Ho Chi Minh City’s first open artificial intelligence research space, providing exclusive early access to new technologies as well as technical support from experts at Google and Google DeepMind.

The AI Futures Fund, launched by Google in early 2025, is a global investment initiative supporting pioneering AI organizations at various stages of development.

Saigon AI Hub is the first research organization in Vietnam selected to join the program.

An initial cohort of 10 research teams, calling out nearly 60 researchers from universities in Ho Chi Minh City, has been selected to participate.

The teams were chosen based on practical applicability, research capability, and a commitment to responsible AI development.

Their work spans fields including linguistics, computer vision, human-robot interaction, healthcare applications, and cybersecurity.

All teams have been committed to publishing their findings in leading international conferences and journals, while developing at least one functional prototype with real-world application potential.

Beyond the current cohort, Saigon AI Hub aims to become a leading center for serious AI research in Vietnam, offering infrastructure, expertise, and global partnerships, including potential investment from the AI Futures Fund, to help research groups and startups scale prototypes into viable products.

Applications for future program phases are open to interested researchers and teams.

“By choosing Saigon AI Hub as the first partner for this Applied AI Lab pilot, we are not only providing tools but also fostering an environment where Vietnamese researchers can bridge the gap between theory and real-world application,” said Josh Woodward, vice-president of Gemini applications at Google Labs and AI Studio.