COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (COST)

The ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology approved by the ASEAN Ministers of Science and Technology in January 1989, opened a new mode of cooperation in the field of science and technology. Eight Sub-Committees were established to coordinate each of the programme areas identified in the Plan; and the ASEAN Experts Group on the Environment of COST, responsible for projects on the environment, was elevated to the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN).
In its reorganized form, the Committee on Science and Technology (COST) met twice on 4-8 September 1989 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and on 21-24 March 1990 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia respectively. These Meetings reviewed and assessed on-going projects and activities, discussed guidelines and future plan and activities of the eight new COST subsidiary-bodies/subcommittees and the guidelines and general principles for the ASEAN Science Fund. These Meetings also discussed and finalized the terms of reference of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), a new body elevated from the ASEAN Experts Group on Environment of COST.
ASEAN Plan of Action
COST had established eight Sub-Committees to be responsible for each of the programme areas identified in the Plan. They are :
The ASEAN Secretariat is in the process of publishing a booklet on the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology.
ASEAN Science Fund
COST had established an Advisory Body for the ASEAN Science Fund and adopted guidelines for the management and operation of the Fund. The ASEAN Secretariat opened a temporary account at the Chase Manhattan Bank for the transfer of member countries' seed contribution to the Fund. Most member countries have already forwarded their seed contribution of US$50,000 each.
Food Science and Technology
ASEAN's cooperative efforts on the projects on Food Habits Research and Development, and management and Utilization of Food Waste Materials had been successfully completed under AAECP phase I. The Food Technology Research and Development Project is in the final stage of completion. A wealth of new information important to the processing, marketing and evaluation of ASEAN food and food products was established from these projects. This information has been disseminated in 60 papers and 25 seminars and used by participating institutions in providing active consultancy services to the food industries in ASEAN. Eleven new food products were developed and are in various stages of technology transfer. Several technologies were also developed and commercialised. Final Reports of the projects on Food Habits Research and Development, and Management and Utilization of Food Waste Materials have been publised.
Recognizing the above accomplishments under AAECP phase I, Australia has agreed at the 2nd Meeting of the AAECP Joint Planning Committee to give priority to the new project design Food Science and Technology for the Development of the Food Industry" for funding under phase II when unspent AAECP funds become available.
Meteorology and Geophysics
In line with the restructuring of COST, the Sub-Committee on Climatology responsible for climatology projects was renamed the Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics. The main objective of the committee is to undertake cooperative projects and research activities related to the meteorological and geophysical phenomena.
The publications from the project on the User's Manual for the ASEAN Climatic Atlas and Compendium for Climatic Statistics, and the Climate Supplement of Brunei Darussalam, will be completed in late 1990.
New projects on Monsoon Climatology and the CLICOM System are in progress. The former has the objective of conducting a biannual review on the monsoon. The latter aims to adopt a common data base format for ASEAN Meteorological Services in order to provide a platform for the exchange of expertise in the use of the CLICOM system.
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre which aims to strengthen the national meteorological services of ASEAN member countries has been approved by ASEAN for funding consideration by UNDP.
Microelectronics and Computers
Phase I cooperation with Australia was completed on 30 June 1989, and the final report was circulated in December 1989.
Phase II of the project was approved for funding by Australia in December 1989 over three years, beginning FY 1989-1990. Prior to its implementation, a project Design Study and a project Management Workshop were conducted in July 1989 and 15-17 November 1989, respectively. Implementation commenced in early January 1990.
Materials Science and Technology
Cooperation of R & D activities in the field of materials science and technology was characterized by the successful implementation of the ASEAN- Japan Cooperation in Materials Science and Technology. In 1990, multilateral activities took place, especially those on ASEAN training programmes, collaborative research works, and regional seminars.
Areas covered under this cooperation project are polymers, ceramics and corrosion. Long-term and short-term experts from Japan facilitated the transfer of technology in research methodology, analysis of experimental of data, and in the maintenance of sophisticated scientific instruments.
Multilateral activities on collaborative R & D programmes, workshops/seminars and other training programmes commenced in early 1990. The training programmes on Corrosion Monitoring and Evaluation Methods and on Corrosion in Structure were conducted on 1 - 18 February 1990 in Singapore, and on 15-17 March 1990 in Brunei Darussalam, respectively.
Biotechnology
Australia under AAECP II agreed to fund the Biotechnology project on Plant Extracts and Carbohydrate Bioconversion over the period of three years. Project activities commenced in July 1989 (FY 1989/1990).
The project will strengthen the capabilities of member countries in using biotechnology to convert low value important natural product resources such as starch and plant extracts into high value products for food, feeds, glucose, agriculture and health care.
Two conferences were held, one to review the overall project and the other to review the problems encountered in the first six months of the project's implementation. The Training Course on Spectroscopic Methods was held on 4-22 June 1990 in Bangkok, Thailand.
EC has given a favourable response for the project on "Research Development and the Application of Enzyme Technology in ASEAN. A joint workshop was proposed to consider the details of the project.
Non-Conventional Energy Research
Phase I of the ASEAN-Australia Non-Conventional Energy Research was completed in June 1989.
Phase II commenced in early 1990. The projects focus on Energy Conservation for both Industry and Buildings, on Fluidized-Bed Combustion Technology and the commercialization of new technologies in some projects. Special attention is also given to transfer and dissemination of technology. Technical Information Service (TIS) for the Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) was also set up. Three major databases combined hold over 3000 records of journal articles, from proceedings, abstracts and report items. The TIS - SDI will focus on energy information originating in ASEAN.
The ASEAN-Canada project on Solar Energy in Drying Process will soon be implemented after signing of the MOU. The responsibility for the project has been transferred from CIDA's Head quarters in Ottawa to the Canada-ASEAN Centre established in Singapore in July 1989.
Phase III of the ASEAN-US Energy Cooperation with allocation of US$ 5 million over 5 years ends in 1990. The final batch of the ASEAN participants undergoing Energy Management Training completed the course in December 1989. The training on Industrial and Rural Power Production was held on 17-26 January 1990 and the study tour on Congeneration and Private Generation was conducted on 22 April - 11 May 1990. The training in Fluidized-Bed Combustion Technologies, for up to 10 ASEAN trainees, was scheduled on 15 May to 13 July (eight week) at the Institute of International Education (IIE), University of U.S.A.
The details of the ASEAN-EC project on Technology Transfer for Heat and Power Generation have been considered by ASEAN and Asian Institute of Technology (A.I.T.) for EC (Euro-Asian) cooperation. The project will be implemented between 1990-1991.
Marine Science
Cooperation with Australia has two components, namely: Regional Ocean Dynamics (ROD) scheduled for 3 years and Coastal Living Resources component (CLR) for 5 years, to be implemented beginning FY 1989/1990. ROD activities focus on the development of human resource skills in physical oceanography and sea level signals. Present activities of the CLR component are focused on the improvement and development of Micro Brian System for coastal areas and Soft Bottom Community. The 1st Management Committee Meeting for both were held on 29 November - 1 December 1989 in Pattaya, Thailand and on 15-16 March 1990, respectively.
ASEAN-Canada Cooperative Programme on "Development and Management of Living Marine Resources" (Phase I), was completed in September 1989. Phase II project on the Establishment of Environmental Criteria for the Development and Management of Living Marine Resources and Human Health Protection commenced in April 1990.
Phase I of the ASEAN-US Marine Science Cooperation on Coastal Resource Management was extended to December 1991 to accommodate Brunei Darussalam's participation. The Project Management Committee Meeting held on 1-3 March 1990 assessed Phase I and considered the details for Phase II of the project. A workshop on Resource Management was organized by ASEAN/USAID on 4-7 March 1990 in Manila and Baguio, Philippines.
Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resource Development
This programme area covers activities on S & T policy studies, R & D management, S & T information dissemination and R & D networking. Journal on Science and Technology.
Volume 6 No. 2, 1989 was published December 1989 and Volume 7 No. 1, 1990 April 1990. For future issues, special subject matters will be identified to reflect ASEAN priorities on science and technology collaborative projects and recent R & D on science and technology in ASEAN. Thailand will continue as the Chief Editor and Chairman of the Editorial Board.
Management of Science and Technology
Human Resources Development (HRD) is a major element for the future development of ASEAN. Management training institutions play a vital role in enhancing HRD through the organization of regional management training and research programmes, exchange in production of teaching materials, research on training methods and processes and exchange of experts.
The revised draft Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN-EC Management Centre has been resubmitted to the EC for consideration with the view that this agreement could be finalized and signed during the forthcoming 23rd AMM/PMC.
Remote Sensing
There are 9 projects approved for funding by dialogue partners. They are :
i. Airborne Thermal Infra-Red Mapping of ASEAN Capital Cities
ii. Coastal Dynamics and Remote Sensing Applications
iii. Environmental Pollution Monitoring Air/Water
iv. Technology of Updating Maps Using Remote Sensing
v. Development of Satellite Image Map of ASEAN
vi. Development of Hardware and Software for Remote Sensing
vii. Training on Land Thailand Cover Mapping by Digital Analysis
viii.Water Resources Planning and Management
ix. Characterization of Major Land Cover in the Tropics
The project on the Improvement of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Monitoring through the Use of Satellite Capabilities in ASEAN Countries will be submitted to the EC for funding.
ASEAN Science and Technology Week
The ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW) is an important triennial event organized by COST. One of the main objectives of ASTW is to promote new and emerging technologies in the ASEAN region through conferences, exhibition, fairs and special events.
The First and Second ASTW were successfully held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24-29 April 1986 and in Manila, Philippines on 30 January - 4 February 1989, respectively. The former had the theme "Development of Science and Technology for Advancement in ASEAN" and the latter New and Emerging Technologies in ASEAN.
The Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week (ASTW) will be held in September 1992 in Singapore. The theme will focus on economic growth through science and technology. Dialogue partners will be approached to contribute to the Third ASTW and to indicate how they wish to participate in the activities. Private sector participation will also be sought as the activities connected with the ASTW presents market creation and investment opportunities.

For more information, please refer to the project details