Google partners with NIC to empower AI startups

Google partners with NIC to empower AI startups

Google and the National Innovation Centre announced an expansion of the "Build for the AI Future" initiative on June 18, aimed at bolstering Vietnam's startup ecosystem.

The 2025 programme introduces two cornerstone initiatives aimed at empowering the next generation of Vietnamese AI innovators. Google for Startups AI Bootcamp 2025 provides a three-day course in Ho Chi Minh City for 100 startups (200 developers) to gain skills in applying Google's latest AI capabilities. They will the opportunity to learn from Google experts and engineers on topics such as how to ideate and kickstart GenAI solutions, rapid prototyping and minimum viable product development, and pitch preparation and polishing.

Google for Startups AI Solutions Lab 2025 is a four-day hackathon hosted in partnership with the Danang Semiconductor & AI Centre (DSAC) for 50 startups to build GenAI solutions that address local challenges. Accepted startups stand a chance to apply for six months of office space provided by DSAC at no cost, with the top 10 having the possibility to present to the wider private and public sector audience at the upcoming Google Vietnam AI tentpole event in September this year.

The “Build for the AI Future” collaboration, launched last year, has delivered a significant impact across Vietnam’s tech landscape. Since 2022, Google’s commitment to fostering Vietnam's vibrant startup ecosystem has seen more than 500 Vietnamese startups participate in the key programmes, including the Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass.

Among which, close to 100 Vietnamese startups have been accelerated to improve their products, benefiting over 300,000 customers. This growth has propelled these businesses forward, and fuelled job creation, with more than 300 new jobs emerging as these startups secure funding and expand their teams within Vietnam's dynamic economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung

With its stated vision to ‘Baild for People’, the partnership strategically addresses critical workforce upskilling needs for the evolving AI era. To date, this initiative has successfully awarded 60,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificates through an extensive network of over 150 universities and social impact organisations.

Notably, the AI Essentials course, a self-paced learning module requiring up to 10 hours, provides participants with practical insights into leveraging generative AI tools for enhanced productivity, mastering effective prompt techniques, and fostering responsible AI usage by identifying potential biases and mitigating harm. The course is now available in Vietnamese.

This year's new programmes deepen Google's commitment to fostering a vibrant AI ecosystem, directly contributing to the nation's economic vitality and leadership aspirations in AI.

At the event, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that the Party and government of Vietnam have identified science technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the shortest path and a vital factor for Vietnam to realise its aspiration for rapid, sustainable, inclusive, and autonomous development in pursuit of the country’s two centennial goals.

"Science, technology, and innovation are drivers of economic growth and an essential path towards building a prosperous Vietnam, increasing labour productivity, enhancing national competitiveness, protecting the environment, responding to climate change, and improving people's quality of life,” he said.

Dung praised the cooperation between the NIC and Google as highly meaningful, contributing to the promotion of Vietnam’s startup and innovation ecosystem in strategic technology fields, especially AI. This is also a practical action that concretises the policies and orientations prioritising the research, training, incubation, and application of AI set out by the Politburo.

Marc Woo, managing director of Google Vietnam

“Within the strategic partnership between the NIC and Google, the two parties have been implementing several programmes aimed at developing digital human resources and fostering the innovation and startup ecosystem in Vietnam, focusing on three pillars of collaboration: digital talent development (Google Career Certificates), startup support (Google for Startups), and the Google for Developers programme,” confirmed Vu Quoc Huy, NIC's director general.

"Today, the new programmes represent not just a continuation, but an acceleration of our shared commitment. Building on our proven success, we are setting our sights even higher, to meticulously upskill and empower a new generation of innovators on Google AI who will catalyse the next wave of economic growth for the nation,” he added.

Marc Woo, managing director of Google Vietnam, said that the opportunity for an AI-driven economy in Vietnam is significant, with research showing it could deliver VND1.89 quadrillion ($79.3 billion) in economic benefits by 2030, which is equivalent to nearly 12 per cent of the nation's GDP.

"Vietnam is not just participating in the AI wave, it is a leader, with the number of AI startups growing by over 4.5 times since 2021. In this climate, Google is committed to contributing to Vietnam's economic development. By deepening our long-standing partnerships, our new 2025 AI Bootcamp and Solution Lab, alongside the launch of Google AI Essentials course in Vietnamese, will provide intensive upskilling and acceleration opportunities, empowering startups and the community to expand and solidify Vietnam's position as a regional AI leader," Woo said.

VIR