The 51st Meeting of ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology


The 51st Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST) was held at the Rizqun International Hotel, Brunei Darussalam, on 27-29 April 2006. The Meeting was attended by high level officials in science and technology from the ten member countries of ASEAN, as well as scientists, researchers and academics from the various institutions in the region. Officials from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Bureau of Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office, Japan, participated in the open session of the Meeting.

The Meeting was officially opened by The Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Development of Brunei Darussalam. In the opening address, the Minister noted that COST and its Sub-Committees efforts in developing and implementing programme and activities in support of the current ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology (APAST) were focused mostly on Human Resources Development and capacity building activities only.

In this regard, the Minister urged COST to be selective in identifying projects, programmes and activities so as to ensure resources are devoted to areas that yield maximum benefits. The Minister further expressed his hope that the new APAST will be formulated with thrusts and actions that COST can realistically meet in its relevant timeframe and within the collective resources and capacities. The need of COST and its Sub-Committees to find ways to address various constraints that challenge the COST was also emphasized.

In order to find effective solutions to various constraints that challenge Member Countries and COST in implementing their programme activities and to develop the new APAST 2007-2011 as the successor to the current APAST, a Brainstorming Session (BS) was held on 25-26 April 2006. The Session was participated by COST and representatives from all Sub-Committees.

With regard to the constraints in implementing projects, COST Meeting noted recommendations put forward by the BS, among others: by urging Member Countries to consciously take part in cost-sharing activities by committing their national funds to support COST projects that complement or supplement those identified in their national S&T programmes, and also intensify the ASEAN-help-ASEAN scheme.

In-depth discussions were also carried out during the BS on the development of APAST 2007-2011. Capacity building and HRD activities should be continuously pursued, however the BS recommended that R&D will be a key focus on the new APAST. COST agreed that the draft APAST 2007-2011 shall be presented to the 4th IAMMST to be held in August 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eight out of the nine Sub-Committees as the subsidiary bodies of COST that design and implement cooperation projects in their respective areas of concern, met prior to the COST Meeting on 24-25 April 2006. Areas of concern includes food science and technology; biotechnology, materials science and technology; marine science and technology; non-conventional energy research; microelectronics and information technology, science and technology infrastructure and resources development, and space technology applications. The Sub-Committees projects are implemented with ASEAN member countries in cooperation among themselves and with external partners.

The COST Meeting reviewed the progress of the projects of the Sub-Committees and monitored their success in reaching the objectives of the APAST. The Meeting noted the continuing trend of expanding cooperation areas with external partners of ASEAN, and also initial efforts to engage the participation of private sectors in implementing COST projects. Highlights of the projects review include the following:

1. Technology Summit and Technology Platform, to be held in India, 23-24 November 2006. The annual event is organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India with cooperation with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), aims to facilitate technology partnerships between India and overseas industry, R&D and academic institutions, technology funding agencies and government bodies. COST has agreed to become the partner to hold the event and agreed that biotechnology and new materials will be one of the main focus of the event.
2. Successful conclusion of the 1st meeting of the ASEAN S&T Research and Education Network Alliance (ASTRENA) on 23 April 2006. The project aims to prepare Member Countries for connectivity to the second generation Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN2) which will facilitate exchange of large dataset through said connectivity. A Ministerial Declaration on the formation of ASTRENA is planned to be signed during the 4th Informal ASEAN Meeting on the S&T (IAMMST)
3. Implementation of the ASEAN-help-ASEAN projects:
   1. Successful completion of the 1st Training Workshop on Landfill Development and Management, held in Brunei Darussalam, 6-7 March 2006. A total of 59 participants were supported by the Government of Brunei Darussalam to attend the Workshop;
   2. Announcement of the Malaysian Government on the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (TCTP), to be used as a ASEAN-help-ASEAN platform supported by the Government of Malaysia.

To reach the public better, COST noted with appreciation the new development of the ASEAN Science and Technology Network (ASTNET) website built in open source system. The website will contain information about COST programmes and activities, as well as databases on S&T facilities and expertise available in the region, and can be accessed at www.astnet.org .

COST meets regularly twice a year. The next meeting will be held in the Malaysia, in August 2006.

• Tentative Programme of Activities
• Registration Forms
• Annotated Tentative Agenda of the 51st Meeting of COST
• The Brainstorming Session: TOR and Agenda

ASEAN Secretariat Information Papers for COST-51 (can be accessed by COST and SC Members only)

• Agenda Item 5.1. Highlights of the 11th ASEAN Summit
• Agenda Item 5.2. Highlights of the 11th AMMST
• Agenda Item 8.1. Status Report of ASEAN Science Fund
• Agenda Item 9.1. Status Report of COST Projects
• Agenda Item 10.2.2. The Holding of the 4th Meeting of the ASEAN China JSTC
• Agenda Item 10.4.2. Highlights of the 5th AIWGST
• Agenda Item 10.4.3. Technology Summit and Technology Platform 2006
• Agenda Item 10.5.2. Paper on the Asia S&T Strategic Cooperation Programme
• Agenda Item 10.5.2. Presentation on the Asia S&T Strategic Cooperation Programme
• Agenda Item 10.8.2. Joint Concept Paper on the Convergence of Interests between ASEAN COST and Russia in the area of S&T
• Agenda Item 10.10 Update on the ASEAN - Pakistan Cooperation on S&T
• Agenda Item 11. Update on the Progress under ASEAN COST Plus Three Cooperation
• Agenda Item 13. Proposed Ministerial Meeting on East Asian Cooperation in S&T Policy
• Agenda Item 16.1. TOR of National COST Chairman and the ASEAN Secretariat
• Agenda Item 16.2. Cooperation with World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO)