With the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology agency (JST), the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and Nagaoka University of Technology (NUT), Japan, together with Japanese rubber producers, held the Kick-off Symposium for Phase II of the Project “Innovation of Science and Technology on Natural Rubber for Global Carbon Process (INBERBON Project)” at HUST on March 6th and 7th, 2023.
During the symposium, researchers and scientists exchanged their research views and achievements on natural rubber as a green material. Besides, the symposium also provided a technical tour to a Vietnamese rubber factory, which helped researchers to understand more about the actual condition of rubber industry in Vietnam.
In his presentation at the symposium, Assoc. Prof. Phan Trung Nghia, Project Manager of HUST side shared: “We hope that this project will bring together the experts of 4 research groups from both sides for the project’s outputs to be achieved as soon as possible and moreover, for industrial applications”.
This is a SATREPS* project supported by JICA and JST, which started on February 10th, 2023, as a 5-year project. It aims at developing a technological chain for production of protein-free natural rubber applicable to Vietnam, to expand a scope of natural rubber use through the registration of ISO Standards, and to improve the process of natural rubber production in Vietnam.
Studies under the Project will focus on the sustainable biological resource of natural rubber and aim to build a new industrial foundation for that material. In the initial stage, the technology for mass production of protein-free natural rubber (nitrogen content: 0.004w/ w%) will be developed, also, patent registration of related intellectual property and international standardization of such technology will be enhanced. The protein-free natural rubber will then be used in car manufacturing, international standardization of natural rubber biodegradable technology as well as developing wastewater treatment technology that is in harmony with the environment, thereby creating a natural rubber industry which will replace the traditional synthetic rubber industry, also related environmental conservation industries. By the above efforts, the replacement of fossil-resourced synthetic rubber with natural rubber in car manufacturing could help reduce CO2 emissions in the future.
Prof. Yamaguchi Takashi, Project Director of the Japanese side said: “The Project is conducted as the continuation of the ‘Establishment of Carbon-Cycle-System with Natural Rubber” Project (Phase I)’ which was implemented from April 2011 to March 2016. This phase aimed to help Vietnam with realizing the plan of replacement of synthetic rubber which is made from fossil fuels with natural rubber. Through phase I, the capacity of concerned implementing agencies of the Vietnamese side on increasing the safety of rubber products and promoting the replacement was strengthened”.
JICA will actively work with the Government of Vietnam, implementing agencies to continue the cooperation and support Vietnam in establishing the leading global carbon process with natural rubber.
