Imperial and Vietnamese partners explore UK and Vietnam's pathways to net zero

Imperial, the Vietnamese Intellectual Society and partners in Vietnam explored solutions and opportunities for the net zero transition.

This hybrid, two-part event series brought together academics from Imperial, the UK Vietnamese Intellectual Society (VIS) and leaders across science, technology, and industry.

Together they explored the potential of new technologies to catalyse a clean energy transition in both countries and facilitate collaborations for solutions to the grand challenges in achieving net zero in Vietnam and the UK.  

Moving towards a sustainable future

Both the UK and Vietnam have shown significant commitments to address challenges related to global climate change and moving towards a sustainable future. Having demonstrated impressive and rapid deployment of renewable energy in recent years, Vietnam is leading decarbonisation efforts in the Asia Pacific Region.

A report by Mili Fomicov from the Centre for Climate Finance & Investment at Imperial College Business School, who spoke at the event, outlined the main opportunities and challenges for renewable power deployment in Vietnam in the context of its economic growth potential. In 2023, Vietnam, UK and other nations agreed to a Just Energy Transition Partnership, to further support Vietnam's ambitious Net Zero 2050 goal. 

The event started with a technical workshop, attended by Imperial academics, members of the UK Vietnam Intellectual Society and academics from Vietnam's top institutions. It included a series of academic presentations and discussions around future technologies for batteries and storage, industrial decarbonisation and green hydrogen. 

New technologies for net zero

This was followed by a panel discussion with industry and academic experts from the UK and Vietnam, chaired by Professor Tim Green, Academic Leader for Sustainability at Imperial, on the subject of new technologies for net zero 2050.  

Professor Green said: “We all know that the drive towards net zero is a challenge, and it’s a challenge for all nations, and one we must meet internationally and across disciplines. 

“Today the discussions touched on many of the key technologies for the UK and Vietnam in addressing net zero, covering industrial decarbonisation, energy storage and batteries, and the role of hydrogen within an energy system. It’s clear from these discussions that there are many opportunities for debate and collaboration across these sectors.” 

The audience heard keynote addresses from Dr Khanh Duc Hoang, on behalf of Dr Tran Ky Phuc, Director of Vietnam Energy Institute, and Associate Professor Hong-Quan Nguyen, Director of the Institute of Circular Economy, Vietnam National University.  

The Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to the UK was also in attendance.  

Imperial and Vietnam 

Imperial is focused on growing its education and research collaboration with Vietnamese institutions and developing solutions to challenges impacting Vietnam, the UK, and the world. At present, Imperial is working with collaborators in Vietnam on research into eliminating the cold chain in vaccine manufacturing, antimicrobial resistance, and viral hepatitis, and is exploring collaborations in the fields of sustainability and climate.  

Imperial’s Vietnamese collaborations include: 

• Imperial College Business School has participated in a research project looking at the cost of climate change for developing countries, reviewing investments in effective climate mitigation and adaptation projects in these countries, including Vietnam.  
• The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub partners with VaBiotech (Hanoi) to work on Yeast Platforms and Eliminating the Cold Chain.  

• The Global Health and Development Group has worked with policymakers in Vietnam and piloted a local quality improvement initiative with hospital staff in Vietnam to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for pneumonia. 

Photography: James Tye