Strengthening EU-ASEAN Bi-regional Cooperation in Science, Technology & Innovation
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The event, which was hosted by Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), marked the ASEAN launch of Europe's new Framework Program for Research and Innovation called Horizon 2020, the successor of Framework Program 7 (FP7). Horizon 2020 is an 80 billion Euros program supporting research and innovation in Europe and beyond. Ms. Cristina Russo, Director of International Cooperation, Directorate-General Research and Innovation, European Commission presided over the launch of Horizon 2020, noting in her opening remarks that "European partnership with ASEAN countries will be of utmost importance. The traditional powerhouses of the US, Europe and Japan will account for a smaller share in science and technology."
The STI Days event comprised various scientific workshops focused on the Societal Challenges of Food, Health and Water, as well as workshops on Materials Transfer, Innovation, IPR issues and Metrology. Partner projects from the fields Nanomaterials for Photocatalytics, ICT, Nature and Biodiversity also joined the initiative and organized their activities back-to-back with the STI days.
As part of the STI Days, EURAXESS Links ASEAN organized a one-day event to showcase European mobility and funding opportunities available to researchers in Southeast Asia. European organizations presented specific mobility programs that offer Southeast Asian researchers an opportunity to build their research career by working at labs, universities, research institutes and companies across Europe. Special emphasis was given to Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) under Horizon 2020 through a dedicated workshop which provided information on specific MSCA open to participation by researchers in ASEAN, as well as practical advice on how to prepare a successful proposal.
The Innovation Showcase Exhibition attracted 30 exhibitors. Various institutions and enterprises had the possibility to present and advertise their activities to the audience. Coffee and lunch breaks as well as an authentic Thai dinner with cultural program provided a relaxed atmosphere for networking and establishing new connections.
The ASEAN-EU STI days in Bangkok were the first in a series of similar events initiated by SEA-EU-NET. The next STI Days will take place in France at the beginning of 2015.
Copies of the presentations of the current STI Days will also be uploaded to the event’s website www.stidays.net
