2013/SOM3/PPSTI/016
Summary Meeting
Policy Partnership on Science, Technology, and Innovation (PPSTI) Meeting
Surabaya, Indonesia, 09 – 11 April 2013
Introduction
The meeting was organised in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, on 09 – 11 April 2013. It was attended by the Senior Officials from the Governments, and representatives from academicians and private sectors from 21 Members of APEC, as well as guests from ABAC and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). The full list of delegation is attached as ANNEX 1.
Day 1, April 9, 2013
AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING CEREMONY
1. Prof. Dr. Amin Soebandrio, the Deputy Minister for Science and Technology Network, the Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK) and as the Chair of PPSTI, welcomed the APEC delegation. He briefly explained the new mandate of PPSTI, the PPSTI agenda, as well as the field trip program for 12 July 2013 to PT PAL Indonesia (the Indonesian Shipyard Company), a primary force for national maritime-industry development and to the Institute of Tropical Diseases (ITD), Airlangga University.
2. HE Ambassador Wahid Supriadi, Alternate SOM Chair and HE Prof. Dr. Ir. Gusti M. Hatta, MSi, Minister for Research and Technology, explained the 2013 APEC Theme, which is ‘Resilient Asia-Pacific, Engine of Global Growth’. Three important issues that should be prioritized in 2013 APEC are (i) Attaining the Bogor Goals, (ii) Achieving Sustainable Growth with Equity, and (iii) Promoting Connectivity.
3. HE Minister Gusti M. Hatta expressed his appreciation to PPSTI members for trusting Indonesia to become the 1st Chair of PPSTI. He also congratulated the hard-working group of PPSTI members, as PPSTI was transformed from the former APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group (APEC ISTWG), in order to face the dynamic of global challenges.
4. He also emphasized that as the new group of PPSTI, members are challenged to show their roles in creating policies to manage STI results, including to promote and to commercialize the STI products. As STI products should be considered as important keys and solutions for accelerating not only the regional economic growth, but also the global world economy; therefore he expected PPSTI members would be able to (i) to identify appropriate structure for the group, (ii) to emphasize roles of Academicians-Business-Government (ABG), as well as (iii) to formulate the concrete mid- and long term action plans of PPSTI. In short, he wished that the PPSTI members would be able to produce ‘Policy recommendations on STI’, in the areas that would be their communal internets, such as green industries, ocean development, food – energy – water sustainability (FEWS).
5. HE Minister GMH also shared information on the Indonesian National Science and Technology Policy in Indonesia, for the period of 2010-2014, which prioritizing seventh focused research areas. Those seventh priority areas are (i) Food and agriculture, (ii) Health and medicine – including molecular biology, biotechnology (iii) Energy – including renewable and alternative energy, (iv) Information and Communication Technology (ICT), (v) Multi mode transportation, (vi) Advanced technology – including material technology, ie nanotechnology and (vii) Defense technology.
6. In addition to those seventh areas, RISTEK also coordinates research, development and application for other nine priority areas as, which are (i) Sciences, (ii) Social and humanities, (iii) Pro-Poor technology, (iv) Nuclear technology for safety purposes and its regulation, (v) Space technology, (vi) Maritime technology, (vii) Design and engineering technology, (viii) Earth, Geosciences and Climate Change, and (ix) Green Technology.
7. Minister GMH also shared the information that RISTEK also have a task for coordinating seventh RD institutes, which are (i) The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), The National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), The Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN), The National Standardization Agency (BSN), The Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), The National Aeronautic and Space Agency (LAPAN). Other institutions which are also under Ristek coordination are (i) The Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute, (ii) The National Science Center (Pusat Peraga Iptek) TMII, and (iii) The National S&T Center (PUSPIPTEK).
8. Minister GMH also welcomed the efforts of PPSTI to continue to award the APEC Prize for Science, Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE). He shared that the Indonesia host year nominating theme is “Sustainable Ocean Development,” and announced that he would be awarding the ASPIRE on July 1 at the 2nd PPSTI meeting in Medan.
AGENDA ITEM 2: BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
9. The Chair of PPSTI, Prof. Amin Soebandrio (Indonesia) explained the flow of the meeting and invited comments to the proposed agenda. The Meeting then adopted the revised agenda, as attached in ANNEX 2.
AGENDA ITEM 3: ELECTION of the 2nd Vice-Chair PPSTI
The meeting endorsed Dr. Shinji Tokumasu (Director of International Affairs, METI) as the 2nd Vice Chair PPSTI. Prof. Amin Soebandrio then invited the Governing Board of PPSTI (Vice-Chair-1 Mr. Liu Jun – China, Vice-Chair2: rDr. Shinji Tokumasu – Japan, Mr. Nicholas Brooke, Principle Advisor of ABAC), to join him in co-chairing the meeting.
AGENDA ITEM 4: PRESENTATION OF APEC PPSTI ACTIVITIES IN 2013
4.1. / Discussion on the draft agenda for the APEC Chief Science Advisors (CSA) Meeting 29 – 30 June 2013.10. The APEC CSA Meeting will be jointly organized by Indonesia and New Zealand (NZ). The presentation was delivered by Ms. Karla Fallon, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - NZ, as appeared in Agenda Item 4.1 (2013/SOM2/PPSTI/020)
11. New Zealand explained that CSA would be an informal gathering of chief scientific advisors with strategic responsibilities in advising government at the most senior levels. CSA participants do not have from the Governmental side, and it is really depending on economy for selecting the representatives. The upcoming CSA meeting is aimed to share knowledge, strategies, and opportunities and to build relationship across the APEC Region. This event is prompted as a complementary to the APEC PPSTI, for opening opportunities for Senior Scientific Advisors to discuss scientific issues of importance to the region.
12. The APEC CSA Meeting will be held in two days, 29 – 30 June 2013 in Medan, back to back with the 2nd Meeting of PPSTI, in the period of APEC SOM 3. The APEC CSA meeting will be jointly chaired by Prof. Amin Soebandrio as the Chair of PPSTI (Indonesia) and Prof. Sir Peter Gluckman (NZ CSA). Invitations addressed to PPSTI Member economies for participating the APEC CSA meeting, were already sent by them and SOM Chair Indonesia. Therefore, Chair PPSTI reminded all economies to submit the name of CSA participants to APEC Secretariat, US and Indonesia.
13. Proposed CSA topics to be discussed:
i. Science and Wider Government Policy;
ii. Science, Technology and Risk Assessment;
iii. Technology Transfer and Knowledge Translation;
iv. Science Internationalisation;
v. Common Science and Technology Issues in the Asia Pacific;
vi. Practical Matters in the Science System.
14. To the proposed topics, United States of America (USA) suggested to select only three topics and emphasized on the outcome of the CSA meeting. USA conveyed particular interest in the topics of Science and Wider Government Policy; Common Science and Technology Issues in the Asia Pacific; and Science Internationalisation with a focus on data sharing. USA also suggested removing the topic of ‘Technology Transfer’ from the CSA Agenda. However, ABAC wished to have this topic is still maintained.
15. Malaysia conveyed its interests in the topics of “Science and Wider Government Policy” and “Practical Matters in the Science System” in the CSA Agenda.
16. ROK appreciated if the CSA meeting could be organized effectively into one day meeting, instead of two days.
17. New Zealand informed the outcome of the meeting will be a recommendation report, which could be referred further by PPSTI Members. A more detail information of APEC CSA meeting will be developed soon, in collaboration with Indonesia and PD APEC PPSTI. Such information should be informed to PPSTI Members, to allow economy selecting appropriate participants for CSA meeting. New Zealand further informed the desired outcomes of APEC CSA:
· Reinforce senior science relations across the Asia Pacific
· Develop greater understandings that: foster inclusive innovation; enhance capacity to transform into business opportunities; enhance public policy, and assist in the creation of the next generation of knowledge workers.
· Advise whether there are areas where common work across APEC may be of value
· Share outcome of the CSA meeting with the PPSTI and report to SOM
· Consider the value of the meeting and recommend whether the CSA meeting should be repeated
18. Some of PPSTI economies requested more information on the appropriate representative of CSA whether he/she should be coming from Government, political institution, or private company - as in some of PPSTI economies they don’t have the CSA structure. New Zealand and Indonesia clarified this matter. Indonesia informed the Meeting that its CSA representatives will be the Chairmen of The Indonesian Academy of Sciences (LIPI), the National Innovation Committee (KIN) and National Research Council (DRN).
19. Chair PPSTI also informed the meeting that invitations for APEC CSA were sent by SOM Chair APEC Indonesia, in addition to invitation signed by Prof. Amin Soebandrio (Chair of PPSTI) and Sir Peter Gluckman (New Zealand). Indonesia then reminded PPSTI economies, who have not submitted the names of CSA representative to APEC Secretariat, are requested to do so.
Action Line: PD PPSTI APEC Secretariat,
New Zealand and Indonesia
4.2. / Review Status of ASPIRE Prize (APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research, and Education).20. Indonesia shared a presentation of “The 2013 APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education” (ASPIRE). It was delivered by Ms. Nada Marsudi, Director of International S&T Network, RISTEK. Indonesia appreciated US for jointly hosting the 2013 ASPIRE in Medan, as this is a good opportunity for APEC PPSTI young scientists for promoting their achievement in science.
21. The selected theme of 2013 ASPIRE is “Sustainable Ocean Development”, which is aimed to promote environmentally and economically sustainable solutions for oceans and waterways. The eligibility for applying to 2013 ASPIRE is for any citizen in APEC member economy, living in APEC region and under the age of 40 as of 31 December 2013. Completed information is available at the page of http://www.apec.org/aspire.
22. Chair PPSTI requested PPSTI members to submit one nominee for the 2013 ASPIRE with the dead line on May 10 2013 to PD-PPSTI, US and Indonesia. Selection phase will begin at 24 May 2013. The ASPIRE presentation and nomination packet are enclosed in the Agenda Item 4.2 (2013/SOM2/PPSTI 001 and 002).
Action Line: Programme Director (PD) of APEC PPSTI,
Indonesia and US
AGENDA ITEM 5: PRESENTATIONS FROM GOVERNMENTS, ACADEMICIANS, AND BUSINESS SOCIETY – Session 1
23. The meeting noted that the presentation was delivered by Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong - China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Russia, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States of America, and Viet Nam.
24. Additional presentations to the Member Economies’ were from ABAC-Hongkong and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).
5.1. / Australia25. The Meeting noted that the presentation entitled “Australia: STI policy and funding overview” was delivered by Ms. Marie Grealy, the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research, Technology and Education, Australia. Her presentation is appeared in Agenda Item 5.
26. The Meeting noted the topics of presentations among others:
i. Institutional research system (Major Australian Government Departments, Coordinators, Academies, Funding);
ii. Major research agencies;
iii. Research councils;
iv. Budget allocation;
v. Performance indicators;
vi. Key Australian Science,
vii. Research and Innovation Policies;
viii. Strategic Research Priorities, as well as
ix. Australia’s engagement in the region.
27. Some key documents of Australia: National Research Investment Plan 2012; Industry and Innovation Statistic, A Plan for Australian jobs, and Australian in the Asian Country, a white paper. Australian engagement in Asia is mainly conducted by the Australia Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which is aimed among others for more rice production and maintaining sustainable agriculture.
5.2. / Brunei Darussalam28. The Meeting noted that the presentation entitled “Science & Technology, Research and International Division Ministry of Development” was delivered by Ms. Rosita Abdullah, as appears in Agenda Item 5. She informed on The Brunei Darussalam vision in 2035, which is to be the top 10 nations for the best of quality of life. One of the efforts for achieving this vision is by establishing the NSTC, under the Ministry of Development in 1994. Main research concern areas in Brunei Darussalam are Biodiversity and Agriculture, but other prioritized research areas, such as energy, environment and sustainability, health care and health services, ICT and automation are also conducted.
29. The Meeting was informed on the following topics:
i. Brief Description about Brunei Darussalam;
ii. Scenario of S&T Development (Structure of Brunei STI System/Roles and Responsibilities, Budget); as well as
iii. S&T Priority Areas (energy, environment and sustainability, healthcare/health services, ICT and automation, and food security).
5.3. / Canada30. Mr. Daniel Dufour from Canada presented “Science, Technology
and Innovation: Strategy and Areas of Focus - Government of Canada”. His presentation is appeared in Agenda Item 5.
31. Canada informed the meeting that innovation is a cross cutting issue in Canada. It is supported by the Federal S&T policy, involving coordination from various entities in strong framework of cooperation. Green Energy is one of example which shows an excellent cooperation amongst Canadian Government, the Business society and Department of Higher Education.
32. Priority research areas in Canada, among others are (i) Environment, (ii) Natural disaster and Energy, (iii) Health and Life Sciences, and (iv) ICT. Canada also suggested that PPSTI should focus on STI challenges with commonalities amongst APEC economy.
33. The topics presented were
i. Federal S&T System in Canada (budget and institutions, relevant institutions, tax incentive);
ii. Federal S&T Strategy;
iii. Recent Priority Areas;
iv. Examples of Activity Implementation of Federal S&T Strategies;