Sci-tech collaboration links Europe and south-east Asia
SEA, a region home to large economies such as those of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, represents a powerful potential partner for the EU in many ways. One area of mutual benefit is in scientific collaboration, particularly in relation to technology, industry and academia. The EU-funded project 'Facilitating the bi-regional EU-ASEAN science and technology dialogue' (SEA-EU-NET) advanced EU–SEA S&T collaboration. The project organised a number of activities, including different events and campaigns to solidify cooperation, highlighting the processes of science and its benefits to society. These included the Year of Science and Technology & Innovation 2012, representing a year-long campaign with specific events in both SEA and Europe. Related initiatives included workshops to foster scientific contacts between researchers from the two regions in social sciences, biomass research, environmental science, infectious diseases, e-health and sustainable urban development. The workshops helped identify areas of mutual cooperation to further matchmaking and collaboration on joint EU projects. Another significant project achievement involved actions to establish contact points in SEA for EU projects under the bloc's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). This is particularly important considering the solid interest among researchers in SEA to participate in FP7 projects. Parallel efforts also focused on identifying opportunities and pitfalls for S&T cooperation, involving recommendations for intensified collaboration initiatives between the two regions. Many important outcomes emerged from the project, including the building of ongoing long-term mechanisms such as forums to enhance S&T cooperation. Stakeholders in both regions developed joint scenarios and addressed the challenges of globalisation and research in line with global Millennium goals. Such international collaboration is destined to strengthen bi-regional dialogue, paving the way for a multilateral EU-SEA platform for joint S&T priority-setting and policy coordination. The emerging network of stakeholders from universities and industry to government and civil society will ensure that collaboration will flourish for years to come.