On September 3, the representative of the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoai Bac, Director of the Institute, received and worked with Prof. Obi Toshio from Waseda University (Japan) to discuss cooperation activities in research, technological innovation, and digital technology initiatives to address the challenges of population aging.

One of the topics discussed by both sides was the Smart Silver Innovation initiative within the framework of the APEC Telecommunication and Information Working Group (APEC TELWG), chaired by Japan and Waseda University. The initiative aims to apply digital technology and new technologies to build a “Smart Silver Society” model, contributing to creating a friendly, inclusive society that supports the elderly.

During implementation, the project focuses on researching and developing solutions based on AI, IoT, Big Data, Blockchain, and 5G, applied in various fields such as healthcare, improving quality of life, supporting physical and mental health, training elderly care human resources, digital government, and building a “Silver Smart City” model. The project’s activities also aim to promote joint research, training, workshops, field surveys, and experience sharing among APEC economies.

PTIT is Vietnam’s representative among the 21 participating economies in the project, contributing survey results on social trends, population structures, policies, and the development status of technologies supporting the elderly. These results were presented by PTIT at the Smart Silver Innovation Workshop organized on the sidelines of the APEC 2025 Conference in Seoul in July 2025.

At the working session, Prof. Obi Toshio proposed collaborating with PTIT to organize the Smart Silver Innovation Workshop at the APEC 2027 Conference in Vietnam, with the tentative theme “AI DX for Smart Silver Innovation/AI Government for Ageing Technology”. According to the proposal, Waseda University and PTIT will co-lead the workshop content, while proposing that the Ministry of Science and Technology permit implementation and the International Cooperation Department promote the inclusion of the workshop in the side event program of APEC 2027 in Vietnam.

In the event that the proposal is implemented, Waseda also suggested inviting the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Technology to deliver a keynote speech, thereby creating a forum for exchange among policymakers, experts, universities, and related organizations regarding the role of AI and digital transformation in building a society adaptable to population aging.

The reception and working session with Prof. Obi Toshio contributes to expanding cooperation between PTIT and Waseda University in technology fields associated with social issues, while opening up opportunities for the Institute to further participate in scientific and technological cooperation initiatives within the APEC framework.