The ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Week (ASTIW) is a flagship triennially event of the ASEAN Committee of Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) which started in 1986, as a regional gathering of stakeholders to exchange their knowledge and achievements in using science, technology and innovation for sustainable development and also for interaction to strengthen collaboration and partnership. The 11^th ASTIW (ASTIW-11) took place on 14-17 June 2021, hosted by Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MHESI) of Thailand. It was planned to organize a hybrid (onsite + online) event but changed to the full online due to the recent situation of Covid-19 in Bangkok.

JASTIP was invited to organize a side-event at this key event for the ASEAN STI community. The session entitled “JASTIP Science and Policy Dialogue for Sustainable Development” on 14 June, as a follow-up of the 8^th JASTIP Symposium in Hanoi in January 2020, showcased the 5-year outcomes of JASTIP 1^st Phase with ASEAN policy-makers so as to discuss how to upgrade the ASEAN-Japan collaborative research platform.

The session was opened by Prof. Dr Sirirurg Songsivilai, Permanent Secretary of MHESI, Chairman of the Thai National COSTI Committee, and followed by six speakers. In this session, Prof. Dr Eiji Nawata, Kyoto University presented the Executive Summary of JASTIP Phase 1 (2015-2020) and Forecast of Phase 2 2020-2025. Assoc. Prof. Dr Thumrongrut Mungcharoen, NSTDA discussed JASTIP WP2 Energy and Environment Joint Laboratory in NSTDA, Thailand.  Prof. Dr Enny Sudarmonowati, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) introduced JASTIP WP3 Bioresource and Biodiversity Joint Laboratory in LIPI. Presentation on the JASTIP WP2 activity in Cambodia was given by Dr Long Bun, Institute of Technology of Cambodia. Dr Nga Pham Hong, Thuiloy University, Vietnam gave an extensive review of JASTIP WP4 activity in Vietnam and in the Mekong Basin.

 

Unfortunately, the panel session could not listen to feedback from audiences due to the online system specification, expert panels unanimously concluded JASTIP 1^st Phase in a positive light in terms of promotion of ASEAN-Japan collaboration on STI while recognizing the further need to facilitate dialogue with policy-makers to ensure the sustainability of the initiative and to pursue impacts of research outputs on the society to challenges in JASTIP 2^nd Phase.

The agenda was as follows, and presentation files are downloadable from the below links.

1. Opening Remarks by Dr Sirirurg Songsivilai (MHESI)
2. Executive Summary of JASTIP Phase 1 (2015-2020) and Forecast of Phase 2 (2020-2025) – Prof. Dr Eiji Nawata (Kyoto University, JASTIP WP1 Leader)
3. WP2: Energy and Environment Joint Laboratory in NSTDA, Thailand – Assoc. Prof. Dr Thumrongrut Mungcharoen (NSTDA, Thailand)
4. WP3: Outcomes and Policy Implications of Bioresources and Biodiversity of Phase 1 for Phase 2: Indonesia and ASEAN’s perspective – Prof. Dr Enny Sudarmonowati (LIPI, Indonesia)
5. WP4: Linking with ASEAN and Japanese Partners through Malaysia in Disaster Science and Technology – Prof. Dr Ali Selamat (MJIIT, Malaysia)
6. JASTIP WP2 activities in Cambodia – Dr Long Bun (Institute of Technology of Cambodia)
7. WP4: Nature-based solutions as a regional initiative toward sustainable river basin development – Dr Pham Hong Nga (Thuyloi University, Vietnam)