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Research and innovation

South East Asia

Policy background, funding opportunities, agreements and arrangements, projects and results and contact

Policy background

ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and covers Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Scientific cooperation has been integral to the partnership between the two regions since the 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in 2007.

The Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council “The EU and ASEAN: a partnership with a strategic purpose", emphasises the role of the EU in the region, specifically in science and technology cooperation. This commitment was strengthened in the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027) by enhancing “cooperation of STI centres of excellence and the various Science and Technology (S&T) stakeholders, via Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme and relevant ASEAN mechanisms as well as in coordination with national programmes in ASEAN and the EU, in areas of mutual interest.”

The most recently adopted Leader’s Statement from the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in December 2022 comprehensively covers research and innovation cooperation by encouraging “stronger research and education links between ASEAN and the EU, including exchanges among researchers, students and youth” and committing “to deepen our collaboration in science, technology and innovation” within the frameworks of Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and national programmes in ASEAN and EU Member States.

These efforts are fully in line with the Global Approach, in which it is stated that the EU will enhance cooperation on R&I with ASEAN, including through supporting intra-ASEAN cooperation. To achieve this, the EU will soon start the second phase of the Joint Funding Scheme, supporting join research and innovation calls among ASEAN countries and EU Member States and Associated countries (previous ERANET scheme).

Collaborative regional science and technology activities are developed mainly through the ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science and Technology,  which provides a strong and effective platform for EU-ASEAN cooperation in research and innovation. The first Dialogue was held in Manila, Philippines, on 6 July 2008. Since then, the biennial meetings between the EU and the ASEAN Committee of Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), provide a forum for senior officials to exchange views on policies and discuss long-term priorities for cooperation.

The Eleventh iteration of the Dialogue took place on 20 October 2023 in Bohol, Philippines. The Dialogue Partners highlighted the role of research and innovation in addressing shared global challenges, as outlined during the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit and in the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027). Priority areas discussed included Green Technologies, Space, Marine, Health and Digital Innovations.

The next Dialogue is expected to take place in October 2025.

Areas of cooperation

  • health
  • food
  • nanotechnology
  • ICT
  • researcher mobility
  • sustainable connectivity
  • circular economy
  • green technology
  • space-based infrastructures

Potential new areas of future cooperation

  • water
  • researcher mobility
  • marine finance, science, and technology

Funding opportunities

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion available over 7 years (2021 to 2027).

Horizon Europe website

Agreements and arrangements

Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council: The EU and ASEAN: a partnership with a strategic purpose

Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027)

EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit (Brussels, 14 December 2022) – Joint Leaders’ Statement

Projects and results

Research project database (CORDIS)

EU-funded research projects involving an South East Asian partner

For previous framework programmes, please contact the Research enquiry service.

Publication with 10 Success Stories of the Southeast Asia-Europe Joint Funding Scheme

Contact

National Contact Points

The National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

European Commission

RTD-F2-ASSISTatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation unit F.2: International cooperation)

Documents

 

23 NOVEMBER 2018
Roadmap for EU-ASEAN science and technology cooperation
English
(858.43 KB - PDF)
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