July 21, 2026 | 21:41 GMT +7
Hotline: 0913.378.918
July 21, 2026 | 21:41 GMT +7
Hotline: 0913.378.918
On 10 April, in Hanoi, The Australian Government announced the three winning projects from the fifth round of the Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants, with AUD $1.6 million awarded to support cutting-edge solutions addressing climate change challenges in the agriculturesector. This round highlights the importance of sustainable development and inclusive growth, reinforcing the collaboration between Vietnamese and Australian institutions within the Aus4Innovation initiative.
Viet Nam’s catfish farming industry generated USD 2.2 billion in export revenue in 2025 yet remains highly vulnerable to climate change. The integration of hydroacoustic sensors and advanced AI to monitor and predict disease outbreaks could help build a more resilient and productive industry - Project Smart Hydroacoustics for Catfish Health, Can Tho University and Charles Darwin University (Round 5). Photo: Chu Van.
The three projects funded in this round are the results of close collaboration between leading research institutes and universities from both nations, focusing on addressing key challenges in modern agriculture.
The first initiative, a collaboration between Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and the University of Southern Queensland, focuses on transforming agricultural waste into biochar for low-carbon, 3D-printed building materials aimed at urban cooling.
Meanwhile, VinUniversity and The University of Queensland are spearheading a project to develop AI-driven digital tools and advanced sensing technologies to optimize pollination in durian and mango orchards across the Mekong Delta.
Finally, Can Tho University and Charles Darwin University are tackling the aquaculture sector by using hydroacoustics and machine learning to monitor fish behavior and environmental conditions, providing essential early disease prediction for the nation’s catfish industry. Together, these projects represent a multi-faceted approach to fostering sustainable and high-tech growth in Vietnamese agriculture.
The project team and local officials installing a sensor station in Hoang Loc, Thanh Hoa to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, supporting proactive carbon farming management - Project Smart Carbon Farming in Thanh Hoa Province, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and Griffith University (Round 4). Photo: Chu Van.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Gillian Bird, the Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam, affirmed that these projects deliver not only technical value but also direct benefits to farmers.
“Round 5 of the Aus4Innovation Program’s Innovation Partnership Grants once again demonstrates the immense potential of Australia-Viet Nam cooperation in applying science and technology to address agricultural challenges. The selected projects not only contribute to enhancing the industry’s sustainability and climate resilience but also promote inclusive development, ensuring that small holder farmers and local communities benefit directly from innovation,” stated Ambassador Gillian Bird.
Mr. Vu Hai Quan, Minister of Science and Technology, highly appreciated the program's results and its contributions to Viet Nam’s development.
“Over the years, the Ministry of Science and Technology has maintained a close and robust partnership with theAustralian Embassy in implementing the Aus4Innovation Program. The Ministry highly values the Program’s achievements and contributions to Viet Nam’s development and strongly believes that the projects selected for funding under this fifth round will continue to deliver tangible results, advance Viet Nam’s agriculture through science, technology and innovation, and furtherstrengthen cooperation between our two countries," he further remarked.
The WebGIS platform combining remote sensing, field data, and AI to provide timely alerts, helping farmers and agricultural officials monitor crop health, identify risks, and make more informed decisions - Project Enhancing Crop Monitoring and Information Access in Vietnam, Vietnam National Space Center and University of Southern Queensland (Round 4). Photo: Chu Van.
The winning projects are expected to commence in April and will have 19 months to implement their proposed activities.
The Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants is a key component of the Aus4Innovation program, a ten-year initiative (2018-2028) aimed at strengthening Viet Nam’s innovation ecosystem for inclusive and sustainable development. A cross five rounds, the Grants have provided over AUD $8 millionin funding to support 18 projects, empowering Vietnamese and Australian institutions to address critical issues in agriculture, healthcare, environment and more, in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
Through targeted funding, the Grants not only deliver cutting-edge projects but also enhance collaboration between researchers, innovators, and industry leaders in both countries. The program is funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-funded andmanaged by CSIRO - Australia’s national science agency - and delivered in a strategic partnership with Viet Nam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
Translated by Phuong Linh
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