The 26th and 27th COST meetings were held in Singapore on 17-18 September 1992 and in Indonesia on 3-5 February 1993, respectively. The eight Sub-committees made satisfactory progress in the implementation of their respective activities, the highlights of which are presented below. At the same time, there is also a growing awareness of the need for COST to address new and emerging issues arising out of developments in the global, regional and ASEAN scenes. These matters are to be addressed in the review of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology which is being undertaken by COST
Meanwhile, the 5th Meeting of the Ministers of Science and Technology took place in Singapore on 21-22 September 1992. This was preceeded by the 7th and 8th SOM on Science and Technology which were also held in Singapore on 16 July and 19 September 1992, respectively.
Food Science and Technology
The workshop on "Separation and Characterization of Fish Lipids" was held in Bandung on 16-19 November 1992 with funding support from the EC. At the 10th meeting of the EC - ASEAN Joint Cooperation Committee held in Brussels on 29-30 September 1992, it was agreed that "Membrane Technologies Applied to Food By -Products Utilization" is one of the areas identified for future regional scientific cooperation and that a workshop will be organized to bring together experts from the EC and ASEAN to assist in the formulation of joint research proposals. Canada has also informed the 8th Meeting of the ASEAN - Canada Joint Cooperation Committee in Jakarta on 6-9 April 1993 that the Seminar/ Workshop on "Standard Methods for Pressure Driven Membrane Processes" has been approved and is scheduled for implementation in 1993.
Meteorology and Geophysycs
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre based in Singapore became operational in January 1993. Singapore has provided the infrastructure facilities while each ASEAN Member Country is expected to second up to two scientists for assignment at the Centre for a period of up to four years. Funding for the scientists are to be borne by the respective countries. COST has noted that this type of funding arrangement would increasingly become the mode of ASEAN cooperation in science and technology whereby there would be cost sharing among the ASEAN countries on a project-to-project basis.
Several networking and information exchange/dissemination activities were carried by the Sub-committee on Meteorology and Geophysics. Recognizing the usefulness of the Users Manual for the ASEAN Climatic Atlas and Compendium, which was produced in 1991, the Sub- committee has decided to promote its availability. A CLICOM Users Group has been established to provide an opportunity for the exchange of experience and expertise in the use and development of the CLICOM computerized climate data management system.
Microelectronics and Computers
Several of the sub-project activities under the Australian-funded AAECP Microelectronics Project have reached prototype stage and are ready for commercialization. These include the HCOM keyboard for handicapped persons, the SRU paging system and the portable ECG machine and expert system. Several workshops and seminars were organized by the Sub-committee on Microelectronics and Computers to facilitate exchanges of information and technology transfer in this regard.
The Sub-committee has also submitted a project proposal on "Information and Communications Technology for Sustainable Development" for consideration under AAECP-Phase HI. Due to the commercial potential of some of the project activities, the 27th Meeting of COST concurred with the Sub-committee's guidelines on matters pertaining to intellectual property rights and that royalties accrued from commercialization of project activities be pooled in a special fund which could be used to support future activities.
In order to enlarge the Sub-committee's mandate to cover all aspects of computer and information technology, COST, at its 27th Meeting, agreed to the Sub-committee's recommendation to rename itself as the Sub-committee on Microelectronics and Information Technology.
Materials Science and Technology
The Project on Materials Science and Technology was completed in 1992 under the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Programme. The Sub-committee on Materials Science and Technology is preparing an evaluation report of the project activities for submission to the 28th meeting of COST.
The Sub-committee has also decided to develop a networking mechanism that brings together information related to expertise, equipment availability and common standards on material evaluation within the ASEAN Member Countries. The formation of an ASEAN organization on materials science and technology is also being explored. COST, at its 27th Meeting, adopted the recommendation of the Sub-committee that it is appropriate to approach organizations such as the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) for sponsorship and collaboration on projects dealing with materials recycling and advanced materials as a means of including private sector participation and securing alternative sources of funding.
Biotechnology
A Project Management Committee for the Biotechnology Project assisted by Australia has been established with an office based in Bangkok. Progress reports from the two sub-projects, namely, Plant Extract Biotechnology and Carbohydrate Biotechnology continued to show promising results. The Sub-committee has agreed to submit for consideration under AAECP-Phase HI the project proposal on the establishment of an ASEAN - Australia Biotechnology Network (AABN) which incorporates public and private sector linkages in the field of biotechnology.
A workshop on "Biotechnological Approaches to Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases" was held in Bangkok on 24-27 February 1993 with funding support from Japan. Delegates from each ASEAN country presented their cur-rent research work on the subject and identified potential joint projects with Japan in the future.
The "Workshop on Formulation of Biotechnology Atlas" has obtained funding support from Korea. The project aims to enhance regional cooperation in the field of biotechnology and to identify cooperative projects, modalities and mechanisms for their implementation.
Non-Conventional Energy Research
During the period under review, satisfactory progress was achieved in cooperative programmes with three Dialogue Partners, namely, Australia, Canada and the EC. The Australian assistance under Phase II of the AAECP is coming to an end in mid - 1994 and as part of the windup activity, an international energy conference and exhibition is slated to be held in Thailand in April 1994 to disseminate the outputs and achievements of the programme. Furthermore, the Sub- committee has submitted a number of proposals for consideration under Phase III covering the period 1994- 1998. The EC-funded activities under Phase I are also scheduled to be completed by mid-1993 and plans are underway for requesting an extension of the project under a new phase.
A new cooperative project on Natural Gas Utilization in Transport to be financed by the New Zealand Government has commenced in 1993 with the appointment of the Managing Service Agent.
Marine Sciences
The Regional Ocean Dynamics (ROD) Project funded by Australia received a two-year extension until 1994 with additional funding of A$ 2.6 million. The Sub-committee is in the process of formulating project proposals for activities beyond 1994 when the current phase of the AAECP ends and a new phase begins.
The ASEAN - US Coastal Resources Management Project was completed at the end of 1992. The main feature of this project was the development of a model management plan for the utilization and protection of coastal resources which was also supplemented by training, workshop, publication and information dissemination activities.
The first technical planning workshop on the Marine Science -Phase II under the ASEAN-Canada cooperation programme was held in Jakarta on 16-21 November 1992. The workshop agreed to focus on three areas, namely: (1) the establishment of environmental criteria in coastal waters; (2) pollution monitoring and baseline measurement; and (3) red tide studies.
Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resources Development
Two issues of the ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development were published in 1992, one specifically devoted to biotechnology and the other on non- conventional energy. The next issue of the journal, scheduled for distribution in June 1993, will focus on marine sciences.
The EC had approved a sum of ECU 3.9 million to finance the project on "Environment Monitoring through the use of the European Space Agency ERS-1 Satellite Capabilities in ASEAN Countries". The ROK-funded project on "Basic Research Project for Supporting the Establishment of S & T Policy and R & D Management Systems in ASEAN" was approved for implementation in early 1993. Discussions are also underway with New Zealand on developing cooperative activities in the management of science and technology.
ASEAN Science and Technology Week
The Third ASEAN Science and Technology Week (TASTW) was held in Singapore on 17-24 September 1992 with the theme "Socio-economic Growth in ASEAN through Science and Technology". The event featured a series of conferences and meetings, awards for noted scientists and engineers, and various exhibitions highlighting the role of science and technology in development. Three official ASEAN meetings were held during the celebration of TASTW: the 26th Meeting of COST; the 8th Senior Officials Meeting on Science and Technology; and the 5th Meeting of Ministers on Science and Technology. Dialogue Partners which contributed to the TASTW were Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
ASEAN Science Fund
Established by the ASEAN Ministers of Science and Technology in 1989, the ASEAN Science Fund (ASF), in its present form, is a trust fund. As of May 1993, the total amount of the ASF stood at US$ 385,330. Under the current ASF guidelines only interest can be used for project financing. Acting on the recommendation of COST, the ASC has agreed to an interim modification of the existing guidelines of the ASF in order to facilitate more effective use of the funds.
The ASC has agreed to the interim guidelines formulated by COST on the utilization of the Fund but on the proposal to enlarge the present amount of the ASF, the ASC decided to consider it after a review on the utilization of the ASEAN Fund.