More needed to be done to ultilise robotics in VN

The Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Planning and Investment organised a conference on robotics – mechatronics technology in the industrial revolution 4.0 in Ha Noi on Tuesday.— Photo bnews.vn

A report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade this year showed that the number of Vietnamese enterprises interested in investing and applying new technologies, especially the core technologies of industry 4.0 in the production process, was still modest.

Although businesses are in great need, they do not have enough potential and strategic orientation in the investment process.

The conference was part of a series of events in the programme ‘Connecting Viet Nam Innovation Network 2018’, held from August 18 to 24 in Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, HCM City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

The workshop brought together hundreds of Vietnamese technology experts and scientists from around the world to share their vision and strategies with governmental agencies, enterprises and organisations on how to approach and take advantage of the achievements of the fourth industrial revolution in the process of building and developing the Vietnamese economy.

With over 97 per cent of Vietnamese enterprises of small and medium size, firms face many difficulties in terms of capital, science and technology level, human resources and innovative capacity.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung said that it was necessary to have specific and appropriate steps to ensure the successful acceptance of the opportunities brought about by robotics and mechatronics technology.

This may include the establishment of a co-operation network between foreign experts and domestic universities and research institutes to carry out research projects, collaboration with local universities to participate in training, compile textbooks and attend scientific seminars.

Besides, it was necessary to collaborate with technology enterprises and science and technology organisations to consult and support Vietnamese enterprises in the process of renewing production technology and creating new products, said the deputy minister.

Dr. Hoang Viet Hong, deputy general director of the Industrial Machinery and Instruments Holding, said that the application of robotic and automation technology can help release labour and increase productivity.

However, there are still many difficulties such as human resources, investment capital for technology systems and insufficient technical levels, said Hong.

Therefore, there was a need for closer co-operation between foreign and domestic experts to bring new technology and automation to the country’s technological production process, he said.

Many industries can apply robotic technology, not only in industrial production. Soft robots can be used in agriculture, fruit picking, medical care, elderly care and surgery, said Associate Prof. Ho Anh Van from the School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

"There are not many applications for robots in the Vietnamese market. We are training Vietnamese students, in co-operation with Vietnamese researchers, for experiments. We are very hopeful that robotic technology can be applied more widely in Viet Nam in the future," said Van. — VNS