Nearly 200 policy makers, scientists, academics and senior officials from 10 ASEAN member states are attending the 67th meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST-67) in Singapore from April 21-25. 

The Vietnamese delegation is headed by Tran Quoc Khanh, Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Vietnam COST Chair. 

According to the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Singapore organisers of the meeting, COST-67 will focus on reviewing the ASEAN Plan of Action for Science, Technology and Innovation 2015-2020, which will serve as the blueprint and implementation framework for the next phase of ASEAN’s science and technology efforts. 

In closed-door sessions, delegates will also discuss key areas, including talent mobility initiatives to encourage young talent to take up STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers and the harmonisation of technical standards across ASEAN. 

They will be briefed by the eight sub-committees under the purview of ASEAN COST, which met on April 21 and 22, on their progress on such areas as biotechnology, sustainable energy research, microelectronics and information technology, and marine science and technology. 

Addressing the opening ceremony held on April 23, S. Iswaran, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, said that since its establishment in 1978, ASEAN COST has been leading efforts to promote regional cooperation and mutual assistance in research and development programmes. He added that Singapore chairs the Health Flagship Programme, which aims to strengthen ASEAN’s capabilities to combat infectious diseases that are of concern to ASEAN. 

The minister reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to joining efforts to improve metrology capabilities and standards application in the various ASEAN forums and partnerships and to embarking on joint science and technology projects of mutual interest with all ASEAN member states and dialogue partners.