On the morning of July 28, 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE, formerly Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ENGEL Vietnam Co., Ltd. (ENGEL). Following the signing ceremony, the two parties held the groundbreaking ceremony for the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. As a joint initiative between HCM-UTE and ENGEL, the center represents a major milestone in advancing collaboration in injection molding and advanced manufacturing technologies. It also reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening university–industry partnerships that foster high-quality education, scientific research, technology transfer, and the development of a highly skilled workforce to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing.
Attending the ceremony on behalf of ENGEL were Mr. Markus Fuchs, President Southeast Asia & Oceania, ENGEL Group; Mr. Duong Van Chin, Sales Manager, ENGEL Vietnam; Mr. Bui Quang Huy, General Manager, Piovan Vietnam; Ms. Ngo Anh Thu, Senior Market Advisor, Austrian Embassy – Commercial Section Ho Chi Minh City; together with representatives and technical experts from ENGEL Vietnam. Representing HCM-UTE were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hieu Giang, President; Dr. Huynh Phuoc Son, Director, Office of Enterprise Relations; Mr. Ho Thanh Cong, Deputy Director, Office of Enterprise Relations; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Truong Nguyen Luan Vu, Dean, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; Dr. Mai Duc Dai, Vice Dean, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; along with lecturers from the Department of Machinery Manufacturing Technology and representatives from related units.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hieu Giang, President of HCM-UTE, emphasized the University's commitment to strengthening partnerships with industry in order to create a practice-oriented learning environment. Such collaborations enable undergraduate students, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and faculty members to gain hands-on access to advanced technologies throughout their academic journey. On behalf of ENGEL, Mr. Markus Fuchs reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to partnering with HCM-UTE in education, research, and talent development, expressing confidence that the collaboration would foster innovation while enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam's manufacturing industry.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hieu Giang, President of HCM-UTE, delivering his remarks at the ceremony
Mr. Markus Fuchs, President Southeast Asia & Oceania, ENGEL Group, delivering his remarks at the ceremony
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, HCM-UTE and ENGEL will establish comprehensive cooperation in education, scientific research, technology transfer, and human resource development. The two parties will jointly develop industry-oriented training programs, organize internships, company visits, technical seminars, and career development activities, invite ENGEL experts to participate in teaching and share practical experience, and promote applied research projects and engineering solutions in the fields of injection molding technology and advanced manufacturing.
Representatives of HCM-UTE and ENGEL exchanging the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
A major highlight of the partnership is the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center, sponsored by ENGEL and established at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The Center will be equipped with state-of-the-art injection molding systems and advanced manufacturing technologies to support education, laboratory practice, and research. It will provide undergraduate students, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and faculty members with opportunities to experience industrial-standard manufacturing processes in a modern learning environment. Beyond serving as a teaching facility, the Center is expected to become a hub for applied research, technology testing, engineering solutions, technology transfer, and university–industry collaboration, helping bridge the gap between academic training and industrial practice.
In addition to sponsoring the Center, ENGEL will continue supporting HCM-UTE through scholarship programs, equipment sponsorship, technical training, technology transfer, and a wide range of academic activities. These initiatives will contribute to building an integrated ecosystem of education, research, and innovation, enabling students to access cutting-edge technologies, strengthen their professional competencies, and better prepare for the evolving demands of the global manufacturing workforce.
Immediately after the MoU Signing Ceremony, delegates participated in the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. More than the commencement of a new facility, the ceremony symbolized ENGEL's long-term investment in HCM-UTE's educational and research activities while opening up new opportunities for meaningful collaboration in smart manufacturing and injection molding technology.
Representatives of HCM-UTE and ENGEL at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, together with the groundbreaking of the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center, demonstrates an effective model of university–industry collaboration in which industry partners not only support educational activities but also make direct investments in infrastructure for teaching and research. This partnership is expected to provide a solid foundation for HCM-UTE to further enhance education quality, advance applied research, promote technology transfer, and cultivate highly qualified human resources capable of meeting the demands of the manufacturing industry in the era of smart manufacturing.
About the ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center
The ENGEL Injection Molding Technology Center is a modern education, laboratory, and research facility sponsored by ENGEL Vietnam and equipped with advanced injection molding machines and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies from the ENGEL Group. The Center is designed to support teaching, scientific research, technology transfer, and university–industry collaboration while providing HCM-UTE students, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and faculty members with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in industrial-standard manufacturing processes. It is expected to make a significant contribution to enhancing the quality of human resource development in plastics engineering and smart manufacturing.
About the University's Name Change
On December 26, 2025, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Decision No. 2809/QĐ-TTg, officially renaming Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education as Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Engineering (HCM-UTE). The new name more accurately reflects the University's multidisciplinary development strategy, its strengths in technology and engineering, and its current position as a leading higher education institution in Vietnam.
Before 2007, the University was widely recognized as one of Vietnam's leading institutions for technical teacher education. Following the restructuring of the national higher education discipline classification system in 2007, the University strategically expanded its academic portfolio in engineering, technology, and related disciplines. The name change is aligned with the National Higher Education Network Development Plan for 2021–2030, with a Vision to 2050, responding to the demand for highly qualified human resources in the era of digital transformation while reaffirming HCM-UTE's role as one of Vietnam's key national universities in technology and engineering.