Monash University and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction have officially inaugurated a Joint Research and Training Hub, marking a significant milestone in their growing partnership to advance sustainable urban development and smart city innovation.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Urban Traffic Management Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, and was held alongside the signing of a Collaboration Plan outlining a shared roadmap to deliver joint research, education and training programs through the new Hub.
Mr Tran Quang Lam, Deputy Director at the Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with Monash University on this strategic initiative. The Joint Hub reflects our city's focus on sustainable development and our commitment to applying advanced technologies to address urban challenges."
"We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with international partners to build smart, livable cities that serve the long-term needs of our communities."
Professor Yiannis Ventikos, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University, said the Joint Research and Training Hub represents a platform for impactful and sustained collaboration.
"By bringing together Monash's strengths in transport, digital technology and city planning with Ho Chi Minh City's focus on innovation, we're working together to design smart, practical solutions that meet the city's evolving needs," Professor Ventikos said.
"This Hub moves us from aspiration to implementation, developing practical responses to urban challenges across Vietnam, Australia, and the region."
Professor Craig Jeffrey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) and Senior Vice-President of Monash University, highlighted the significance of the initiative.
"I am delighted to see this partnership develop," Professor Jeffrey said.
The long collaboration between Associate Professor Dong Ngoduy, Monash Department Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the then-HCMC Department of Transport (DoT) led to a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2024 between Monash and HCMC DoT, outlining shared priorities including digital twin technologies, AI-driven traffic control, data platforms, demand forecasting, and smart public transport systems. Following the signed MoU, a transport digital twin (DT) system developed by Dong and his team was deployed successfully in HCMC, currently operating across 50 km of traffic corridors in the city. The system improved traffic flow across these major corridors reducing delays by 20%, and highlighting the impact of translating cutting-edge research into real-world urban solutions.
The breakthrough system addresses the unique and chaotic nature of real-world traffic by creating a "loop back" framework that continuously draws live data from the physical environment and uses it to adapt in real time.The world-first digital twin technology dynamically simulates, analyses and manages traffic flows, enabling smarter and faster responses to ever-changing road conditions.
Building on this momentum, the new Joint Research and Training Hub, will be led by Associate Professor Dong, and will serve as a collaborative platform for joint research, education and training in sustainable urban development and smart city innovation.
