Singapore and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bolster innovation and technology partnerships, including talent development and opportunities for SMEs and startups. The MOU, signed on the sidelines of the 17th Singapore-Vietnam Connectivity Ministerial Meeting, aims to promote collaboration between Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC). The collaboration will focus on talent attraction and development, technology and ecosystem development, and advanced manufacturing opportunities for SMEs and startups in both countries. The meeting also agreed to expand its annual scope to include energy connectivity, sustainability, digital, and innovation. The move reflects the expanding economic partnership between the two nations, which saw a 16.4% increase in bilateral goods trade to SGD31.3bn in 2022.