Page 57 - ASEAN-EU Dialogue 2018: Regional and Inter-Regional Economic Cooperation: Identifying Priorities for ASEAN and the EU

Chapter Ten
The ASEAN-EU Comparative Perspective in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
Sameer Kumar

Introduction
Agenda to co-operate between ASEAN and EU has been part of ministerial meetings and joint
communications since 2007. Research is an investment into our future and both ASEAN and
EU have put policies and framework to ensure that the future of its citizens is secure. Blueprints
for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth is formulated by both regional blocs in an effort to
promoting research, development and innovation in all spheres of science and technology. Such
efforts are also expected to finally lead to bolstering of economy and creation of jobs. An
analysis of the average business R&D investment from 1995 to 2006 against the GDP per capita
of 2011 convincingly showed countries that had higher R&D investment demonstrated higher
GDP per capita, and vice versa (Source: Eurostat data). The data reassures that investment into
knowledge boosts economic performance of countries. Commercialization of R&D outputs
ensures a regular supply of better and innovative products and services. This creates and
sustains new markets, paving the way for jobs creation at various levels. Better jobs report is a
key indicator of a booming economy.

The ASEAN – EU Plan of Action 2018-22 is one of the most prominent plans for joint R&D
co-operation between ASEAN and EU. This plan was replaced by the ASEAN-EU Enhanced
Partnership Plan of Action which was active from 2013 to 2017. The Plan of Action is a broad
ranging plan encompassing all three pillars of ASEAN. The gist of the STI Component within
Economic Co-operation of the Plan of Action is to promote the implementation of APASTI for
COST and EU joint action on STI and taking it forward through FP7 and other mechanisms:

“(a) Continue dialogue between the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology
(COST) and the EU to promote cooperation in science, technology and innovation;
(b) Promote the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology
and Innovation (APASTI) 2016-2025 as a strategic platform for ASEAN-EU Science,
Technology and Innovation (STI) cooperation;
(c) Enhance cooperation of S&T centres of excellence and other S&T stakeholders,
including through the EU's Framework Programme and relevant ASEAN mechanisms
as well as national programmes in the EU and ASEAN, in areas of mutual interest; and
(d) Promote the exchange and mobility of scientists and researchers between ASEAN
and the EU through exchange programmes and other appropriate arrangements in
accordance with the respective laws, rules, regulation, and national policies.”
-- ASEAN EU Plan of Action (2018 – 22) – S&T

APASTI is the Plan for Action on STI brought about by ASEAN Committee on S&T and is
active from 2016 till 2025. Mobility of researchers remains an important component of this
section of Plan of Action.

There is paucity of evidence to gauge research collaborations taking place between the two
regional blocs. But if one were to gauge research collaboration, how could it be done? One of
the ways is to take research papers with authorships that have institutional affiliation in both
ASEAN and EU countries, as the proxy of research collaboration and analyse the same. Hassan,
Haddawy, Kuinkel, Degelsegger, and Blasy (2012) carried out an analysis of research activity
in ASEAN related to the EU in FP7 priority areas in the period of observation between 2004
and 2008. The study found that about 85% of EU-ASEAN co-publications were in the fields

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