Hai Phong and Seoul are strengthening cooperation in biomedicine and biotechnology through a new technology transfer partnership, aimed at attracting South Korean investment and building satellite research and development hubs in the northern Vietnamese port city.
A new cooperation framework
Representatives from Hai Phong’s Department of Science and Technology and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding during an online ceremony connecting the two cities on 26 May. The agreement focuses on technology transfer, innovation infrastructure and commercialising research outcomes.
Biotech as a priority
The cooperation gives priority to biomedicine and biotechnology, sectors where South Korea has built strong research, manufacturing and commercial capacity. For Hai Phong, the goal is to move beyond traditional industrial investment and position the city as a higher-value innovation centre.
R&D hubs in Vietnam
The partnership includes plans linked to the KIST Hai Phong Technology Center and the KIST–Hai Phong Techhub. These platforms are intended to support technology matchmaking, training of science and technology personnel, and the transfer of promising Korean technologies into Vietnam.
Investment and industrial upgrading
Hai Phong already plays an important role in Vietnam’s manufacturing and logistics economy. By adding biotech and applied research cooperation, the city is seeking to attract more knowledge-intensive investment and strengthen its place in Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem.
The agreement shows how Vietnam–South Korea cooperation is expanding from manufacturing into science, health technology and research commercialisation. If implemented effectively, Hai Phong could become a stronger gateway for Korean biotech expertise into Vietnam and the wider ASEAN market.
Newshub Editorial in Asia – 27 May 2026
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