To address these challenges, the ASEAN University Network (AUN), in partnership with the Japan ASEAN Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform (JASTIP) and AUN/SEED-Net, has launched the 'ASEAN-Japan STI Coordination Platform' with support from the Japan ASEAN Integrated Fund (JAIF). This platform aims to:

• Empower the next generation of STI leaders, who act as research coordinators, to drive collaborative research and education. These leaders play a pivotal role in bridging gaps between institutions, facilitating partnerships, and ensuring effective knowledge and resource sharing.

• Strengthen institutional capacity and establish sustainable ASEAN-Japan partnerships to address regional and global challenges through innovation and cooperation.

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.

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 can be accessed here [in Japanese].