Ground has been broken on the first science complex in Vietnam’s Binh Dinh province, with the VND171bn (US$7.8m, €7.1m, £5.1m) state-funded project to be open by 2017.

The 38,000sq m (409,000sq ft) development – designed by French architect Jean-Francois Milou of Studio Milou – will include a planetarium, science museum and a space observatory complete with a café, library and souvenir shop.

Designed to “be in complete harmony with the area’s natural landscape and space”, the eco-friendly complex will aim to provide a public space of science in Vietnam to foster scientific engagement among the younger generation. The complex will also promote creativeness and passion, nurture talent and accelerate scientific and technological research and application, and will act as a hub for for scientific tourism development.

Speaking at the groundbreaking, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, Vu Duc Dam, highlighted the role of science and technology in the development of Vietnam, adding that if the country wanted to escape from the middle-income trap, it must maintain high economic growth for many years.