COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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ASEAN Member Countries adopted the 1994 Plan of Action for Science and Technology as the blueprint for ASEAN cooperation in this field. The two meetings of the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST) held in Kuala Lumpur and in Manila, on 10- 1 5 August 1993 and on 26-28 January 1994, respectively, paved the way for the formulation and review of the draft Plan which was subsequently adopted at the 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Science and Technology in Manila on 2-3 February 1994.

The Plan of Action updates the 1989 Plan. It supports the national and regional objectives for economic development and addresses regional and global development strategies including the implementation of AFTA. Set for four years from 1994-1998, the Plan seeks to achieve the following:

1. a high level of intra-ASEAN cooperation in science and technology that is synergistic and self-sustaining and having the active participation of the private sector;
   
   
2. a network of S&T infrastructure and programmes for public and private sector human resource development;
   
   
3. an active, economically-beneficial, institution-industry technology transfer;
   
   
4. an enhanced state of public awareness of the importance of science and technology to ASEAN's economic development; and
   
   
5. an increase in the level of S&T cooperation with the international community.

To achieve the objective of ASEAN cooperation in science and technology, six basic strategies have been identified as follows:

1. supporting regional S&T programs that are economically and socially beneficial to ASEAN;
   
   
2. providing close coordination and management of S&T activities;
   
   
3. developing S&T human resources;
   
   
4. information networking of centers of excellence;
   
   
5. promoting institution-industry technology transfer; and
   
   
6. promoting S&T awareness.

To achieve self-reliance in funding and implementing S&T activities, the S&T Ministers have decided that cost sharing will be the primary modality for funding S&T activities, besides support from other sources such as the ASEAN Fund, Dialogue Partners and the ASEAN Science Fund.

In order to support the implementation of the Plan of Action, the ASEAN Secretariat and COST have been tasked to develop operational plans and work programmes, guidelines for monitoring and evaluation of project activities, viable cost-sharing schemes as well as guidelines for the augmentation and utilization of the ASEAN Science Fund.

Under cooperation with Dialogue Partners. ASEAN saw satisfactory progress towards the completion of the four ASEAN-Australia collaborative projects funded under Phase 11 of the ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP), namely, biotechnology, marine science, microelectronics and non-conventional energy. All of the six projects being planned for implementation under the Projects Stream of AAECP-Phase III, which started in mid- 1 994, involved S&T components. The concerned areas include food science and technology, energy, marine science and information technology.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has commissioned a Science and Technology Desk Study to operationalize cooperation with ASEAN in the S&T area. The result of the study will be presented at a workshop in September 1994.

Under the ASEAN-China Consultative Relationship, ASEAN and China have agreed to establish a Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation which will become operational after the Exchange of Letters between the two sides. The Joint Committee will conduct regular reviews of ASEAN-China cooperation in science and technology and recommend ways to further expand the cooperation.

Under ASEAN-India cooperation, it was agreed that joint workshops would be held to identify specific topics and types of activities for collaboration in S&T, with initial focus in the following areas: advanced materials science; biotechnology, and information technology. These areas would be pursued both in terms of research and industrial applications. India has also invited ASEAN scientists and experts to visit its research and development centers for an exchange of ideas on areas of possible collaboration and offered 12 scholarships in the field of science and technology to ASEAN Member Countries.

Under the ASEAN-UNDP Sub-Regional Programme for the Fifth Cycle, a component on technology has been developed for implementation over a 3-year period starting from mid-1994.

In addition, Laos and Vietnam, as Observers in ASEAN, can now participate in ASEAN S&T activities on a case-by-case basis.


Food Science and Technology

In the areas of food S&T, cooperation was enhanced through workshops, seminars and research activities promoting technology transfer and awareness of food hygiene in food manufacturing. Activities to improve processing technology, using the region's indigenous resources and at the same time eliminating pollution from wastes, have been explored.

Under the ASEAN Food Data Network Project, the second round of ASEAN Food Inter-Laboratory Trial, using cereal products or fish meal as samples, is ongoing among participating institutions. A four-day international training workshop entitled "Application of HACCP to the Food Industry" was organized by Thailand in March 1994, and the Philippines published a monograph entitled "ASEAN Mango Processing Studies".

In addition, the 5th ASEAN Food Conference is scheduled for 26-29 July 1994, in Kuala Lumpur, following the successful organization of the 4th ASEAN Food Conference in Jakarta in February 1992. The conference will include a half day technical tour and exhibition and other activities such as the Best Food Product Award Competition and the Graduate Student Competition.

The feasibility/design mission for the Waste Water Treatment Technology Transfer and Cleaner Production Demonstration Project under AAECP- Phase III was completed at the end of April 1994. The project implementation is expected to commence in the latter half of 1994. Meanwhile, the design mission for the project on Development of Food Safety and Quality Assurance Systems for Marketing and Distribution of Fresh and Processed Horticultural Products in ASEAN is planned to take place in mid- 1994.


Meteorology and Geophysics

Under meteorology and geophysics, cooperation activities in the areas of earthquake information, weather modification, monsoon climatology. natural disaster preparedness and mitigation and weather prediction progressed satisfactory

Following a request from ASEAN, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) conducted a feasibility study mission to ASEAN countries for the project proposal on Climate Monitoring and Impact resulting in a draft report to be considered by Member Countries. This proposal is in conformity with Agenda 21 and the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A training workshop on weather modification was organized in Thailand in March 1994.

The ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center (IASMC), which started operations on 2 January 1993, currently has scientists seconded from Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. An informal project planning meeting. initiated by WMO and Siemens Nixdorf of Germany, was organized in Singapore in November 1993 to identify possible means of seeking additional support for the ASMC.

The project on Plate Motion and Crustal Deformation Deduced from Space Geodetic Measurement for the Assessment of Related Natural Hazards in ASEAN in collaboration with the EC, commenced in January 1994.


Microelectronics and Information Technology

The five-year Microelectronics Project, funded under Phase II of AAECP from June 1989 to June 1994, has the objective of developing and expanding ASEAN's microelectronic design capability, which will lead to joint ventures with Australian industries in the development of products, particularly in the fields of telecommunications and industrial control systems. To date, all of the 22 sub-projects implemented have reached the pro- to type stage. The prototype of a communication system for the handicapped, developed by Singapore, has successfully entered small scale production. One unit has already been sold and its commercial prospects are good. The patents and royalty-sharing arrangement for two sub-projects on the development of a coin-validator prototype. developed by Indonesia, and the medical expert system and expert system for diagnosis by X-ray, developed by Singapore, are being negotiated between ASEAN and Australia. Meanwhile, Malaysia's thumb print recognition system is currently being tested by the Malaysian Police. In addition, the software and hardware components of the Student Response Unit (SRU), developed by Singapore, have attracted a great deal of public interest. Negotiation with an Australian company wishing to offer training schemes on the marketing of a wireless version of the SRU was underway.

On the whole, the Microelectronics Project has been successful in promoting awareness in microelectronics, which is a key technology for industrial and economic development. The project has strengthened human resource development as well as collaboration with local industries in ASEAN. ASEAN participants have been trained in the various aspects of product commercialization. In addition, design bureaus and consultancy services were established in national institution to help local companies incorporate microelectronics into product processes.

Under- AAECP Phase III, relevant components of the project proposal on information and Communications Technology, for Sustainable Development has been incorporated in the ASEAN-Australia Telecommunications Cooperation on Training Project. The feasibility/design mission for the project will be fielded by mid-1994.


Biotechnology

The Biotechnology Project that has been implemented since July 1989 under Phase 11 of the AAECP will be completed in June 1994. The project is focussed on the processing and production of materials from carbohydrate and natural products. The 16 sub-projects have resulted in an increase in the value-added of natural resources using biotechnology, the strengthening of capabilities in R&D in biotechnology, and collaboration in R&D applications in biotechnology. Significant project outcomes include the development of a natural insecticide from a local plant (Neem seeds); work on natural compounds in local plants and microorganisms, which is advancing medical research in ASEAN; and the processing of cassava starch using biotechnology.

A workshop on Formulation of Biotechnology Atlas funded under the ASEAN-ROK Dialogue, was held in Taejon, Republic of Korea in December 1993 and a project proposal is being developed as a result.


Non-Conventional Energy Research

ASEAN has pursued non-conventional energy research cooperation with Australia, Canada, the EC and New Zealand. Most of the activities under the ASEAN-Australia Project on Energy Conservation in Industry and Building and on Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC), funded under phase II of AAECP, were completed in December 1993. The activities included: energy conservation and auditing demonstration in selected industries, energy analysis and modelling of buildings, waste biomass for heat and power, and application of FBC for low grade coal and for paddy drying. The results of the project have fostered technical developments in ASEAN industries, and have also strengthened the linkage between industry, researchers and governments. The feasibility/design mission for one of the proposed project under AAECP-Phase III, namely, Environmentally - Sound Energy Production and Waste Disposal from Biomass/Wastes Supplemented by Fossil Fuels was conducted in June 1994 while that for the other project on Electricity and the Environment: A Framework for Decision Making in the ASEAN Region is expected to take place later in the year.

The ASEAN-Canada project on Solar Energy in Drying Process concentrated on the construction of dryers in Member Countries. Monitoring of their performance under ASEAN conditions are being conducted in the process of drying tea, cocoa, rubber, tobacco, fruit (such as banana, fig and mango) and other products.

Phase I of the three-year ASEAN-EC Cogeneration (COGEN) Programme was extended for six months and completed in July 1993. The project has created a COGEN Business Line to facilitate closer cooperation between European and ASEAN companies through the COGEN Teams. Full scale demonstration projects have been implemented in Malaysia and Thailand and are being negotiated in Indonesia and the Philippines, with support from the EC. A Phase 11 proposal has been prepared by ASEAN and submitted for consideration by the EC.

The four-year ASEAN-New Zealand Project on Natural Gas Utilization in Transport commenced in July 1993. For the first year, a study tour was organized in New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington) on 21-27 November 1993. The study tour, attended by ASEAN officials and a representative from ESCAP, introduced ASEAN to New Zealand's experience in natural gas utilization. A Project Management Committee (PMCI) Meeting was held in Bangkok in April 1994 to plan the future activities of the project.


Materials Science and Technology

Since the completion of the ASEAN-Japan Project on Materials Science and Technology in September 1992 and the submission of the Project Evaluation Report to JICA and to ASEAN COST, no regional project in materials science has been implemented. However, activities in this field have continued among Member Countries on a bilateral basis.

Meanwhile, ASEAN is reformulating project proposals which have been previously submitted to some Dialogue Partners in the areas of advanced ceramics processing, development of polymeric composites and adhesives, and the prevention of corrosion in infrastructure and equipment.


Marine Science

Two projects in the field of marine science are ongoing: one in collaboration with Australia, and another with Canada.

The ASEAN-Australia Marine Science Project (implemented under AAECP Phase II) has two main components, namely: the Regional Ocean Dynamics (ROD) and the Living Coastal Resources (LCR). Project activities which have been implemented included: sea level monitoring from a network of 24 tide gauges, current and other oceanographic parameter monitoring in the equatorial straits; and training. data processing, research and evaluation of tidal and oceanographic information. Activities of the ROD component, earlier scheduled to end in June 1994, will continue up to 1995 without additional funding from Australia.

The activities implemented under the ROD project have yielded useful results. A core of competent S&T personnel in oceanographic and hydrographic research has been developed through the training programmes conducted in Australia and Indonesia. A regional tidal data bank and a series of oceanographic data sets along the equatorial straits have been established and are available to Member Countries. Expertise in the development and retrieval of current meters, as well as products of value to ports and harbor managers have been developed. Improvements in regional oceanographic research collaboration have taken place. Finally, the project has made significant contributions to international efforts to study global climate change.

The LCR component has been one of the major successes under the AAECP. Most of the activities have been completed, consisting among others, of investigation and research in the status of mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, soft bottom areas and their fishery resources. The data collected in these areas has contributed to the generation of a large data-base on ASEAN coastal resources , which is recognized by international agencies such as the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and the World Bank. A Phase II concluding symposium was organized in Bangkok in May 1994.

Through published manuscripts and in work- shop reports, information contained in the data- base was sent to Member Countries for use in policy formulation for resource management and conservation.

One important feature of the LCR project was the use of the Australian remote sensing system - MicroBRIAN to promote technology transfer. Through regular training and upgrading exercises, Member Countries have developed well trained scientists and technicians who can assess various aspects of coastal resources using computer analysis or satellite images. To sustain these capabilities, Member Countries have emphasized the need for institutional capacity building in universities and research institutes to study living coastal re- sources .

Meanwhile, the feasibility/design mission for the ASEAN-Australia Coastal Zone Environment and Resources Management Project under Phase III of AAECP was completed in December 1993 and the project is expected to start in mid 1994.

The ASEAN-Canada Marine Science Project has undertaken the implementation of pollution monitoring studies in Member Countries. Two workshops were- organized in June 1993 for sampling and analysis training; and one in November 1993 for evaluation and formulation of the 1994 work plan. The work plan was finalized in the Project Steering Committee Meeting held in February 1994. The monitoring of toxic red tide organism is also being carried out. An ASEAN Red Tide Network has been set up to monitor red tide outbreaks for quick information dissemination.

With respect to ASEAN-EC cooperation, the EC has commissioned the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources (ICLARM) to conduct a study on " Interdisciplinary Scientific Methodologies for the Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Resource System" in ASEAN Countries. ICLARM is now finalizing the project.

Under- ASEAN-ROK cooperation, a workshop on the development and use of marine resources in pharmaceutical, health and other purposes other than food, was held in April 1994.


Science and Technology Infrastructure and Resources Development

The first workshop on the ASEAN-ROK collaborative project to strengthen Basic Research for Supporting the Establishment of S&T Policy and R&D Management System in ASEAN was organized in April 1994.

Under ASEAN-EC Dialogue, the project on Improvement of Natural Resources Management and Environment Monitoring through Use ofESA ERS - 1 Capabilities in ASEAN Countries, is ongoing. Important developments in the project included the installation of ERS facilities at the satellite ground station which would be used for processing ERS- 1 data, and the organization of training programmes in the form of seminars and workshops at national and regional levels. The training programmes resulted in the upgrading of technically-trained manpower and improved linkages among S&T professionals in the region. Preparations are currently underway for the implementation of the eight sub-projects.

Two special issues of the ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology, were published during the year - one on Marine Science (June 1993), and another on Microelectronics and Computers (June 1994). In order to sustain the publication and dissemination of the Journal, Member Countries have approved an allocation of US$10.000 from the ASEAN Science Fund to finance future publications.


ASEAN Science & Technology Week

Preparations are now underway for the Fourth ASEAN Science and Technology Week (FASTW) scheduled to be held in Bangkok in mid-August 1995. This forthcoming triennial event will carry the theme "Science and Technology: - the Future of ASEAN". Like its three preceeding events. the FASTW will feature a series of conferences and meetings, awards for noted scientists and engineers and an exhibition to highlight the role of science and technology in development. It is an important forum attended by scientists, technologists, and key officials concerned with S&T from ASEAN and elsewhere. In the past, ASEAN's Dialogue Partners have contributed to and/or participated in the event. Invitations will also be extended to India and China to attend for the first time.


ASEAN Science Fund

The 29th Meeting of COST approved an allocation of US$ 10,000 from the ASEAN Science Fund (ASF) for the publication of the ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development. The 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology requested the ASEAN Secretariat to develop new guidelines for utilizing the ASF. The ASEAN Secretariat has circulated the revised guidelines for consideration by Member Countries. As of May 1994, the total amount of the ASF stood at US$ 382,531.87, of which US$ 24,313.22 was in the form of interest that can be utilized for financing approved S&T activities.