Report of the Most Significant ASEAN-EU S&T Relation
Abstract
The Structured Survey Report of the Most Significant ASEAN-EU S&T Relations will be published during the second Week of Cooperation of the SEA-EU-NET project in Bogor, Indonesia (11-12 November 2009). The report interprets the scientific relations of the 12 participating countries of SEA-EU-NET. It consists of a review about the scientific landscape and the bilateral connections of every partner country and a final analysis about their multilateral and bilateral connections.
Short summary of the report
The structured survey report interprets the scientific relations of the 12 participating countries (Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore[1], Thailand, Turkey, the UK and Vietnam) of SEA-EU-NET. It consists of a review about the scientific landscape and the bilateral connections of every partner country and a final analysis about their multilateral and bilateral connections.
Multilateral relations between South-East-Asian countries and FP7 countries were examined on the basis of the collaboration in the frame of the last two Framework Programs of the European Union for Research and Technological Development – FP6 and FP7. The number of projects involving SEA countries as well as the thematic areas of co-operation were investigated.
Bilateral co-operation schemes were analysed on the basis of a questionnaire containing general science & technology policy issues, bilateral S&T Agreements, financial information and thematic priorities of the co-operation. The second part of the survey was a project inventory, a list of bilateral projects with data about co-operating partners, institutions and thematic areas.
As far as the main findings of the questionnaire served as background information about the scientific landscape of the partners, the aim of the analysis of the inventory was to define co-operation areas of mutual interest. Generally speaking the main conclusion was that bilateral co-operation still significantly exceeds regional collaboration.
Conclusions
Reasons for starting bilateral S&T co-operation
Generally speaking the main reasons for starting intergovernmental bilateral S&T co-operation with the countries of the partner region is the possibility to establish contacts for new projects or co-operation opportunities.
Conclusions, possible solutions:
- The name and contact details of existing project partners could be a good starting point for further co-operation. The project inventory the attachment of the questionnaire for mapping exercise should be filled in every case very accurately. A list of co-operating partners with phone number and e-mail address could be a basis for further co-operation.
- As the major goal of our project correspond with the reason for starting bilateral S&T agreements, the rise in the number of S&T agreements can contribute to the growth of other co-operation activities, like the participation of ASEAN countries in FP7 projects.
Hindrances of co-operation
The main reasons that can hinder the co-operation are the lack of information on financial tools for co-operation, the lack of information regarding the national context and competences of the main actors and the lack of budget for travelling, staff and communication.
Conclusions, possible solutions:
- The SEA-EU-NET project concentrates on the information of the ASEAN partners about financing possibilities of the 7th Framework Program. Information events have already been and will be organised in the ASEAN region during the project.
- The NCP network, established by SEA-EU-NET, will be able to give information about FP7 as the main financial tool of European S&T policy. The support of this network is of crucial importance.
- The WP2 questionnaire tried to map the S&T policy frameworks of the partner countries in order to offer an overview about these issues. The data of all the responding countries have been collected and published on the SEA-EU-NET website.
- The ASEAN countries should be informed about European mobility schemes (e.g. Marie Curie Actions, Erasmus Mundus programme).
Results of the co-operation
The main results of the co-operation were the enlargement of the collaboration network as well as the increasing volume of joint publications. The partner countries have faced relatively different problems during the co-operation process so it is not possible to draw general conclusions.
Comparison of multilateral and bilateral projects
|
Priority areas
|
FP7 projects
|
Bilateral projects
|
|
Health
|
24%
|
16%
|
|
Food/Biotechnology
|
22%
|
27%
|
|
ICT
|
13%
|
16%
|
|
Environment
|
10%
|
16%
|
|
SUM:
|
69%
|
75%
|
The focus of the multilateral and the bilateral projects are similar. The main fields of co-operation are: Health; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology; Information and Communication Technologies and Environment (including climate change). These scientific fields may be regarded as common areas of interest.
In the frame of the Stakeholder Conferences of SEA-EU-NET thematic sessions on the before mentioned fields have been and are intended to be organised. The aim of these thematic sessions is to put researchers in touch with politicians in order to find common priority areas and to define concentrated programmes (e.g. SICA-s) on these areas. In addition to these large scale conferences separate brokerage events are also organised on these fields.
The number of the bilateral projects (on the basis of only 6 partners!) exceeds the order of the participation in the Framework Programme, so the importance of the bilateral relations should not be underestimated. It is also a good starting point for future multilateral projects.
The resources for establishing new co-operation opportunities are available through the SEA-EU-NET project at the moment, but further resources ought to be allocated to this co-operation so that sustainability can be achieved. An Action Plan is being elaborated to secure this objective.
[1] Singapore currently does not participate in the project. The British High Commission in Singapore provided us with some data.
Related Countries:
EU, ASEAN, Southeast Asia
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