Representing the French delegation were Mr. Denis Jérôme Fourmeau – Science and Education Cooperation Attaché at the French Embassy; Mr. Patrick D’Hugues – Head of the Waste and Raw Materials Management Department, French Geological Survey; Mr. Olivier Frézot – Director for Geography and Regional Management – Asia Region, French Geological Survey; together with experts from the Viet Nam Department of Geology and Minerals.
On behalf of Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, participants included Dr. To Xuan Ban – Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences and Geoengineering; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoang Bac – Director of the Center for Excellence in Analysis and Experiment; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai Nga – Head of the International Office; along with representatives from faculties, departments, and a large number of lecturers and students interested in the programme.
Opening the session, Mr. Patrick D’Hugues presented an overview of BRGM’s development strategy and key research programmes in mineral resources, energy transition, and sustainable development. His presentation particularly highlighted strategies for ensuring responsible mineral supply chains to support the green transition in France and the European Union. He also emphasized the potential for cooperation between France, the European Union, and Viet Nam in developing strategic mineral supply chains, digital geological data systems, sustainable mining technologies, and solutions supporting the energy transition.
Mr. Patrick D’Hugues presented BRGM’s research orientations and sustainable mineral development strategy.
During the programme, Dr. To Xuan Ban introduced an overview of HUMG’s development history, internationalization strategy, and strengths in education and research in the fields of geology, natural resources, environmental sciences, and mineral extraction and processing technologies. He also shared HUMG’s orientation toward promoting international cooperation in doctoral training, developing specialized research groups, and implementing talent engineer programmes associated with key technological areas such as applied artificial intelligence, Digital Earth technologies, smart mining, automation for the mining and energy industries, underground engineering technologies, and geological applications for rare earth and strategic mineral industries.
Dr. To Xuan Ban introduced HUMG’s strengths in education, research, and internationalization strategy.
During the technical discussion session, both sides focused on the potential for cooperation in doctoral training, projects related to strategic minerals, advanced mineral processing technologies, sustainable mining, and digital technology applications in geology and mineral resources. The discussions demonstrated promising prospects for collaboration between HUMG and BRGM in the context of the increasing global demand for securing critical raw material supply chains for the energy transition.
Overview of the working session.
The working session not only contributed to strengthening academic connections between HUMG and BRGM but also opened up long-term prospects for cooperation in high-quality human resource development, strategic mineral research, and the advancement of technologies for sustainable mining. The programme further reaffirmed HUMG’s internationalization strategy while promoting research areas associated with the green transition and raw material security in the current global context.
Delegates at the working session posed for a group photo.