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The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology
(COST)
History
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established by the ASEAN Declaration of 8 August 1967. The mandate for ASEAN cooperation in science and technology can be found in the ASEAN Declaration, which states that ASEAN shall promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields and provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres.
The ASEAN regional cooperation on science and technology was initiated when an Ad-hoc Committee on Science and Technology met in Jakarta on 27-29 April 1970. Subsequently, an ASEAN Permanent Committee on Science and Technology was established in 1971.
Following the rationalization of the ASEAN operations in 1978, the Permanent Committee on Science and Technology was designated the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST). The ASEAN COST adopted the objectives and terms of reference of the Permanent Committee and met for the first time in Baguio City, Philippines, on 20-22 June 1978. Since that time, the ASEAN S&T policy, management and implementation of programmes have been principally driven by the ASEAN COST guided by mandates laid down by the Summits of ASEAN Heads of State and Government and by the Meetings of the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology.
The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology
(COST)
Structure
Functions of COST. The policies for the ASEAN S&T cooperation are set by the annual Meetings of the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology. The ASEAN COST is responsible for setting directions, coordinating activities of subsidiary groups, creating public awareness of regional S&T activities and their contribution to economic development, and reviewing overall progress of collaboration, including the progress of its relations with the ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners as well as other external collaborators.
Management of COST. The Chairmanship of the ASEAN COST is held on a rotational basis among the ASEAN countries in alphabetical order, for a period of three years. The ASEAN COST meets twice a year to review the progress of regional programmes, provide support for new programmes and projects, and give direction to the implementation of programmes and projects by its subsidiary groups.
At the national level, the leading official in the ASEAN COST, also known as the national COST Chairman, is generally the highest ranking administrative officer in charge of science and technology in the respective Member Countries.
ASEAN Secretariat support to COST. The Science and Technology Unit of the Bureau for Finance and Integration Support of the ASEAN Secretariat, provides the ASEAN COST with coordinating and technical support functions. The ASEAN COST reports to the ASEAN Standing Committee and hence the ASEAN Foreign Ministers.
Organizational Structure The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology
(COST)
Organizational Structure
Legend:
AMMST = ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology
SOMMST = Senior Officials Meeting on Science and Technology
COST = Committee on Science and Technology
SCFST = Sub-Committee on Food Science and Technology
SCMSAT = Sub-Committee on Marine Science and Technology
SCMIT = Sub-Committee on Microelectronics and Information Technology
SCMST = Sub-Committee on Materials Science and Technology
SCB = Sub-Committee on Biotechnology
SCNCER = Sub-Committee on Non-Conventional Energy Research
SCMG = Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics
SCIRD = Sub-Committee on S&T Infrastructure and Resources Development
SCOSA = Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Application
AJSTD = ASEAN Journal on S&T for Development
ASTW = ASEAN Science and Technology Week
ABASF = Advisory Body of the ASEAN Science Fund
ABAPAST = Advisory Body of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology
AVIST = ASEAN Virtual Institute of Science and Technology
JSTC = Joint Science and Technology Committee
JCCSCST = Joint Cooperation Committee Sub-Committee on Science and Technology
WGST = Working Group on Science and Technology
TTF = Technical Task Force
The ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST)
Sub-committees
Sub-Committees are established in all the major programme areas of the ASEAN COST. They are responsible for the management, coordination, evaluation and implementation of regional programmes and projects. The Sub-Committees are also entrusted to review ongoing projects under their purview and assess the effectiveness and impact of their projects in strengthening the regional S&T capabilities. Currently, the ASEAN COST has the following nine Sub-Committees:
Each Sub-Committee identifies its priority areas within every planning period. The functions of the Sub-Committees are: To plan, implement and monitor regional projects; To generate and promote development of expertise and human resource; To facilitate and accelerate the transfer of scientific development and technologies; To promote collaborative activities with relevant international organizations; To suggest and establish suitable programme implementation bodies; To advise ASEAN COST on any other relevant matters; and To assist in obtaining financial support and to seek funding sources.
From time to time, the Sub-Committees may also form Project Management Committees (PMC) to take charge of the management and implementation of specific projects. The PMCs are responsible for the successful execution and delivery of outputs of projects entrusted to them.
Other subsidiary bodies of the COST. The COST has established two Advisory Bodies to make policy recommendations to the COST on specific programmes.
The Advisory Body of the ASEAN Science Fund (ABASF) assists COST in management of the ASEAN Science Fund, including setting up mechanisms for the review of project proposals for funding from the ASEAN Science Fund. The Advisory Body on the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology (ABAPAST) monitors the progress of the Sub-Committees in implementing the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology and renders policy advice on three types of issues: The Organizational Structure of the COST
External relations of the COST. To oversee collaboration with Dialogue Partners, the COST joins their counterparts in Dialogue Partners of the ASEAN to form a Working Group. Currently, the following Working Groups have been formalized: ASEAN-China Joint Science and Technology Committee (JSTC) ASEAN-EC Joint Cooperation Committee Sub-Committee on Science and Technology ASEAN-India Working Group on Science and Technology ASEAN-Russia Working Group on Science and Technology ASEAN COST+3 Cooperation in Science and Technology
The COST also initiated consultations in 2001 with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on the establishment of an ASEAN+ 3 Cooperation in Science & Technology programme.
Link: http://aseank.kisti.re.kr
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