National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) through the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), hosted the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure (RRI) Strategy Drafting Workshop from May 28-29, 2024, in Ayutthaya, Thailand supported by Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI).
The workshop brought together the ASEAN RRI Task Force, an expert group composed of representatives from 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) nominated by the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). Participants engaged in discussions based on the recommendations outlined in the ASEAN Research Infrastructure (RI) Landscape Study, which was supported by the E-READI, to develop an ASEAN RRI Strategy.
The workshop participants engaged in a fruitful discussion on several key areas; Governance and Financial Management, Role of RIs in Technology Transfer and Industrial Collaboration, Intra-ASEAN and Bio-Regional Collaboration, Talent Pool and Capacity Building. One key outcome of the workshop was the unanimous agreement on developing e-catalogues to showcase existing national research infrastructures. This will enable regional sharing and collaboration in utilizing these facilities.
Research infrastructures (RIs) are facilities that provide resources and services for research communities to conduct research, collaborate internationally, and foster innovation. RIs not only address the needs of researchers in supporting excellent science but also fulfill policymakers' demands for knowledge transfer and innovation.
The workshop marked a significant step towards strengthening ASEAN's research capabilities, promoting exchanges and knowledge transfer within the region and beyond, including with the EU, and fostering economic growth, enabling the region to better address evolving regional needs.