TRUONG DAI HOC KINH TE THANH PHO HOCHI MINH

Their core work

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) is Vietnam's leading economics university, contributing Southeast Asian trade and economic expertise to European research on food systems and sustainable development. In H2020 projects, they provide case study data, economic modelling, and policy analysis from the Vietnamese perspective — a critical viewpoint for understanding global food value chains and the impact of EU trade agreements on developing economies. Their work bridges European policy research with on-the-ground realities in one of Asia's fastest-growing agricultural economies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UEH's early H2020 involvement (2016–2019) centred on European food chain sustainability and food value chain analysis through Strength2Food and VALUMICS — relatively narrow, supply-chain-focused work. Their most recent project, TRADE4SD (2021–2025), marks a clear shift toward broader trade policy, sustainable development goals, and EU policy coherence — a much more macro-economic and governance-oriented scope. This progression suggests a move from applied food economics toward international trade policy research with a sustainability lens.

UEH is moving from sector-specific food chain analysis toward broader trade-sustainability policy research, making them increasingly relevant for projects studying EU trade impacts on developing economies.

How they like to work

UEH operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for non-EU partners who bring regional expertise rather than administrative leadership. With 59 unique consortium partners across 23 countries from just 3 projects, they are comfortable in large, diverse consortia (averaging ~20 partners per project). This suggests an organization that integrates well into big international teams and is valued for its specific geographic and economic perspective rather than project management capacity.

Despite only 3 projects, UEH has built connections with 59 partners across 23 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by participation in large RIA consortia. Their reach spans Europe comprehensively, with a unique position as a Southeast Asian node in otherwise European-dominated projects.

What sets them apart

UEH is one of very few Vietnamese universities active in H2020, offering direct access to economic data and policy expertise from one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic agricultural economies. For any consortium needing a credible ASEAN partner for trade impact studies, food system analysis, or SDG-related research, UEH fills a geographic and disciplinary gap that most European partners cannot. Their growing funding trajectory (from EUR 35K to EUR 214K per project) signals increasing trust and responsibility within EU research consortia.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TRADE4SD
  Their largest project by far (EUR 214,250), representing a step up in funding and a shift toward high-level trade-sustainability policy research.
• Strength2Food
  Their entry point into H2020 — a major EU food quality and procurement policy project where UEH provided the Vietnamese case study perspective.
• VALUMICS
  Focused on modelling food value chain dynamics, demonstrating UEH's quantitative economics capabilities alongside their qualitative policy work.