With a population of over 249,000, Eindhoven is a bustling city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands. It is well-known across the world for the Brainport high-tech area, which is sometimes referred to as the "Silicon Valley of Europe." Its Gross Regional Product (GRP) increased by 61.3% over a ten-year period (2012–2022), significantly exceeding the 46.8% national growth rate. Global flagship companies like ASML, Philips, NXP, and DAF Trucks are anchored by Eindhoven's key competencies in High-Tech Systems & Materials (HTSM) and Deep Tech. Beyond its technological strength, the city has become an exceptional Life Sciences and Medical Technology (Medtech) innovation cluster thanks to the tight collaboration between the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and top medical facilities.
Former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc and members of the delegation take a commemorative photograph with the Netherlands Consulate General representatives - Photo: Ho Chi Minh City
The collaboration between Eindhoven and Ho Chi Minh City has developed over time into a bilateral coordinated process with the goal of maximizing sustainable development objectives, going beyond simple information transfer. In particular, the administration of Ho Chi Minh City has had direct working sessions with organizations like the Philips Innovation Center and the High Tech Campus Eindhoven to research energy-efficient lighting technologies, smart infrastructure, and contemporary urban government concepts. Ho Chi Minh City and Eindhoven are concentrating on promoting ecosystem connection, exchanging technical solutions, and establishing strategic partnerships in five crucial sectors in order to realize their shared vision of sustainable and creative urban development:
1. High-Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM): Connecting networks from the Eindhoven Brainport region, promoting joint research, and attracting investments into the manufacturing of advanced components, microchips, and materials.
2. Innovation and Deep Tech: Driving experience-sharing programs on the development of startup ecosystems, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and digital transformation in municipal administrative operations.
3. Life Sciences and Medical Technology (Medtech): Collaborating on sharing experiences to build digital healthcare ecosystems, applying advanced medical devices, and deploying smart, research-driven healthcare models.
4. Smart Urban Governance: Exchanging practical experiences regarding the "Triple Helix" model to enhance the efficiency of coordination among government agencies, universities, and the business sector in urban development.
5. Sustainable Development and Circular Economy: Coordinating the exchange of solutions in energy-efficient urban planning, green technologies, and the implementation roadmap of the circular economy in industrial sectors.