Frédéric Bernaudin, from French Rail Open Lab, Speech at Innovate Vietnam 2025 – Sequence France
Frédéric Bernaudin, from French Rail Open Lab, Speech at Innovate Vietnam 2025
On the occasion of the Innovate Vietnam 2025 Sequence France, conference, organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (CCIFV), the French Embassy, and the National Innovation Center (NIC), Frédéric Bernaudin, General Secretary of Rail Open Lab, spoke to present the vision and ambitions of Rail Open Lab, the French railway innovation laboratory.
Rail Open Lab: A Catalyst for Railway Innovation
Rail Open Lab is a collaborative initiative bringing together railway operators, industry players, and universities, dedicated to developing innovative projects in the rail sector. Its objective is to accelerate the transformation of railways through artificial intelligence, digital twins, decarbonisation, and smart solutions. Drawing on French expertise, the laboratory relies on more than 200 years of experience and a network of 2,700 km of high-speed lines operated in France.
Among its flagship projects, Rail Open Lab highlights Franco-Moroccan cooperation, which enabled Morocco to become the first African country to manage a high-speed rail network, now expanding ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This achievement illustrates the laboratory’s ability to support international partners in modernising their railway infrastructure.
Cooperation with Vietnam: A Shared Ambition
During his speech, Frédéric Bernaudin emphasised Rail Open Lab’s commitment to establishing a lasting partnership with Vietnam, as part of the broader strategic partnership between France and Vietnam. The aim is to support the development of a high-speed rail network, drawing on experience gained in South Korea and Morocco, and on French technical expertise.
This cooperation is part of a dynamic of knowledge transfer, training, and innovation, with the support of AFD (French Development Agency) and Groupe SNCF. Several experts from the Railway Training Institute (IFF) have already travelled to Hanoi to exchange with executives and engineers from the Vietnamese railway sector.
Strengthening Relations with Universities – Training Engineers
Frédéric Bernaudin took advantage of his visit to meet students from HUCE – Hanoi University of Civil Engineering and other Vietnamese universities to discuss training programmes in high-speed rail. These exchanges follow the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Compagnie des Signaux MERMEC and HUCE during President Macron’s state visit in May 2025.
Conclusion
Frédéric Bernaudin’s intervention at Innovate Vietnam 2025 marks a key milestone in Franco-Vietnamese cooperation for railway innovation. Rail Open Lab positions itself as a strategic partner, ready to support Vietnam in its transformation towards a modern, sustainable, and innovative railway network.
