The project focuses on developing an early warning system for landslides and debris flows in Central Vietnam, with a pilot implementation in Hue City. It is based on integrated risk assessment and digital platforms, aiming to minimize losses caused by these types of disasters, which have been increasing in frequency and intensity in the context of climate change.
The project document was officially approved for adjustment by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment under Decision No. 5925 dated December 31, 2025, providing the legal basis for the project’s formal implementation phase.
Thuyloi University and JICA sign the Record of Discussions for the SATREPS project on January 29.
Photo: Bao Thang.
At the signing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Viet, President of Thuyloi University, stated that the SATREPS project marks the beginning of a meaningful research and technology transfer cooperation program between Vietnam and Japan, directly addressing urgent natural disaster challenges.
According to Prof. Viet, in 2025 alone, natural disasters caused particularly severe damage in many localities, including Hue, which experienced consecutive episodes of heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides that significantly affected people’s livelihoods, infrastructure, and cultural heritage sites.
“In 2025, Hue City experienced three major flood events, with average rainfall exceeding 40% compared to the same period in previous years, resulting in prolonged inundation in many areas,” he emphasized. He also affirmed that, as the Vietnamese project managing institution, the University will mobilize maximum scientific resources, human capacity, and facilities to ensure the project is implemented on schedule and meets quality requirements.
A key priority is to closely coordinate with domestic and international partners, particularly local authorities and specialized agencies in Hue City, to develop scientifically sound, practical, and highly applicable landslide and debris flow forecasting models.
The SATREPS project aims to develop large-scale hazard maps for landslides and debris flows; establish and digitalize an early warning system to enhance connectivity and risk communication to communities; and integrate advanced computational models such as TAG_FLOW with InSAR remote sensing data. The project will also establish a specialized laboratory for landslide assessment.
In parallel, training and capacity-building activities will be conducted for Vietnamese managers, researchers, and students in the field of disaster risk assessment.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Viet, President of Thuyloi University.
Photo: Bao Thang.
From the Japanese side, Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke, Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office, noted that the urgency of the project has become increasingly evident through recent heavy rains, floods, and landslides in Central Vietnam, including mountainous areas near the pilot sites in Hue.
He emphasized that timely warnings, clear communication, and accessible tools play a crucial role in protecting lives and livelihoods. According to Mr. Kobayashi, the project’s objectives go beyond academic outputs and must generate tangible impacts. JICA will continue to promote close collaboration among researchers, government agencies, and implementing bodies in both countries to transform models, data, and digital platforms into practical early warning and decision-support tools usable in daily community life.
The project is scheduled to be implemented from June 2026 to June 2030, with a total budget of approximately USD 3.43 million (equivalent to over VND 89 billion). The majority of the funding comes from non-refundable ODA provided by the Government of Japan, supplemented by Vietnamese counterpart funding and financial support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for Japanese partners.
Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke, Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office.
Photo: Bao Thang.
Thuyloi University will collaborate with Gunma University, along with other universities and research institutes from both countries and local management agencies in Hue, to implement the project.
The signing of the Record of Discussions marks the official launch of the SATREPS project in Vietnam. According to participating parties, the project’s outcomes are expected not only to enhance forecasting and early warning capacity for landslides and debris flows in Central Vietnam, but also to establish a replicable model of science and technology cooperation contributing to safe and sustainable development in the context of increasingly evident climate change.
Previously, on April 29, Thuyloi University held a ceremony to announce the project.
SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) is an international science and technology cooperation initiative launched by the Government of Japan to address global challenges through collaboration between Japanese researchers and partners in developing countries. The program focuses on four main research areas: environment and energy; biological resources; disaster prevention and mitigation; and infectious disease control.
