Delegates from ASEAN member states attend the 89th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation in Vientiane.

ASEAN focuses on innovation, digital growth and partnerships

ASEAN member states engaged in open, strategic and forward-thinking discussions on key issues related to sustainable innovation, digital integration and public-private partnerships at the 89th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI-89).
The meeting was held in Vientiane on June 23, bringing together representatives of ASEAN member states to exchange views and strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
The Director General of the Science Department under the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos, Mr Souksavath Sihapanya, and the Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, co-chaired the meeting.
Mr Souksavath said the meeting would address a wide range of critical issues requiring collective deliberation. He encouraged all delegates to engage in open, strategic and forward-looking discussions, with focus on several key issues.
These issues include sustainable innovation or leveraging technology to address climate change, reinforce food security, and accelerate the transition toward renewable energy across ASEAN member states.
Digital integration will help enhance the regional ecosystem to support secure Al deployment, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and smart city initiatives, he said.
Public-private partnerships can deepen ASEAN engagement with dialogue partners and the
private sector to successfully translate scientific research into commercial reality, Mr Souksavath noted.
He also pointed out that the global landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, shaped by rapid breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy and green technologies.

For ASEAN, science, technology and innovation are no longer just tools for development, as they are the foundational pillars on which a resilient, competitive and inclusive ASEAN future will be built, Mr Souksavanh said.
The task at this meeting is to build on past successes and accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation to maximise its practical impact, he added.
ASEAN member states must collectively drive the transition from strategy to action by fostering open knowledge sharing, cross-border technology transfer and narrowing the digital divide.
Meanwhile, ASEAN will continue to strengthen capacity building in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update June 24, 2026)