Hanoi, December 29, 2025 – The Center for Materials Innovation and Technology (CMIT) at VinUniversity was honored to welcome Dr. Tony Son Tung Ha, Principal Scientist and Deputy Head of the Advanced Optical Technologies Department at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR, Singapore. During his visit, Dr. Ha delivered an insightful seminar titled “Optical Metamaterials for Light Manipulation and Optoelectronics Applications” and discussed the opportunity for partnerships.
A New Era of Flat Optical Technologies
In his presentation, Dr. Ha introduced the fundamental principles of metasurfaces—engineered nanostructures designed to manipulate light at the microscopic level. He highlighted the unprecedented control these materials offer over the phase, amplitude, polarization, and wavefront of light. This capability is key to developing ultrathin optical components that surpass the limitations of traditional, bulky optics.
Dr. Ha also shared the latest developments from the National Semiconductor Translation and Innovation Centre (NSTIC) in Singapore. He detailed efforts to integrate metasurface concepts into practical optoelectronic devices, including next-generation imaging systems, light modulators, and advanced display technologies.
His sharing went beyond theory, painting a picture of a new era of flat, multifunctional, and scalable optical technologies—a vision that closely aligns with CMIT’s core research pillars.
Strengthening Research Ties
Beyond the technical deep-dive, Dr. Ha provided an overview of A*STAR and its key research directions in advanced materials, which underpin innovations across photonics, optoelectronics, and semiconductor technologies.
The seminar offered a valuable opportunity for VinUni researchers, faculty, and students to update themselves on the latest technological trends from one of the region’s leading research hubs. It also opened potential avenues for collaboration between CMIT and Singapore’s semiconductor ecosystem.
During the visit, Dr. Ha and the CMIT leadership team also engaged in fruitful discussions regarding potential collaboration. Key areas of interest included the implementation of joint research initiatives, support for high-quality human resource training, and the shared utilization of advanced research equipment to maximize scientific output.
About the Speaker
Dr. Tony Son Tung Ha is a distinguished figure in the international scientific community. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the Honor Program for Gifted Students at the University of Science, VNU Hanoi (2007), his Master’s from KAIST, Korea (2009), and his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore (2017).
Currently, he holds leadership roles at IMRE (A*STAR) and NSTIC. His research contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including:
