Follow up of Climate Launchpad 2025
Fostering Green Science & Innovation: 50 Years of Vietnam – Germany Friendship
Mr Michael Siegner, Resident Representative of HSF Vietnam, spoke at the event
HSF
As part of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam, the event Fostering Green Science and Innovation featured two key sessions—A University Campus as a Green Living Lab and the VGU Student Sustainability Contest 2025—that highlighted the shared commitment of both countries to sustainability, education, and innovation. The sessions brought together academics, industry experts, policymakers, and young innovators to explore how bilateral cooperation can accelerate Vietnam’s green transition. HSF Vietnam played an active role as co-organizer and knowledge partner, underscoring its long-standing contribution to Vietnam–Germany cooperation and its commitment to nurturing climate innovation and youth entrepreneurship.
The Green Living Lab session created a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainable campus design, low-carbon development, and digital innovation. Participants discussed how universities can transform into “living laboratories,” embedding sustainability directly into operations, urban design, and engineering education. The exchange generated practical ideas for scaling green living lab models across Vietnamese universities, demonstrating how educational institutions can become real-world testbeds for climate-smart solutions—a reflection of the deep academic cooperation fostered over five decades of Germany–Vietnam partnership.
A University Campus as a Green Living Lab
HSF
HSF’s contribution placed strong emphasis on innovation and enterprise engagement. In a keynote address, HSF Resident Representative Michael Siegner, along with Mr Nguyen Hong Long, Director of the Center for Creativity and Sustainability Study and Consultancy (CCS), highlighted the role of start-ups in driving green transformation, drawing on insights from the Climate Launchpad Vietnam program. They illustrated how entrepreneurial ecosystems—supported through German–Vietnamese cooperation—can bridge the gap between research and market-ready climate solutions, inspiring participants to consider start-ups as powerful engines of environmental impact and sustainable growth.
VGU Student Sustainability Contest 2025
HSF
Youth empowerment was a central highlight of the celebration. The VGU Student Sustainability Contest 2025, supported by HSF, provided students with a platform to develop and present innovative solutions to real-world sustainability challenges, from waste management and mobility to energy efficiency and circular models. The competition encouraged interdisciplinary teamwork and practical problem-solving, while offering winning teams mentorship opportunities within VGU’s innovation ecosystem. This reflects the long-term investment both countries have made in strengthening human resources and building future champions of green innovation.
HSF’s engagement enhanced the visibility and impact of its Climate Launchpad Vietnam program and contributed meaningfully to the advancement of green living lab approaches in higher education. The event demonstrated growing enthusiasm among students, experts, and policymakers for sustainability-driven innovation and provided new momentum for joint German–Vietnamese efforts in climate action. Looking ahead, opportunities include co-developing sustainability-oriented academic modules, scaling Climate Launchpad initiatives at VGU, and exploring collaborative research and pilot projects on green campus models. As Vietnam and Germany celebrate five decades of partnership, HSF remains committed to connecting policy, education, and innovation to support Vietnam’s green transition and to strengthening the shared agenda of sustainable development.