FPT teams up with NVIDIA to build a $200 million AI factory

DNHN - The factory’s mission is to enhance AI research and development capabilities, thereby building advanced applications and solutions, focusing on generative AI (GenAI), autonomous vehicles and green transition.

On the morning of 23 April in Hanoi, the FPT Corporation announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with NVIDIA - the world’s leading multinational technology corporation - to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI) research, providing services and solutions for Vietnamese and global customers.

The two sides plan to build an Artificial Intelligence Factory (AI Factory), train high-quality human resources and become a Service Delivery Partner in NVIDIA’s partner network.

According to the memorandum of understanding, FPT plans to invest $200 million to build an AI Factory that provides a cloud computing platform for AI research and development and is sovereign in Vietnam.

This AI Factory does not manufacture hardware, it operates on Nvidia’s latest technology platform, including a suite of applications and an AI development technology framework in AI Enterprise and the H100 Tensor Core GPU graphics chip.

According to the representative of the Vietnamese technology corporation, the factory’s mission is to enhance AI research and development capabilities, thereby building advanced applications and solutions, focusing on generative AI (GenAI), autonomous vehicles and green transition.

The factory is expected to contribute to improving Vietnam’s capacity to provide high-tech AI and cloud solutions on a global scale, while also enhancing the quality of technology and human resources.

“We are committed to making Vietnam a global AI development centre,” declared Mr Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT.

As one of the Service Delivery Partners in NVIDIA’s partner network, FPT aims to become a Global Systems Integrator. Accordingly, FPT will provide software, hardware, cloud computing services and, in particular, Generative AI solutions for businesses in the following sectors: Automotive Technology, Manufacturing, Finance, Banking and Insurance, helping businesses improve performance and automate operations. The two sides are also expanding the AI research project with the AI Labs model.

FPT plans to incorporate NVIDIA’s training content into formal teaching at universities and high schools to develop high-tech human resources. The corporation aims to have at least 30,000 students and pupils access the programme within 5 years.

In addition, FPT and NVIDIA are cooperating to promote the development of the e-sports community and digital content creation on a cloud platform through the Cloud Gaming platform in Vietnam. FPT will provide infrastructure and deploy NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW service to customers.

“25 years ago, FPT dreamed of exporting software. Today, Vietnam has 1 million people working in the IT sector, serving many customers around the world. Today, we have another dream: an AI nation with 3-5% of workers in the AI sector,” said Mr Truong Gia Binh - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder of FPT.

Mr Keith Strier, Vice President of NVIDIA’s Global AI Initiative, stated: “AI technology has enormous potential to improve the quality of life and strengthen the economy for every country by driving innovation in many areas such as healthcare, agriculture, meteorology and manufacturing. NVIDIA and FPT will work with Vietnamese businesses to accelerate digital transformation, making Vietnam an AI powerhouse.”

Previously, at the end of 2023, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang visited Vietnam with the aim of further cooperation and development in infrastructure and human resources in the semiconductor sector in the coming years.

“We are committed to implementing a plan to make Vietnam our second home and establish a legal entity in Vietnam,” affirmed Mr Jensen Huang.

Thu Hang