By Sim YH
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 14 OCT – Brunei Darussalam participated in the 86th ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Committee Meeting (COSTI-86) as well as other related meetings that took place in the Republic of Singapore from 7 to 11 October.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), here, the national delegation to the meetings was led by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof.
The delegation was also joined by officers and representatives from MTIC including the Meteorology Department, Survey Department, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Teknologi Brunei.
The meeting chaired by the Deputy Secretary of State, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), Cambodia, His Excellency Dr Hul Seingheng, aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation (STI) in ASEAN.
In the meeting, the discussion focused on a number of important issues including the latest developments on science, technology and innovation in ASEAN, the 2024 Annual Priority and the 2025 Annual Priority proposal as well as the assessment of the Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) achievement status for 2024 and the proposal for the 2025 PED.
In addition, collaboration with international partners such as the European Union, Australia and China was also discussed in an effort to strengthen the science and innovation ecosystem in ASEAN.
The discussion on the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan (APASTI) 2026-2035 is also an important agenda, where the plan is coordinated with the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030 to provide direction for the development of innovation and technology in ASEAN.
Recently, ASEAN and consultants Australia for ASEAN Futures are now in the final stages of identifying consultants to draft APASTI 2026-2035, following two completed tender processes.
The selected consultant will begin the preparation of the APASTI draft after the ASEAN Summit in Lao PDR with a mandate to define COSTI’s aspirations for 2026-2030, in line with ASEAN Vision 2045.
Also discussed was the ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund (ASTIF) as well as proposals to expand the funding of scientific initiatives in ASEAN.
In addition, the Advisory Board to COSTI (Board of Advisors to COSTI -BAC) and the chairmen of the COSTI sub-committees also presented progress reports on their respective work in various fields of science such as infrastructure development and science and technology resources, sustainable energy research , meteorology and geophysics and food science and technology.
Among the main results achieved during the COSTI-86 Meeting include the recognition of the country’s proposal to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development (AJSTD) as the 2025 Annual Priority.
The country-led project is an important step towards advancing academic analysis in ASEAN through AI technology.
After COSTI-86, Meeting ASEAN-US Consultancy on Science and Technology 12th (AUSCST-12) was also held and co-chaired by Dr. Hul Seingheng and Director of the Office of Science & Technology Cooperation, United States Department of State, Mrs. Holly Waeger Monster.
The AUSCST-12 meeting focused on the development of science, technology, and innovation cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, including the Award Ceremony The Underwriter’s Laboratories-ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2024.
