Delegates from ASEAN member states attend the Board of Advisers to the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation meeting in Vientiane.

ASEAN delegates advance science and innovation cooperation

The 20th meeting of the Board of Advisers to the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, held in Vientiane on Monday, served to reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening scientific and technological cooperation among ASEAN member states.
The meeting was attended by delegations from ASEAN member states to review progress, share experiences and discuss key issues related to science, technology and innovation.
Participants discussed the progress of the Priority Economic Deliverables work plan in 2025-2026, including the success of Phase II of the ASEAN Tech Startup Ignite project in 2025.
They adopted the proposal for key deliverables for 2027 to enhance the capacity of the ASEAN technology transfer office, a partnership between ASEAN and the European Union.
Among other matters, the Committee considered adopting the report of the meeting on a provisional basis pending further confirmation.
Deputy Director of the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development and member of the Board of Advisers to the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kiengkay Ounmany, and Indonesia’s Director of Measurement and Indicators for Research, Technology and Innovation at the National Research and Innovation Agency, Dr Khairul Rizal, co-chaired the meeting.
Dr Rizal said that since the last meeting in October 2025, ASEAN has entered a new phase in science, technology and innovation cooperation with the commencement of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology, and Innovation (APASTI) for 2026-2035.
Preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund Call have advanced significantly, including completion of the Terms of Reference and its implementation arrangements, as well as the reinstatement of the Project Appraisal Group, for recommendation to the Committee on Science and Technology and Innovation for approval.
This marks an important step in enhancing the strategic use of the ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund to support regional science, technology and innovation collaboration, and innovation initiatives under APASTI for 2026-2035.
Progress has also been made in advancing the implementation of the APASTI Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and in repositioning the APASTI Taskforce towards a stronger monitoring and evaluation role.
Together, these efforts provide a stronger foundation for effective implementation, enhanced accountability, and impact assessment across ASEAN’s science, technology and innovation initiatives, Dr Rizal said.
The meeting reviewed these developments and discussed important matters including follow-up actions from the previous meeting, the future direction of the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund, a proposed Annual Milestone Deliverable for 2027, progress on ASEAN’s Priority Economic Deliverables, and the governance and monitoring arrangements that will support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology, and Innovation from 2026-2035.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 23, 2026)