Brunei Darussalam, the new member of ASEAN, participated in Science and Technology activities and also hosted one meeting of the COST.
Protein Project
The joint review team's report on the Protein Project indicated that the project had successfully achieved its objectives. Its impact would bring about continuous and cumulative benefits to all ASEAN nations. The review report would be considered for publication in the COST's Journal.
Food Habits Project
The implementation of the project involved activities in the field of surveys, documentation and review of food habits, research data and information and analysis of local foods. Activities connected with the planning of the ASEAN Food Data Network, for which Australia has provided an initial A$ 100,000, were also commenced.
Food Waste Materials Project
In implementing Phase III of the project two workshops were held, namely, the First Viorkshop on Biochemical Engineering and the Third ASEAN Membrane Technology Workshop.
The latest issue of the ASEAN Newsletter on Food Waste Materials, published biannually, was released in November 1985, while the Industry Information report was printed and distributed to national focal points.
Food Technology Research and Development (FTRD) Project
Completion of the first phase of activities (1982 - 1985) for Research and Development ( R and D) in food products and processing' technologies led to the extension of the project.
Australia provided A$4.2 million over five years for funding the continuation of Phase I activities with emphasis on technology transfer, food quality evaluation and improvement and standardization of food process and products.
In conjunction with Phase I, the FTRD - ASEAN Food Standard Office (FTRD - AFSO) located at King Mongkut Institute, Thailand, was established. It is responsible for the collation and dissemination of data on food standards of interest in the region. Project on Climatology
The project document on the UNDP - supported project on Users Manual for the ASEAN Climatic Atlas and Compendium was signed in November 1985, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was named as the project Executing Agency. The pre-project phase is currently being executed by both ASEAN and WMO.
Marine Science
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ASEAN US Marine Science cooperation was signed at the 7th ASEAN - US Dialogue. The project Steering Committee subsequently held a Meeting to plan 1986/1987 activities. While the ASEAN - Canada cooperative programme on marine science is in its early stage of implementation, the MOU on ASEAN - Australia is scheduled for signing in due course.
Non-Conventional Energy Research (NCER)
Development cooperation with the dialogue partners in this field made progress in the form of a one year extension of the ASEAN - Australia Phase I implementation of research activities with an additional provision of A$ 100,000 by Australia for the common fund. Discussions on a second phase for energy cooperation had begun with Australia.
The ASEAN - US Agreement for a third phase of cooperation was signed on 30 July 1985, with an allocation of US$ 5 million over a five year period for programmes on Energy Conservation in Buildings and training in Energy Management.
The MOU between ASEAN and Canada for Energy Seminars was signed on 23 December 1 985, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is proceeding with the details, Canada, through the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), also indicated support for the project on biogas technology training whose programmes are being designed by ASEAN.
Environment Programme
The ASEAN Agreement on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources was signed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, 9 July 1985. In the area of environmental education and training, an action programme was formulated. In its disseminative functions, two issues of the ASEAN Environmental Newsletter were circulated with succeeding issues to be released.
Management of Science and Technology
The Second R & D Management Course for three levels/categories of managers was held in Sydney, Australia, September 1985.
Following the High Level Symposium on Science and Technology (S & T)Policy Develoment and Programme Management, held in Canberra, 4 - 8 March 1986, two middle level seminars were held in Australia from 15 April to 2 June 1986 and from 17 March to 16 May 1986.
Science and Technology Week
The First ASEAN Science and Technology Week was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 24 to 30 April 1986, jointly organized by the COST, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment of Malaysia.
The occasion brought together such key people as industrialists, government planners, strategists from ASEAN, dialogue countries Australia, U,S., Canada, Japan, EEC and non. ASEAN countries such as Korea and India. The main activities were centered on conferences, exhibitions and the Canadian Science Circus.
In the S & T Exhibition, dialogue and other participating countries demonstrated their capabilities and achievements in the development and implementation of new and emerging technologies in the following fields;
A project on biotechnology coordinated by the Working Group on Bio-technology with activities planned for the medical, agricultural and industrial biotechnology areas was finalized. Some dialogue countries like Australia, EEC and Japan showed interest in the project.
Japan's initial cooperation covered short training Courses. The second phase of cooperation will be extended to a project type that includes training, exchange of experts, equipment, establishment of a data base and technical meetings.
Australia had responded positively to "seed money" for the project's early implementation, and EEC had initiated an ASEAN - EC Network Concept on Biotechnology.
Cooperation on Materials Science and Technology
The objective of the project is to strengthen ASEAN's existing capabilities in the field of materials processing, enabling member countries to make the best and optimum use of indigenous natural resources. Positive responses were given by Australia and Japan to support the project.
Australia expressed its support for initial "seed activity" on the standardization and performance of building materials in the order of A$ I 00,000 to A$ 400,000, while Japan is supportive of a project type cooperation in the Characterization of Polymeric Materials.
The waste parts of the pineapple are processed into fingerling foods.
Microelectronics
This new project aimed at building existing ASEAN skills and equipment in microelectronics through training, provision of Hardware and software, establishment of communication networks and joint projects in key areas of design, fabrication and application.
Australia provided A$ 2.5 million for three years to support the design capabilities component of the project commencing 1986/1987 and Japan offered a short term training course in Japan for the year 1 985/86.
Journal on Science and Technology
The second issue of the Journal was published in July 1985 and the third one in February 1986. Thailand was appointed to undertake the Chief Editorship of the Journal succeeding Singapore.