Vietnam Launches National Semiconductor Prototyping Center to Accelerate Domestic Chip Development

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam has officially launched its first national semiconductor chip prototyping center, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to develop a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem and strengthen its position in the global technology supply chain.

The Vietnam National Multi-Project Wafer Coordination Center (VNMPW/CC) was inaugurated on Friday by the Ministry of Science and Technology to support domestic researchers, universities, and technology firms in transforming chip designs into commercially viable products more efficiently and at lower cost.

Speaking at the launch ceremony in Hanoi, Vũ Hải Quân said the establishment of the center forms part of the Vietnamese government’s broader strategy to build a complete semiconductor ecosystem, supported by recent legislative and policy reforms designed to promote industry growth.

Vietnam currently lacks industrial-scale semiconductor manufacturing facilities, requiring universities, research institutes, and chip design companies to send prototype designs to overseas foundries. This process typically costs between US$30,000 and US$200,000 per design and can take between 12 and 24 months to complete.

The newly established center will operate under the Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) model, enabling multiple chip designs to share a single fabrication run. The approach is expected to significantly reduce prototyping expenses, shorten development timelines, and accelerate the commercialization of “Make in Vietnam” semiconductor products.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Vietnam is home to approximately 60 chip design companies, 7,000 semiconductor design engineers, and 166 universities offering semiconductor-related academic programmes. Initial registrations indicate demand for the prototyping of nearly 30,000 semiconductor chips.

The VNMPW/CC will provide comprehensive support across the semiconductor value chain, including design verification, prototyping, packaging, testing, technology transfer, and collaboration with international manufacturing and technology partners.

Under the government’s development roadmap, the State will fully subsidize semiconductor prototyping costs during 2026–2027 to encourage participation by universities, research institutions, and private enterprises. Government funding will continue through 2030 to expand the center’s shared infrastructure, with the long-term objective of establishing it as a leading semiconductor prototyping hub in Southeast Asia.

During the inauguration ceremony, the center also signed cooperation agreements with 19 domestic and international partners and established an advisory board comprising 21 semiconductor experts, reinforcing Vietnam’s commitment to advancing innovation and strengthening international collaboration in the semiconductor sector.