Climate change

Dr. Le Xuan Huy, deputy director general of the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC), says the satellite, which weighs approximately four kg, has been completely researched and manufactured by VNSC engineers. Indeed, local workers have completed the project through its design phase to its installation, including the mechanical structure and power distribution circuit. In the near future, NanoDragon will be sent to Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology in order to undergo further tests in a simulating environment. Following the completion of these tests, the satellite is due to be returned to Vietnam before being launched by the Japanese Epsilon missile in September. Dr. Huy notes that the micro satellite is anticipated to operate in solar synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of roughly 520 km. Its main task will be to integrate an Automatic Identification System (AIS) used for the purpose of tracking and monitoring vessels at sea. In addition, it will make use of an optical imaging device in order to verify the quality of the satellite posture controller while operating in orbit. At present, engineers from the VNSC are putting the finishing touches to installing the ground station which will operate the satellite following its launch. The VNSC is a pioneer agency in the country that researches and develops modern space technologies that aim to support economic development and environmental protection locally. In addition to NanoDragon, it previously researched and manufactured the PicoDragon satellite which weighs one kg, along with the MicroDragon satellite which weighs 50kg, both of which proved to be highly-successful projects. Vietnam is one of the countries in the world to be most affected by global warming and climate change. Space services and technologies will help the nation to gain a better understanding of climate change whilst supporting the process of monitoring and prevention of natural disasters, thereby contributing to mitigating their …

[Read more...] about Made-in-Vietnam satellite to be launched into orbit this September

A representative of Central Retail Group that owns the Big C supermarket chain in Vietnam, revealed that the Tops Market supermarket chain is designed to meet three key criteria, namely  provision of fresh organic food; products with clear origin; and better customer service. All four Big C supermarkets in Hanoi are anticipated to convert and upgrade to Tops Market during the course of the third quarter of the year, the group’s representative stated. Tops Market is also a major retail brand that falls under the Central Retail Group and has dozens of supermarket branches throughout Thailand. In relation to the Vietnamese market, a fan page on Facebook called Tops Market has officially been launched to run alongside Big C’s Vietnamese fan page. Alongside the Tops Market brand, Big C supermarkets located in shopping malls in Nha Trang, Di An, Can Tho, Ha Long, and Vinh Phuc cities were all renamed GO! supermarkets between the end of December 2020, and early January of this year. Last year witnessed Central Retail, a sub-unit of Thailand-based conglomerate Central Group, also built new GO! supermarkets at shopping centres in the cities of My Tho, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Buon Ma Thuot, and Quang Ngai. A number of other Big C hypermarkets are poised to be renamed GO! supermarkets this year, a representative of Central Retail Vietnam revealed. Central Group originally purchased Big C from France’s Casino Group in 2016 at a cost of US$1.05 billion. In addition, it also owns a large stake in electronics retail chain Nguyen Kim. …

[Read more...] about Local supermarket chain Big C changes name to Tops Market

Pham Hong Quat, director general, NATEC and Leon Cai, regional director (Ho Chi Minh City), Enterprise Singapore The Vietnamese agency (NATEC) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) have renewed their cooperation for another two years. What will be the focuses in the next stage? How will it benefit the innovation landscape for Singapore and Vietnam? Pham Hong Quat: Singapore is considered to be the hub of innovation as well as a “paradise” for startups, with startup-friendly policies including subsidies and a range of incubation schemes. With its advanced IT infrastructure, strong government support, intellectual property laws, and deep tech talent pools, Singapore has become a world-leading technology innovation centre. Thus, the cooperation between NATEC and ESG will provide an open space for best practices and know-how sharing, particularly on the crafting and execution of startup and innovation supporting policies, as well as building and operating startup hubs. Through market access programmes and joint events, Vietnamese startups will have a chance to experience and benefit from peer-to-peer learning with their counterparts. Operating in the world’s leading and most vibrant ecosystem, Singaporean startup founders and teams have admirable skills and qualities, for example, creative thinking; entrepreneurship and management skills; fundraising and management; as well as research and development (R&D). Moreover, there will be a high chance that our startups can find great partners or clients in a new market. One of the biggest concerns for Vietnamese startups might be how to get funding from venture capital funds or angel investors and how to manage them wisely, especially during the crisis. Thus, what they need to focus on is acquiring valuable know-how and skills from their counterparts and taking any opportunity to interact and learn from experienced investors and mentors. Leon Cai: The renewed MoU will build on existing partnerships between …

[Read more...] about NATEC and Enterprise continue cooperation to unlock Vietnam’s innovation potential