Building an interdisciplinary applied research ecosystem on Artificial Intelligence, Energy and Infrastructure between Vietnam and the world

ĐNA – (Da Nang). On the morning of 13 May 2026, at the University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang and Van Lang University, the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Energy and Infrastructure (AIEI 2026) took place. The event served as an academic forum to update new research trends, foster international scientific cooperation, and apply AI to address practical challenges in energy, transportation, smart cities, and sustainable infrastructure.

Immediately afterwards, AIEI 2026 began its first working day with sharing sessions and specialized scientific reports from leading experts. Prof. David Bassir — an expert in structural optimization, composite materials, multi-scale modeling, and additive manufacturing (Dongguan University of Technology, China / Paris-Saclay University, France) — delivered the opening talk, kicking off the working sessions of the AIEI 2026 international academic forum, which ran for three consecutive days from 13 to 15 May 2026 in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Prof. David Bassir, expert in structural optimization, composite materials, multi-scale modeling, and additive manufacturing, presenting his new research. Photo: T.Ngọc.

AIEI 2026 was recognized for successfully connecting and attracting the attention of the international scientific community, as its topics and core themes are timely and globally relevant — particularly in energy, smart infrastructure, and sustainable development. This was clearly demonstrated by the number of scientific papers from researchers, lecturers, engineers, and experts from many countries (France, Norway, Russia, China, India, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and others).

The event was co-organized by the University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang, and the Institute for Computational Science & Artificial Intelligence (COSARI), Van Lang University.

Interdisciplinary applied research ecosystem, meeting the demands of sustainable development and digital transformation

The AIEI 2026 forum is both a venue to announce new research results and a platform contributing to the formation and refinement of a research ecosystem — expanding international cooperation, connecting academia and industry, and promoting AI applications serving the sustainable development of energy, smart infrastructure, and sustainability across many topics: AI and machine learning; smart energy and renewable energy; smart and sustainable infrastructure; optimization, simulation, and forecasting; predictive maintenance and system reliability; AI applications in industry and engineering.

Group commemorative photo of the opening session at the Da Nang venue. Photo: T.Ngọc.

Thus, AIEI 2026 opened opportunities for the University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang and Van Lang University to update new technology trends and accelerate AI technology transfer in fields such as smart manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and smart cities — contributing to meeting the demands of sustainable development and digital transformation.

"The presence of scholars and experts from many countries around the world shows the growing importance of international cooperation in promoting research and application of artificial intelligence, sustainable energy, and smart infrastructure. AI is rapidly changing how we live, work, and develop society. In this context, universities and research institutes play a pivotal role in advancing knowledge, encouraging innovation, and preparing high-quality human resources for the future. Scientific conferences like AIEI 2026 provide an important platform for researchers, industry partners, and policymakers to exchange ideas, establish cooperation, and develop practical solutions for sustainable development. AIEI 2026 is also expected to deliver many academic and professional benefits," shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Tiến Dũng, Vice Rector, University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Tiến Dũng: International cooperation and the advancement of research and application in key fields are becoming increasingly important. Photo: T.Ngọc.

AIEI 2026 affirms the "academic gravitational pull" of key fields

AIEI 2026 demonstrated the international scope, interdisciplinarity, and academic appeal of a specialized conference on AI, energy, and smart infrastructure. According to the organizers, the keynote speakers of AIEI 2026 also include:

• Prof. Jaafar Gaber — expert in computer science, data systems, distributed systems, smart environments and their applications in smart cities, transportation, and real-time data processing (University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard {UTBM}, France);

• Prof. Yiliu Liu — expert in system reliability, resilience, system safety, and risk-based decision-making in energy and transportation (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway);

• Prof. Hai Canh Vu — researcher in maintenance optimization, Prognostics and Health Management, and applied Machine Learning / Deep Learning in industry (University of Technology of Compiègne, France);

• Assoc. Prof. Ngoc Duong Vo — expert in water resources, coastal engineering, climate change adaptation, and natural disaster risk management (University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang, Vietnam);

• Assoc. Prof. Dinh Duong Le — expert in electrical systems, smart grids, renewable energy, and electrical system operation and storage (University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang, Vietnam);

• Prof. Abel Cherouat — expert in material mechanics, digital simulation, composite materials, and advanced computational methods (University of Technology of Troyes, France);

• Dr. Sy Tuan Nguyen — expert in computational mechanics, AI applied in engineering, energy, computer vision, and forecasting models (COSARI, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam).

  
  

From right to left: Prof. Yiliu Liu; Prof. Joseph Zarka, recipient of the Prix Fourneyron of the French Academy of Sciences and the Prix Wallenberg of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences; and Prof. David Bassir. Photo: T.Ngọc.

The papers accepted and presented at the conference will be published by Édition Diffusion Presse (EDP) Sciences — a scientific publisher headquartered in France since 1920, the conference's publisher, and indexed in Scopus. This means the proceedings ensure high reliability and professional quality, are peer-reviewed, and will become a trusted reference source for researchers worldwide. In addition, the papers will continue to be reviewed and submitted to other international databases (according to each system's review and selection process).

Additional momentum for developing high-quality human resources for Vietnam

By choosing AI, Energy, and Smart Infrastructure as core themes, AIEI 2026 affirmed that these are key fields of the current digital transformation and sustainable development process. Artificial intelligence is driving profound changes in the operation, optimization, and decision-making of energy, transportation, industrial, and smart urban systems.

Meanwhile, issues of energy security, green energy transition, climate change, and smart infrastructure development are globally significant challenges. The conference aims to connect scientists, experts, and businesses to share new research, foster interdisciplinary cooperation, and seek technological solutions serving sustainable development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thời Trung, Director of the COSARI Institute (Van Lang University). A renowned Vietnamese scientist with more than 370 publications in reputable ISI journals, ranked in the top 1% of the world's most-cited researchers, speaking from the Van Lang University venue. Photo: Xuân Tươi.

Through AIEI 2026, the University of Science and Technology – The University of Danang continues to demonstrate its sustained expansion of international cooperation networks with universities, research institutes, businesses, and experts in AI, control, and automation. It creates an environment for interdisciplinary applied research, promotes knowledge exchange, and develops internationally oriented applied cooperation projects. This is not only an important bridge helping the university consolidate and assert its academic standing, but also generates additional momentum for high-quality human resource development — especially in AI and smart engineering.

For lecturers and students, the conference delivers many practical benefits: expanding international publication opportunities and research cooperation; enhancing research capacity, innovation, and international integration; updating advanced research trends and AI technology; strengthening connections with technology companies and industrial partners; …

"Our university is honored to be entrusted by the Ministry of Education and Training with the important responsibility of being the lead unit, heading the AI – Semiconductor Network in the Central and Central Highlands region. This important national mission reflects the trust and expectations placed on the school, contributing to Vietnam's strategic development in the fields of: Artificial Intelligence; Semiconductor technology; Digital transformation; Technical ecosystem and technological innovation," emphasized Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Tiến Dũng. /.

(Written by Anicet Barrios)