HUST Promotes Business Collaboration In Logistics And E-Commerce.

Addressing at the inauguration ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Huynh Dang Chinh, HUST Vice President conveyed his delight at the proactive engagement of Hanoi University of Science and Technology in tackling practical challenges for a Vietnamese business. He envisions the expansion of the Tiki e-commerce platform, foreseeing its development not only within Vietnam but also extending across the continent. The laboratory's primary objective is to conduct in-depth research and cultivate a skilled workforce of technology engineers specializing in e-commerce and logistics. Tiki will provide supports for infrastructure upgrades to promote collaborative efforts between the two parties in research and education. Additionally, both sides will actively engage in technology promotion initiatives towards the community.

Established in accordance with a collaboration agreement signed in December 2022, the SoICT-TIKI laboratory is currently situated in Room 409, Building B1. Since August 2022, both partners have collaboratively carried out R&D activities and successfully transferred technology for two solutions: "Optimizing freight transportation planning by truck" and "Optimizing routing for delivery and pickup (ARS)." Besides, they have co-organized Hackathons, numerous knowledge-sharing seminars, field trips, and hand-on experiences in storage operations and delivery activities Assoc. Prof. Ta Hai Tung, Dean of School of Information and Communication Technology, stated that Tiki is currently the only purely Vietnamese e-commerce platform among the four existing platforms in Vietnam, with two chief engineers who are alumni of Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The engineering team at Tiki does not use systems from foreign technology companies but prioritizes on system self-building and deployment to master the technology. "The research lab is a typical example of collaboration between the academic sector and businesses to address practical issues," emphasized Professor Tạ Hải Tùng. Former K51 student, Mr. Le Minh Nghia, who is currently serving as the Senior Director of Software Engineering at Tiki, recounts the journey of convincing Tiki's leadership to set up a research lab at Hanoi University of Science and Technology two years ago. "Hanoi University of Science and Technology provides a strong foundation. I am confident that collaborating with the university is the right path to improve business efficiency and ensure the sustainable development of Tiki," expressed the Head of the SOICT-TIKI Lab.