Delegates at the 85th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (ASEAN COSTI-85) on June 5. Supplied
The 85th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (ASEAN COSTI-85) concluded on June 5 in Siem Reap, with a focus on innovation and regional cooperation.
The committee, responsible for coordinating science, technology and innovation (STI) efforts within ASEAN member states, will send its conclusions and recommendations to the higher-level ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on STI (AMMSTI) for further discussion and decisions.
The two-day meeting reviewed 93 ongoing STI activities, including projects funded by the ASEAN STI Fund (ASTIF).
COSTI updated the list of 21 centres, networks and subsidiary bodies under nine sub-committees and four task forces. Two significant projects – Real-time Epidemic Genomic Surveillance for ASEAN and the ASEAN Sero-Surveillance Study (ASSeSS) on Covid-19 – are in still progress.
ASEAN is working with dialogue partners on 69 STI activities, all contributing to these initiatives.
Australia, in particular, supported the development of the ASEAN Plan of Action on STI (APASTI) 2026-2035, while China funded multiple projects under the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund (ACCF), including the China-ASEAN Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition 2024 and the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center (CATCC).
“It is crucial to leverage dialogue partner’s funds to implement impactful applied research and advance STI in ASEAN,” said Hul Seingheng, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and chair of ASEAN COSTI.
He said the total funding from various dialogue partners, including Australia, China, Japan and the US, amounted to approximately $390 million. ASEAN member states were encouraged to utilise these funds effectively to address regional needs through practical scientific solutions.
The meeting concluded with the review and acknowledgment of the completion of the 2023 Annual Priorities on STI, which included establishing the ASEAN Technology Management Hub, implementing workshops on artificial intelligence and developing the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure (RRI) Strategy.
The COSTI-85 meeting underscored ASEAN’s commitment to advancing STI through collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships. This dedication is crucial in addressing both regional and global challenges, fostering sustainable and inclusive development and enhancing ASEAN's competitive edge in the global arena.
