Vietnam is set to become the first Southeast Asian country to possess a domestically produced satellite. In 2017, Vietnamese researchers independently designed and began manufacturing the satellite, and completed the integrated functional testing in Vietnam without external assistance. After passing the final test at the Nano Satellite Test Center of Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan on April 9th, it is scheduled to be launched into space aboard a Japanese Epsilon rocket in September. Success will mark the birth of the first ‘Made in Vietnam’ satellite.
Expected Satellite Birth in September
Vietnam's space science dream began in June 2006 with the ‘Vietnam Space Technology Research and Application Strategy 2020’ plan, starting with satellite technology research in small labs. In September 2011, the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) was established, marking the start of full-scale technology development. In 2013, a 1kg miniature satellite was successfully placed in orbit, receiving signal confirmation. In January 2019, researchers dispatched to Japanese universities built and successfully launched a 50kg small satellite.
Japan has provided generous support for Vietnam's satellite development. 36 VNSC researchers were deployed to five universities in Japan: Tokyo University, Keio University, Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, and Kyushu Institute of Technology, transferring expertise in their respective fields. The rocket carrying the satellite into space was also a Japanese rocket.
In 2017, a contract was signed with Japan's Sumitomo Group's Nippon Electric Company (NEC) to launch a meteorological satellite in 2023. NEC will handle the satellite design and manufacturing, but will also support technology transfer and training for Vietnamese researchers. The satellite manufacturing cost of 20 billion yen (approximately 20.7 billion Vietnamese Dong) will be provided as a loan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Besides satellite development, Vietnam has a high level of scientific and technological expertise in the vaccine field. Vietnam has been researching and developing the seasonal influenza prevention vaccine ‘IVACFLU-S’ since 2010, receiving final approval and commencing production in 2019. Vietnam has also successfully produced vaccines for tuberculosis, measles, rubella, rotavirus, cholera, and typhoid fever. It is the fourth country in Asia, after Japan, India, and China, to successfully produce vaccines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Vietnam as the fifth country in the Western Pacific region capable of producing vaccines, stating that the quality of Vietnamese vaccines met WHO standards. In 2015, WHO officially certified the safety and efficacy of vaccines produced in Vietnam.
Vietnam is now developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Government research institutions and private companies are working on vaccine development, with the private company Nanogen showing the fastest progress. Beginning research in February 2020, they successfully completed Phase 1 trials by the end of the year and are currently conducting Phase 2 clinical trials. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, responsible for Vietnam's pandemic response, along with the Minister of Science and Technology, directly participated in Nanogen's Phase 2 clinical trials for the Nanocovax COVID-19 vaccine, raising Vietnamese public expectations for the ‘Made in Vietnam’ vaccine.
According to Nanogen officials, Phase 2 trial results are expected in May, and Phase 3 trials are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. If approval is granted by the end of this year, Vietnam's own vaccine will be available for nationwide vaccination next year, according to the Bac Truc Vaccine Research Institute.
COVID Vaccine, Phase 3 Trials by Year-End
Behind Vietnam's surprisingly rapid scientific and technological advancement is Japan's support. As mentioned earlier, Japan provided loans for Vietnam's satellite development, actively participating in researcher training and technology transfer. Japan's support also played a role in Vietnam's production of measles and rubella vaccines, the fourth in Asia.
Japan is establishing joint universities under major Vietnamese universities. Hanoi National University is establishing the Vietnam-Japan University, and Da Nang University of Technology and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology are establishing the Vietnam-Japan Institute of Engineering and Technology, working to cultivate talented engineers. Graduates of these Vietnam-Japan joint universities receive scholarships from Japan and priority employment opportunities at Japanese companies operating in Vietnam. Employment in Japan is also possible.
South Korea is also supporting Vietnam's scientific and technological development. In 2018, the South Korean government, along with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), planned to establish the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (V-KIST) in Hanoi, with each country contributing 35 million USD (39.1 billion Vietnamese Dong). While this is a project to develop Vietnam's basic science, the project's focus on system setup and research building construction, without significant Korean researcher deployment for knowledge and experience sharing, is a notable point of concern.