|
 |
|
|
|
COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COST) |
- Since its establishment in 1970, the Committee on Science and Technology (COST), has successfully implemented numerous regional programmes which have contributed towards the development of ASEAN's scientific and technological expertise and resources to meet the overall socioeconomic development objectives of ASEAN. These achievements were made possible through the financial and technical support of dialogue partners.
- During the period under review the 25th Meeting of COST which was convened on 7-11 January 1992 in Bandar Seri Begawan, reviewed the progress of cooperation programmes with dialogue partners, particularly the strategy for commercialization of R & D results in the fields of microelectronics, biotechnology and non-conventional energy, considered new project proposals and discussed science and technology related issues.
- The highlights of achievements of the eight sub-committees of COST will be presented in the conferences and seminars to be held in conjunction with the Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week in September 1992.
ASEAN Science and Technology Week
- The ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW), a triennial event organized by COST, aimed at promoting greater awareness of current developments in science and technology particularly new and emerging technologies. It is an important regional forum for scientists, technologists, industrialists, academics, and key government officials. The First and Second ASTW were held in Malaysia in 1986 and in the Philippines in 1989, respectively.
- The Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week (TASTW), scheduled on 17-24 September 1992 in Singapore, will carry the theme "Socio-Economic Growth in ASEAN through Science and technology". Like its two preceding events, the TASTW will feature a series of conferences, meetings, awards for young scientists and engineers, and an exhibition to highlight the various achievements and developments of science and technology in the region and the world.
ASEAN Science Fund
- The ASEAN Science Fund established by the ASEAN Ministers of Science and Technology in January 1989 will initially be used for projects which would promote human resource development (HRD), pre-project funding of projects which will be of immediate commercial application and require seed money, or for pre-feasibility studies for new technological areas.
- So far the target of US$ 6 million for the Fund has not been achieved. New Zealand was the first dialogue partner to respond to ASEAN's request for contribution to the Fund.
Microelectronics and Computers
- The 3rd year of the ASEAN-Australia cooperation in the field of microelectronics and computers has partly achieved its objective, i.e. to develop and expand microelectronics design and applications capability, leading to possible joint ventures with dialogue partner's industry in the development of products.
- The sub-projects concerned with the design and fabrication of telecommunications and industrial control industries have successfully developed products which have been tested and proven to be of commercial potential. Member countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, have established design bureaus which are able to provide assistance to local industry and have entered contracts for the fabrication of integrated circuits.
- For purposes of exchange of information and technology transfer, several workshops have been organized, namely, on commercialization held in Singapore; on power electronics held in Malaysia; on PABX specially for rural communication; and on multi-project design methodology in Indonesia. A training programme on VLSI design methodology was planned to be held in Sydney, Australia in June 1992.
- A strategy for the commercialization of projects outputs has been prepared, by both ASEAN and Australia, for a possible phase-III cooperation, The establishment of an ASEAN Commercialization Network is being worked out by ASEAN to facilitate interaction with design centres, for the commercialization of projects and to serve as a linkage in the region.
Meteorology and Geophysics
- In the field o meteorology, the ASEAN Meteorological Services continuously participate on climate change issues as in the World Meteorological Organization's Global Atmosphere Watch Programme. COST has approved the establishment of a permanent ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) to improve the quality of meteorological services in ASEAN and has submitted the proposal to AIDAB for funding support.
- On geophysics, core activities have been on surveillance of the weather, as exemplified in the Philippines's continued monitoring of the recent eruptions of Mount Pinatubo. The ASEAN-EC Workshop on Geology and Geophysics was organized on 7-11 October 1991 in Jakarta, Indonesia to find out possible areas of cooperation between ASEAN and the EC.
- Under climatology, the publication of the User's Manual Project with the Climate Supplement of Brunei Darussalam was completed and copies were distributed to member countries, WMO and the ASEAN Secretariat. Sales copies on these publications, together with the related publications on the ASEAN Climatic Atlas and the ASEAN Compendium of Climatic Statistics, could be availed through the ASEAN Secretariat.
Materials Science and Technology
- The ASEAN-Japan cooperation project on Materials Science and Technology will end on September 1992. The equipments donated by Japan have been received by member countries. Multilateral activities, consisting of collaboration research, symposium and training for FY 1991/1992 continued to be implemented.
- The project will be concluded with a final regional seminar to be held in September 1992 in Singapore, in conjunction with the Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week. Japan will sponsor five participants, from each member country, in the areas of ceramics, corosion and polymers.
Biotechnology
- The biotechnology sub-projects on plant extract and carbohydrate biotechnology, funded under ASEAN-Australia AAECP-Phase II, continued to be implemented. A workshop on the management of S & T was held on 11-15 March 1991 in Melbourne, Australia and a 2-week course on laboratory equipment maintenance was held at the National University of Singapore on 3-14 June 1991. A 2-year extension of the project was approved by Australia.
- The ASEAN-EC Workshop on "Production of Industrial Enzyme" held in Bangkok, Thailand, January 1991 had initiated the formulation of several project proposals which were submitted to EC for bilateral cooperation. The EC Geselichuft fur Biotechnologesche (GBF) had expressed its intention to set up an ASEAN Biotechnology Information Service Network with ASEAN-EC scientific components for the purpose of selective dissemination of information (SDI) to researchers both from EC, ASEAN and other interested parties upon request and as a linkage between ASEAN and the EC. The Network will include a database and a newsletter.
Non-Conventional Energy Research
- ASEAN Non-Conventional Energy Research (SCNCER) cooperation projects with Australia Canada and the EC have progressed smoothly. The quarterly SCNCER Newsletter, and the TIS/SDI (technical information service/selective dissemination of information) series for energy information particularly pertaining to ASEAN are published regularly.
- Phase II, ASEAN-Australia Energy sub- project on energy conservation in buildings, energy conservation in industry and in fluidized bed combustion (FBC) continued to progress satisfactorily. Among the activities were the organization of a workshop on FBC in Thailand on 6-8 November 1991 and a science and technology management training course in Malaysia on 18-30 May 1992.
- The MOU for the ASEAN-Canada Solar Energy in Drying Processes Project was signed in July 1991 and the project will be implemented for a period of 4 years. The first activity was an inception mission by the Canadian Executing Agency (CEA) in April 1992. A series of workshops in the ASEAN region will be held thereafter to demonstrate the application of solar energy in drying processes primarily in agriculture and industry and to disseminate information on the application of solar energy in the region. In this project Canada will participate in providing technical assistance, equipment and management services.
- The second year of Phase-I ASEAN-EC AIT Project on Technology Transfer for Energy Cogeneration from Biomass in ASEAN Countries (COGEN Programme) is in progress. Activities in the first year, which was concluded with a COGEN Study Tour in Europe and a COGEN Workshop in Medan, Indonesia, November 1991, have opened opportunities for collaboration between ASEAN and EC. A Phase II of the COGEN Programme, focussing on ASEAN needs and characteristics was planned to be submitted to the EC.
- The ASEAN-New Zealand Workshop/Seminar on ASEAN Natural Gas Utilization was held in Auckland, 13-17 August 1991. At the Preparatory Meeting for the 11th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue, the Meeting was informed that a New Zealand consultant visited all ASEAN countries to assist with the development of an implementation plan for natural gas utilisation area for a period of three years.
Marine Science
- The ASEAN Sub Committee on Marine Science has cooperative programmes with Australia, Canada and the USA. New cooperative projects with the EC and the Republic of South Korea (ROK), are being negotiated.
- ASEAN-Australia Phase-II marine science cooperation in the areas of coastal living resources and regional ocean dynamics (ROD), is in progress. The ROD project, originally planned for 3 years implementation, has been given an additional 2-year extension to complete additional activities. A one-year training course on ROD was held at the Tide Center Facilities of Flinder University, South Australia.
- The Memorandum of Understanding for the ASEAN-Canada cooperation on marine science was signed in July 1991 and the project is now being implemented. The Joint ASEAN-Canada inception team visited member countries, November 1991, prior to the project's implementation.
- Cooperation with the USA will be completed by the end of 1992. A high level policy workshop on "Combatting Waste Management Problems in the ASEAN Region", held in June 1991, had formulated a resolution on Coastal Waste Management.
Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resource Development
- The Sub-Committee on Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resource Development include the following components: (a) the management of science and technology, (b) journal on science and technology and (c) remote sensing.
- The management of science and technology component under ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation (AAECP) Phase II is being implemented as one of the activities under the projects on biotechnology, non-conventional energy, micro- electronics and marine science. The project proposal on management of S & T, submitted to UNDP, has been adopted for funding consideration under the 5th cycle programme (1992-1996).
- The list of members of the Editorial Advisory Panel for the Journal of Science and Technology was updated; and the latest issue of the Journal volume 8 has been published and distributed.
- The remote sensing project on the Improvement of Natural Resources Management and Environment Monitoring, through the Use of ERS-1 Satellite Capabilities, in ASEAN countries has been accepted for funding support by the EC and is now awaiting implementation.
For more information, please refer to the project details
|
| |
|
|
|
