A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister for Planning and Investment Nguyến Chí Dũng at AstraZeneca Global (R&D) China Center and Shanghai Jing'an CCiC & iCampus. — Photo Courtesy AstraZeneca Vietnam
Global science-led biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca commits to continued investment and knowledge sharing in digital applications, artificial intelligent (AI), and promoting healthcare transformation to enhance screening efficiency and early disease detection.
The commitment was shared by Nitin Kapoor, vice president of Biopharmaceutical International and chairman of AstraZeneca Vietnam during the current visit of a Vietnamese delegation led by Minister for Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng to AstraZeneca Global (R&D) China Center and Shanghai Jing'an CCiC & iCampus.
On the visit, Dũng visited AstraZeneca Global (R&D) China Centre, laboratories and facilities. He also held discussions with AstraZeneca leaders on promoting innovation and scientific collaboration, facilitating research, experience exchange, and attracting resources to leverage innovation, and attracting investment in high-tech, innovative healthcare projects.
Dũng expressed his expectation that, in the coming period, with the support from AstraZeneca and its partners, Việt Nam could improve the operational efficiency of its innovation model in science, technology, and AI, particularly within the healthcare field.
“The application of science, technology, and innovation across all sectors is a sustainable and effective pathway for Việt Nam's development. In particular, healthcare innovation plays a crucial role in disease prevention, detection and diagnosis. The scale and modernity of AstraZeneca's global R&D centre and the wider innovation ecosystem it fosters serve as a prime example of successful investment cooperation between businesses and the state and offers valuable lessons and can be referenced by Việt Nam's innovation centres,” Dũng said.
Nitin Kapoor said: "For the past 30 years, AstraZeneca has been a trusted partner in Việt Nam's healthcare development, striving to improve healthcare capacity and community health. Looking ahead, we commit to continued investment and knowledge sharing in digital applications, AI, and promoting healthcare transformation to enhance screening efficiency and early disease detection. This will ultimately reduce the burden on patients, families and society.”
In late 2023, together with the Vietnamese Young Physicians' Association, AstraZeneca launched the "Healthcare Innovation Network," and phase 1 focused on the "Digital Transformation for Lung Health" project, which benefitted over 100,000 people. This serves as a significant leap towards innovation in healthcare and digital/AI transformation.
As a foreign invested enterprise with over 600 employees, AstraZeneca Vietnam is investing US$360 million from 2020 to 2030 into the country with a focus on reducing the burdens of diseases, uplifting domestic biopharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and developing local talent.
Moreover, in May 2023, the company announced a new investment of up to $50 million into the country, as part of the company’s global AZ Forest programme to restore Việt Nam’s forests and landscapes, and support the Vietnamese Government’s 2050 net zero strategy, which was committed to at COP26, and the country’s ongoing plan to plant one billion trees by 2025. — VNS