Overview

Following the previous discussions at the ASEAN-BAC LENS on talent gaps and workforce mobility, Vietnam and Singapore have launched a concrete response: the Innovation Talent Exchange (ITX). This initiative deepens bilateral cooperation in innovation and talent development, allowing young professionals to undertake two-year placements in priority sectors such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development, data analytics, digital innovation, and semiconductors.

ITX

Agreed in 2023 and set to open applications in July 2025, ITX enables young professionals to undertake two-year work stints in priority innovation sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, programming, data analytics, digital innovation, and semiconductor development.

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Nguyễn Chí Dũng stated that he is “confident that the programme will be effectively implemented in the near future”, and highlighted its potential to provide young professionals from both countries opportunities to “hone their skills, share knowledge, and gain practical experience in diverse work environments” (Vietnam Ns, 2025). He also encouraged relevant ministries and agencies to finalise procedures to ensure its timely execution (Vietnam Ns, 2025). Complementing this, Dũng acknowledged the collaboration between the Việt Nam Innovation Centre and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, urging both sides to develop concrete initiatives that can translate high-level commitments into outcomes for business and industry (Vietnam Ns, 2025). 

In line with Dũng, Kim Ngoc Thanh Nga, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center, Ministry of Finance of Vietnam  stated that the Highly qualified workers who work abroad will gain advantages, broader experience, and make more significant contributions when they return to Vietnam. In terms of monetary benefits, the salary range in Singapore is around 3,000–5,000 USD per month (equivalent to approximately VND 82,425,000 at an exchange rate of VND 16,300 per USD) (Kompas.com, 2025). Some positions even have the potential to offer double that amount.

Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade and Industry, H.E. Dr Tan See Leng, further noted that the Việt Nam–Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement is facilitating cooperation across five areas, energy transformation, sustainable development, infrastructure, digital technology, and innovation, all of which are expected to support long-term economic ties and provide fertile ground for ITX to succeed (Vietnam Ns, 2025).

The ongoing bilateral initiatives, the ITX serves as a concrete mechanism for advancing shared goals in talent development and regional innovation. Signed in 2023 as part of a broader Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ITX allows professionals from both countries to undertake up to two years of work in innovation-related roles across each other’s economies (Vietnam.vn, 2023). The program focuses on high-demand sectors such as data science and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, Internet of Things, software development, virtual and augmented reality, and semiconductor technology (Thanh, 2025). It begins with 300 professionals from each country in the first year and aims to scale up to 1,000 annually (Chieu, 2025). A central digital platform to match candidates with employers is also being developed and is expected to go live by mid-2025. 

The program is designed to meet complementary needs in both countries. Vietnam, which is working to build a US$100 billion digital economy, is facing a talent shortage in its innovation sector. Singapore, on the other hand, has a surplus of highly educated STEM graduates, many of whom seek international exposure and industry experience (Vietnam.vn, 2023). To join the program, Singaporean applicants must be under 33 years old and hold a bachelor’s degree, while Vietnamese applicants must be under 30 and meet similar educational requirements (Thanh, 2025). Participants need to secure their own job offers within eligible industries. Salaries are attractive: Singaporean companies have posted roles paying between S$3,000 to S$10,000 per month, while top Vietnamese tech firms are also offering competitive compensation (Vinh Tho and Ha Quan, 2025). These roles not only support immediate business needs but also allow participants to return home with deeper expertise, new networks, and a better understanding of regional markets.

What makes ITX more than just a job placement program is its role in strengthening long-term ASEAN ties. It reflects a broader strategic vision where human capital is seen as central to innovation and growth. Singapore is already Vietnam’s second-largest foreign investor, with more than US$80 billion committed, and both governments view talent mobility as key to maintaining this momentum (Vietnam,vn. 2025). The program avoids concerns  about brain drain by promoting two-way exchange. Participants are expected to bring back new skills and contribute more significantly to their home country's innovation ecosystem.

ITX also builds on the success of similar programs like Singapore’s Tech:X with Indonesia, reinforcing a model where ASEAN economies grow not just through trade and investment, but by actively sharing talent and ideas (Singapore Economic Development Board, 2023). By aligning with ASEAN’s shared goals in digital transformation, inclusive growth, and youth empowerment, ITX could be scaled regionally to connect high-potential talent with emerging opportunities across member states. In doing so, ASEAN would not only bridge workforce gaps but also lay the foundation for a truly future-ready, integrated Southeast Asia.

References:

Chieu, H. (2025) ‘Vietnam, Singapore to exchange 1,000 talented workers each year under new program’, VnExpress International, 20 June. Available at: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/education/vietnam-singapore-to-exchange-1-000-talented -workers-each-year-under-new-program-4903941.html  (Accessed: 25 June 2025)

Kompas.com. (2025, June 24). Vietnam dan Singapura saling tukar tenaga kerja terampil, dapat gaji puluhan juta. https://money.kompas.com/read/2025/06/24/083739126/vietnam-dan-singapura-saling-tukar-tenaga-kerja-terampil-dapat-gaji-puluhan?page=all (Accessed: 28 June 2025)

Singapore Economic Development Board (2023) Scale your business in Southeast Asia. Available at: https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/setting-up-in-singapore/scale-your-business-in-southeast-asia.html   (Accessed: 25 June 2025)

Thanh, T. (2025) ‘Vietnam, Singapore exchange thousands of innovation talents’, The Hanoi Times, 19 June. Available at: https://hanoitimes.vn/vietnam-singapore-exchange-thousands-of-innovation-talents.740055.html (Accessed: 25 June 2025)

Vietnam.vn (2023) Accelerating the Vietnam–Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange Program. Available at: https://www.vietnam.vn/en/day-nhanh-chuong-trinh-trao-doi-tai-nang-doi-moi-sang-tao-viet-nam-singapore   (Accessed: 25 June 2025)

Vietnam News 2025, 'Deputy PM proposes strengthening Việt Nam-Singapore economic cooperation', Vietnam News, Available at: https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1694562/deputy-pm-proposes-strengthening-viet-nam-s ingapore-economic-cooperation.html (Accessed: 30 June 2025)

Vinh Tho and Ha Quan (2025) ‘Vietnamese talents offered Singapore jobs with monthly pay up to $7,760’, Tuổi Trẻ News, 19 June. Available at: https://news.tuoitre.vn/vietnamese-talents-offered-singapore-jobs-with-monthly-pay-up-to-77 60-103250619143356237.html  (Accessed: 25 June 2025)