The diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany have been established in 1975, and the cooperation has been enhanced and deepened since then. Much earlier, since the mid 1950s, approximately 7.000 Vietnamese citizens have completed their studies successfully in the former German Democratic Republic until the German reunification in 1990. Later, another 45.000 Vietnamese have studies and graduated, successfully, in Germany. The cooperation of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) was resumed in 1996, resulting in the signing of the minutes about “Cooperation in science, research and technology” in 1997. A joint office (VD-Office under BMBF and MOST) was established in 2007 to support and facilitate the collaboration and the implementation of research projects, re-structured 2013 under Prof Rudolph and Mrs Nguyen Thi Van on behalf of MOST and BMBF.
The 2015 VD Status Conference was held to present the outcomes and perspectives of joint research in the field of water and sustainability. Fourteen actual research projects in different states of progress reported on the objectives, implementation and the results. All projects can provide good research results or a good progress if just started, as well as giving valuable support to the research region. Moreover, a large number of academic certificates have been awarded for the bachelor degree, master degree and doctoral degree under the VD collaboration in research and education sponsored by BMBF and MOST.
The conference was hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam (MOST) and IEEM gGmbH, Supervisor of the VD-Office. A delegation of the Federal German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) joined the event together with 66 invited delegates of MOST, German and Vietnamese scientists and business representatives.
Both sides, the Vietnamese representatives from MOST and the delegation from the BMBF, appreciated the work accomplished by the projects as well as the important work of the VD-Office. Further funding for more applied science projects in the field of water and sustainability was granted by the BMBF to strengthen and enhance the future cooperation.
An overview on the actual status of research can be found in a Brochure of the VD-Office. (link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/flm39498ombsm4l/AABu6ECxkGPxmzSKFUC3_vW_a?dl=0)
