Since 2020, Kyoto University, JAPAN-ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform (JASTIP) have been leading an initiative to organize an online series of study group meeting for cultivating STI coordinators between ASEAN and Japan toward Grand Challenge in collaboration with Universiti Malaya, ASEAN Foundation, and COSTI/SCIRD and ASEAN Secretariat. These joint initiatives were officially endorsed by ASEAN COSTI.

The initiative aims to generate further awareness of cultivating professional STI coordinator in ASEAN and Japan. This portal site is to share results of our joint efforts widely among the relevant ASEAN Community, Sectoral-Bodies, centers and networks and committees such as COSTI and SCIRD.

Mutual Learning of Science Technology Innovation Coordination to Bridge Different Countries and Sectors in Cambodia, Thailand, and Japan towards Capacity Development Program and Policy Recommendations.

Targeted at bio-circular green economy and sustainable development, this ASEAN-Japan team aims to co-create an original training system of “Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Coordination” between government, academic, private sectors and local community. Among the different stakeholders, somebody should “coordinate” and tailor-make a socioeconomic development plan as an inclusive and sustainable model for the stakeholders. Currently, connections between public and private sectors are limited; community and industry cannot easily find capable scientists and/or proper technologies to solve common social and technical problems because of lacking well-trained coordinators, and even a training system. It is necessary to develop the training system to cultivate more coordinators with professional knowledge and communication skills, and to facilitate dialogue among multi-stakeholders. 

The survey targeted at current situation of human resource development in Malaysia and the Philippines. In the ministries and universities, there is a strong awareness and urgent need to develop coordinators in charge of research management and international joint projects. While both countries have been developing such a system as basic subject and training opportunities at the national level, it is not yet sufficiently reached out to those who need it, and it is expected to systematize the human resources development program further. This survey revealed that depending on the nature of the organization being research-oriented or private, each institute has also implemented its own training courses and monitoring system. The management organization consists of faculty staff and new members are being recruited and trained on the job, working closely with other governmental, research and accounting officers. The coordinators improve the skills mainly through exchanging information at symposium and seminar events.

Project report in Japanese

The Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Platform (JASTIP) was launched in September 2015 with the support of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). 

The objectives of the program are:

1. To promote interdisciplinary studies on “Environment and Energy,” “Biological Resources and Biodiversity,” and “Disaster Prevention and Risk Reduction,”

2. To increase the visibility of Japan-ASEAN collaborative research to non-academic stakeholders, 

3. To establish a platform for Japan-ASEAN research collaboration on science, technology, and innovation.

To this end, four working packages (WPs) have been established. WP1 serves as the headquarters of the program, coordinating interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies and connecting JASTIP with various stakeholders, including related research institutes, government sectors, and private sectors. WP2 focuses on “Environment and Energy” research and has established the satellite laboratory at the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand (NSTDA). WP3 focuses on “Bio-Resources and Biodiversity” research and has set up the satellite laboratory at the former Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), now the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). WP4 focuses on “Disaster Prevention and Risk Reduction” and has established the satellite laboratory at the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), University of Technology Malaysia (UTM). In addition, a program named JASTIP-Net was implemented to promote networking among researchers, government sectors and private sectors interested in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and innovation to achieve the SDGs.

 JASTIP-Net is an open call program for all ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and Japan, and is managed in collaboration with the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, ASEAN (ASEAN-COSTI).

The first phase ended in August 2020, and was extended after a review to the second phase, which lasted from September 2020 to March 2025.