Chan Dai Lam, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Materials Science, on the RAREMET-2026 Congress: «The future of the industry belongs to those who know how to combine resources with science, technol

A representative delegation from Vietnam is expected to participate in the RAREMET-2026 International Congress. The interest to the forum from this country is not accidental: Vietnam has significant reserves of rare earth elements and is consistently building a national strategy for their deep processing. We talked with the Director of the Institute of Materials Science (IMS) about the role of science in this process, the prospects of Russian-Vietnamese cooperation and the global challenges of the industry Vietnam Academy of Sciences and Technology (VAST), Professor, Doctor of Sciences Chan Dai Lam.

— Professor Lam, how do you assess the role of the Institute of Materials Science in the development of the rare earth industry in Vietnam? What technologies have already been and are still being developed? What are your plans for the nearest future?

— First of all, we highly appreciate the initiative to organize the RAREMET-2026 Congress in Moscow from May 20 to 22, 2026. According to information published by the organizers, this is a major international forum with the traditions of the former Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation on rare earth metals, materials and related technologies, which GIREDMET, part of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, has been organizing regularly and continuously since 1970 to the present times. The Congress's topics also cover the most important links in the value chain: from resources, ore processing, metallurgy, isolation, production of functional materials, permanent magnets to digital technologies and artificial intelligence in materials science.

For Vietnam, the development of the rare earth technology industry cannot be based only on a mining-oriented approach. It is necessary to consider this as a single process, including mining, ore processing, extraction, refining, production of materials and final products, with the ultimate goal of mastering technologies, creating high added value and ensuring sustainable development. This approach also corresponds to Vietnam's orientation in planning, strategy in the field of geology and mineral resources, as well as requirements for the use of advanced technologies, saving resources and environmental protection.

I suppose that the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technology, including the Institute of Materials Science, plays an important role in Vietnam's rare earth technology ecosystem: as a key scientific and technical institution, it connects fundamental research with materials manufacturing technologies to ensure physico-chemical properties appropriate for industrial applications. In accordance with its functions, the main objectives of the Institute are scientific research, technology development, their application and transfer in the field of materials; at the same time, the Institute also has a complete system of laboratories and research equipment for the implementation of technological directions located in one of the branch offices specializing in rare earth element research. I believe that the Institute plays an important role in the next three stages.

Firstly, the ore processing stage. The main task is to determine the characteristics of the ore and select a technological scheme adapted to a specific deposit. This approach was laid down by the first generations of specialists, in particular, Associate Professor Thai Zui Tham, a graduate of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, who defended his doctoral thesis in the Soviet Union in 1960 and became one of the founders of the mineral processing industry in Vietnam. His fundamental principle was: «each type of ore has its own technological scheme.» In the case of rare earth elements, due to the complex mineral composition and different levels of radioactivity of each deposit, flotation, magnetic or gravitational separation methods require individual studies based on evidence. In this regard, this area fully corresponds to the theme of the RAREMET-2026 Congress, dedicated to sustainable technologies in the value chain of rare earth metals. This is exactly the stage at which the Institute of Materials Science should play a main role, conducting deep mineralogical research and mastering advanced enrichment technologies. The goal is to obtain clean and stable raw materials, which will become the foundation for further efficient deep processing.

Secondly, the stage of deep processing and extraction process. Vietnam's main problem nowadays is the development of technologies for isolating, purifying and refining individual rare earth elements such as Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb to a high degree of purity so that they can be used in materials and end products. In recent years, internal policy discussions have consistently emphasized the need to develop technologies in the field of rare earths, increase the level of deep processing, and form a high-value-added production chain.

Thirdly, the stage of practical application. Our Institute of Materials Science has many advantages at all three stages, and it is these stages that will determine the technological potential. The important difference is that we will not be limited to the study of ores or intermediate oxides, but will gradually move on to areas of application with high added value. As already mentioned, the research department of the Institute of Materials Science has now formed a separate research area on rare earth element technologies and the environment, and platforms for advanced biomedical materials are being developed. We have achieved positive results in the research of high-quality rare earth magnets focused on applications in the field of clean energy and electric vehicles (the technology of high-quality rare earth NdFeB magnets can already compete with imported products and is used in wind power and electric vehicles), as well as in the development of nanomaterial systems, biosensors, medicine delivery systems and magnetic materials for use in biomedicine. This area corresponds to the concept of deep processing: from rare earth resources to functional materials and high-tech products for electric vehicles, clean energy and biomedicine.

As for the plans for the nearest future, I believe that it is necessary to focus on four priority areas: improving the closed technological cycle from ore to experimental products; developing «green» technologies, especially at the stage of hydrometallurgy, including reducing the consumption of acids and solvents, chemical regeneration, water recycling, waste recycling and control of related impurities and radiation creating a bridge between scientific research and business, so that technology does not remain only at the laboratory level; training of the next generation of specialists, as rare earth elements represent a very extensive interdisciplinary field that requires the simultaneous participation of specialists in the fields of geology, inorganic chemistry, metallurgy, ecology, physics of materials and modern analytics.

I would also like to underline that the field of technologies for deep processing of rare earth elements has always and continues to receive special attention from the leadership of the Party and the State, as well as the leadership of the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technology. This area fully meets with the requirements for the development of strategic technologies and materials, as well as the creation of products with a high degree of intellectual property, not limited only to the extraction or export of intermediate products. The technological base of rare earth elements that we have today was created thanks to the contribution of many generations of Vietnamese scientists, in particular, Professor, Doctor of Sciences Dang Vu Minh, a graduate of the Chemical Faculty of Moscow State University (1968), who defended his PhD and doctoral dissertations at the USSR Academy of Sciences, later became president of the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology and a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Professor Dang Wu Min and his colleagues from the Institute of Materials Science were awarded the 2025 State Prize in Science and Technology for their comprehensive scientific work «Technologies of rare Earth Materials for production and Environmental protection.»

— Vietnam has significant reserves of rare earth elements. Which areas of cooperation between Russia and Vietnam in the field of mining and deep processing are the most perspective? What role can the RAREMET-2026 Congress play?

— I think that the most perspective area of cooperation is not scattered cooperation on individual small topics, but cooperation within the framework of a complete technological chain.

Firstly, it is cooperation at the stage of mining and processing of ore. In fact, international cooperation in the field of rare earth elements in Vietnam began very early, back in the 1960s, when chemical analyst Pham Huu Dinh, who graduated from the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology and had deep knowledge in the field of extraction of rare earth elements, was sent to the USSR and the countries of the socialist camp to study methods for the isolation of rare earth elements. This indicates that from the very beginning, the development of the Vietnamese rare earth industry has been closely linked to science, technology and international cooperation, and has not been limited to resource extraction. Vietnam has significant reserves of rare earth elements, however, in recent international estimates, in particular by the USGS, Vietnam's reserves have been adjusted down significantly from previous estimates. This once again shows that we must follow the path of selective mining, the use of high technologies, minimizing losses and increasing production efficiency, rather than relying on the «if there are a lot of resources, then extract» approach.

Secondly, it is cooperation in the field of hydrometallurgy and isolation of individual elements. It is in this area that Russia has very strong traditions, in particular thanks to GIREDMET and old educational institutions in metallurgy and chemical technology. From a technological point of view, this is a crucial part in the process of converting mineral resources into real industrial products. I think that the parties can cooperate in areas such as the optimization of solvent dissolution and extraction processes, the development of selective extraction systems and multi-stage purification processes, the purification of high purity rare earth oxides, and the creation of pilot lines for certain groups of elements in high demand, such as Nd-Pr and Dy-Tb. These topics are also very close to the area of specialization announced by the RAREMET-2026 Congress.

Thirdly is cooperation in the field of materials and end products. This cooperation has the crucial strategic value. Currently, the global demand for rare earths is related to permanent magnets, electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, optics, catalysts, and energy storage. Even in the USGS survey report for 2026, magnets are still listed as the group with the highest consumption globally. Therefore, Russian-Vietnamese cooperation should focus on Nd-Fe-B magnetic materials, high-performance magnetic materials, optical and luminescent materials, as well as precursors and alloys for the high-tech industry.

Fourth, cooperation in the field of environmental technologies and standardization. In the field of rare earths, who can develop cleaner and more circular technologies, as well as provide more efficient waste management, will gain a more sustainable advantage. I suppose that joint projects are needed to recycle industrial acids and water, recycle waste and hazardous waste after the hydrometallurgical process, control related radioactive elements, analyze, standardize and certify the quality of rare earth products. This is also one of the main topics emphasized by the organizing committee of RAREMET-2026.

As for the role of the Congress, I believe that RAREMET-2026 can fulfill three very important tasks: to establish links with the necessary technological partners; to create a basis for the formation of specific research, pilot and transfer programs and, finally, to create a forum for an open exchange of views on market issues, standards and the environment, that is, those factors that which determine the possibilities of commercialization.

— How do you assess the prospects of cooperation with Russian partners in solving issues related to rare earth metals and elements? What specific projects can be implemented in Vietnam?

— I assess the prospects for scientific and technical cooperation between Vietnam and Russia as very positive and having a solid foundation, since these relations are built on the foundation of a long history and have a clear academic depth. Generations of Vietnamese scientists who once studied in the former Soviet Union play a key role in this cooperation; they have become a bridge in the transfer of knowledge and the formation of scientific schools within the country. Prominent examples include the already mentioned Professors Dang Vu Minh and Associate Professor Thai Dui Tham, as well as chemist Pham Hu Dinh. It is thanks to this legacy that today we can talk about a systematic approach to ore processing and the extraction of rare earths.

It can be said that the combination of areas such as geology, chemistry, metallurgy, and materials science, together with the legacy of generations trained in the Soviet scientific system, has created a solid interdisciplinary academic foundation for Vietnam. In the current circumstances, the prospects for Vietnamese-Russian cooperation have received another favorable condition at the institutional level. According to new organizational decisions announced in early April 2026, the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technology is one of the five government bodies that the Political Bureau has decided to transfer to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam as a public service institution. At the same time, Professor Chan Hong Thai, PhD, a graduate of Moscow Power Engineering University who defended his doctoral thesis at Heidelberg University, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology and head of Lam Dong Province, and now Chairman of the Academy of Sciences and Technology of Vietnam, was appointed Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Policy and Strategy. This opens up opportunities for closer coordination of basic research, strategic technology development and policy recommendations at the highest level of the country. Thus, strengthening international cooperation, including with the Russian Federation in the field of technologies for the extraction, isolation and deep processing of rare earth elements, will not only be of purely scientific importance, but will also create more favorable conditions for linking with the long-term strategic directions of the country's development. This platform is an important basis for further expansion of cooperation between the two countries in many areas at this stage.

Nowadays, the Vietnamese Academy of Sciences and Technologies carries out comprehensive cooperation in various fields with the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, AFK Sistema, as well as with many leading scientific research and educational organizations of the Russian Federation. Thanks to the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and the Russian Science Foundation, the Institute of Materials Science, together with specialized institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has implemented a number of research projects in the field of nanomaterials, functional and optical materials for energy, electronics and biomedicine. In addition, cooperation has begun with Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and AFK Sistema in the field of high and strategic technology development. These achievements serve as a solid foundation for further deepening and expanding cooperation in the field of rare and rare earth metals.

In my opinion, a number of specific joint projects can be implemented in Vietnam.

The first project is a technology assessment project for each type of ore and each deposit: we should not talk in general about «rare earth elements of Vietnam», it is necessary to conduct research on each ore body, each type of minerals and each complex of impurities — this will create the basis for an optimal ore refining and processing process, as well as reduce investment risks.

The second one is a pilot project for ore processing and hydrometallurgy on a semi-industrial scale: this is a very necessary step for Vietnam to close the gap between the laboratory and the factory, and Russia can provide support by sharing its experience in designing pilot plants, selecting equipment, optimizing material and energy costs, and monitoring the stability of the technological process.

The third is a project to separate high purity Nd-Pr and Dy-Tb groups: these are key factors for the production of highly efficient magnets, and only by mastering this technology will Vietnam be able to really move closer to the industrialization of rare earth metals.

The fourth is a project for the production of materials and end products, for example, alloy powders, permanent magnets, polishing powders, fluorescent materials, catalysts or optical materials; cooperation will be truly successful only if it is possible to create products that can be tested according to technical parameters and put on the market.

The fifth is environmental projects related to the deep processing process: any modern project in the field of rare earths should include an environmental module from the very beginning — chemical recovery, water recycling, waste control and technology life cycle assessment.

And the sixth is projects to train personnel and form a joint team of specialists: in my opinion, this is the most important investment, because a rare earth processing line can be sustainable only if there is a team of experts well oriented in mining technologies, hydrometallurgy, analysis, modeling, materials and standardization. RAREMET-2026 is an ideal platform for the creation of working groups, joint leadership of graduate students, exchange of experts and the creation of joint laboratories.

— What are the most serious technological challenges currently facing the global rare earth metals industry with? What is the significance of uniting the scientific community in forums such as RAREMET-2026? What results do you expect?

— In my opinion, the global rare earth metals and elements industry is currently facing with five major technological challenges.

The first problem is the heterogeneity of resources. There is no «one technology for all mines.» Each type of ore requires its own set of solutions. This leads to very high costs for research, pilot projects, and optimization. Here, attention should be paid to the lessons of the previous generation: Associate Professor Thai Zu Tham once emphasized that ore processing is not a rigid formula, but a combination of science, experience and the specific conditions of each mine. This approach — «science combined with industrial practice» — is the key to solving difficulties associated with modern systems of extraction of rare earth ores.

The second problem is the extreme complexity of extraction technologies. Rare earth elements have similar chemical properties, so separating each element separately with a high degree of purity is a difficult task requiring a large number of chemicals, multi-stage technological processes and very strict analytical control.

The third challenge is the environmental problem. Mining, processing, and hydrometallurgical processing can lead to the formation of large amounts of waste; without integrated recycling technologies, the price that the environment and society will have to pay will be very high. That is why Vietnam's modern mining strategies focus on economical and efficient mining, which is inextricably linked to environmental protection and the use of advanced technologies.

The fourth challenge is the need to bring production to the final product, rather than focusing on semi-finished products. The greatest added value is not in ore or enriched ore, but in materials and components. Thus, the real competition in the industry is not who owns the ore deposits, but who owns the technologies of deep processing and production of materials.

The fifth challenge is supply chain security and quality standards. The world is currently paying great attention to important mineral resources and a sustainable supply chain. This places increasingly high demands on traceability of origin, purity, quality stability, verification and certification. The USGS continues to classify rare earths as a group of mineral resources of high strategic importance, and forums such as RAREMET-2026 show that the entire industry is approaching this issue in a more interdisciplinary way than before.

From this point of view, the unification of the scientific community, business and regulatory authorities at RAREMET-2026 is of great practical importance. I expect three results: the formation of research and application alliances along the chain, rather than just sharing common academic knowledge; the identification of a number of technologies that can be immediately implemented in pilot projects or demonstrated in Vietnam and partner countries; the development of a common language between the scientific community, managers and businesses regarding technological standards, environmental requirements, investments and target products. In short, I hope that the Congress will not be limited to a dialogue, but will lead to concrete, measurable steps.

— On the threshold of the RAREMET-2026 Congress, what would you like to say to scientists, engineers, enterprises and government authorities in Russia, Vietnam and other countries?

— Today, the metals and rare earth elements industry is no longer the history of one country or one industry. It is the material basis of the energy transition, the green industry, modern electronics, advanced materials and the security of high-tech supply chains. Therefore, we must approach this area with a spirit of cooperation, responsibility and a long-term perspective.

I hope that scientists will continue to dive into solving the most difficult tasks, without avoiding such key issues as precision extraction, waste recycling, reducing energy consumption, replacing harmful chemicals and improving product quality. I hope that engineers and enterprises will consider science as the basis of competitiveness, because in this industry, whoever is the first to master technology will advance further. I hope that regulators will continue to create a transparent and stable policy environment, encouraging long-term investments, while strictly observing the requirements for environmental protection and efficient use of resources. Vietnam's current priorities in mining planning, advanced technology, and sustainable development are correct; the challenge is to turn these priorities into concrete technological projects.

And finally, I hope that RAREMET-2026 will become a meeting place for generations: this is a continuation of the scientific path started by many generations — from pioneers to the modern generation of young scientists mastering the most advanced technologies. We need to both inherit the academic depth of previous generations and boldly embark on new paths in the fields of materials technology, clean metallurgy, digitalization, and artificial intelligence in materials science. This is precisely the path to genuine, sustainable and socially beneficial development of the rare earth industry.

I am convinced that the future of the rare earth industry belongs not to those countries that simply have resources, but to those that are able to combine resources with science, technology, ecology and training. Vietnam strives to cooperate with Russian partners in this spirit: jointly conduct research, develop technologies, create high-value products and contribute to the formation of a more sustainable supply chain of advanced materials. I believe that now is also a very favorable moment for expanding scientific and technical cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, since cooperation in the field of rare earths is no longer purely academic in nature, but is directly related to issues of technological independence, raw material security, green industry and strategic planning of national development.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the RAREMET-2026 Congress, we would like to remind you that the International Congress on Rare Metals, Materials and Technologies will be held in Moscow on May 20-22, 2026 at the RTU MIREA. The organizer is the Giredmet Institute. The Congress program includes plenary sessions, four thematic scientific conferences (RAREMET: Minerals, RAREMET: Metallurgy, RAREMET: Chemistry, RAREMET:Functional), panel discussions, round tables and the specialized exhibition RAREMET:Expo. We invite students, postgraduates, young scientists, as well as everyone involved in geology, chemistry, metallurgy, materials science, and rare metal processing technologies to join the Congress.